MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: griff30 on August 14, 2015, 09:50:55 am
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Hi, Any opinions on how long the standard shocks are good for? My ED30 has done 56k of fairly spirited road driving, and I'm starting to wonder if they are going off a bit - particularly the front. Ive had a visual check of bushes etc. and they seem fine and nothing was noted at a recent service.
Im keen to keep the suspension set-up standard - Im happy with the height of the car and dont want an overly hard setup as I only use it for general road driving. Ive had coilovers on a previous car and so want to keep a nice ride quality for this one, so would probably just replace the shocks with OE items, or maybe the Bilstein B8s or something...
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I've got 90k on my shocks and they are still fine but every car is different, they could have been perfectly fine when in getting serviced and then failed 20 miles down the road. If your dubious about them its best getting a garage to look at them for you
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73k here and mine still seems to drive great although was noted on inspection recently that rar offside shock misting very slightly so will look at replacing both rears with oe spec sachs ones in near future :happy2:
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Took my car the stealers for a full service, there saying my rear coil springs are corroded
Im not sure wether to get coilovers or just replace with lowering springs,
They also said rear tie arm bushing starting to debond, and nsf bush starting to split
72k
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All cars are different even with similar mileage just depends where and how its been driven
A 100k mile motorway driven car could be holding up better than even a 40k town driven example etc
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Ok thanks guys. I think mine are probably fine and its just my brain trying to get me to keep changing things and spend money! Also Im used to motorbikes where they get more abuse and after 15k the forks and shocks are past their best. (My motocross bike recommended changing the fork oil after 30 hours of use!)
Ill just keep an eye I think and maybe upgrade to the bilsteins at some point later on.
Adam - corroded springs sounds like about time to upgrade. In my experience avoid coilovers unless you really want to spend the time/money getting them fitted and set-up right. I'd say it was at least 6 months and countless times up and down on stands before I was fully happy with my Clio! It did kick-ass then though... Makes sense if youre that keen or going to track it. For a regular drive Im staying with a simple set-up as I dont really want to be messing about all the time now. ED30 is about 20mm lower than GTi and seems about right ride-height to me, I can just get over those stupid big speed-bumps.
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GTI and Ed. 30 share the same suspension parts. If you're not sure how to check the dampers, go to a reputable mechanic, he'll tell you.
You can consider OEM dampers, Bilstein B6 (B8 are for lowering springs) or Koni FSD (there are 2 versions, normal that is more comfortable than OEM and GTI version that is harsher and more like OEM.
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They'll feel fine till you put new ones on.
The transition from good to poor is so slow many don't notice till they've been changed.
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They'll feel fine till you put new ones on.
The transition from good to poor is so slow many don't notice till they've been changed.
Yeah that's how I see it. Seems like one easily swapped component which is going to make a load of difference to the driving experience if the old ones are fading. In other cars Ive gone from knackered old originals to new sports shocks, and the change was night and day. Im just feeling like perhaps the OE ones on the Golf are past their best after around 50k. Cheers
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Id say that the shocks are probably well past their best by now. I found my car started to 'wander' at speed, and the rebound damping was very poor.
You 'can' just get new shocks but its a good oppportunity to mod ;-)
I went B12 Sportline route after recommendation from @flashp (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=5579) above, and never looked back
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They'll feel fine till you put new ones on.
The transition from good to poor is so slow many don't notice till they've been changed.
Yeah that's how I see it. Seems like one easily swapped component which is going to make a load of difference to the driving experience if the old ones are fading. In other cars Ive gone from knackered old originals to new sports shocks, and the change was night and day. Im just feeling like perhaps the OE ones on the Golf are past their best after around 50k. Cheers
I'd agree with that mileage, for any car. At best they won't be as effective as they once were. At worst completely shot.
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Cheers for the replies. Unfortunately real life got in the way and I have been off the forum since last summer and done nothing to the car! I've just ordered the Bilstein b12 sportline kit though and will also get the super pro alk and new top mounts. I'm hoping that will give a good improvement as my front shocks definitely feel fecked now. Seems like the rebound has gone, as John o said.
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I replaced mine with B8's just before hitting 60k miles because lowering more...and found three were leaking. Additionally, I did run the oem dampers from 20k to 60k miles with Sportline springs.
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Mine have done 137K!
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Mine have done 60k - but not many motorway miles. Rears seem fine but fronts dont.
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I'm on 74k, and what I assume are the original shocks. Been on H&R 30mm for about 4k.
They don't feel bad, but I get the feeling they could be better. Especially in cold weather - things feel a bit 'rough round the edges', although this could just as likely be tired bushes.
Very good point made earlier in the thread, shocks and bushes degrade gradually so it's often hard to say for sure just how knackered they are.
Think I'll get another year out of mine then see what Bilstein have on the menu, along with a SALK and any other bushes that would benefit replacement. Really tempted with coilovers though. We'll see.
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I fitted my Bilstein B12 kit a few weeks ago. Its ace - really happy with it, the car is completely transformed. As suspected my front shocks had expired after 60,000miles / 9 years. They were weeping oil a little. The car feels really well damped and balanced front to rear now and grips so much better. Its like having a brand new car :smiley:
I also fitted a Superpro ALK at the same time, then Michelin Pilot super sports on the front along with a wheel alignment. Its a shame I cant really tell how much difference is due to the shocks and how much the SALK. I would say that the main issue with mine was the shocks, as the front just wasnt controlled - particularly on acceleration (loads of wheelspin). I can feel the affect of the SALK on turn-in and just generally more precise control and feedback due to the lower compliance bushes, but not sure how much it had to do with the improvement in grip. One thing - the Michelins are awesome - way better than the Eagle F1s I had on before. I never really rated them...
I put in a superpro dogbone insert while I was under there which is a simple job and well worth it.
So now Ive done all that, changed the oil etc and given it a good clean inside and out I am loving my car again! It drives like its supposed to now, and Im not constantly battling to maintain grip at the front. Id say Im happier with the results of this than the remap - you get more enjoyment out of handling I reckon. I guess you need both really.