Heavy Duty/Longer Shocks
Moderator: Fatmobile
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- Diesel Freak
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:56 pm
- Location: Woodstock, IL
Heavy Duty/Longer Shocks
I'm running my Jetta no WVO. The aux. tank is in the trunk and pretty heavy. With the added weight, my car is sagging pretty bad (probably need new shocks anyway). Is there anything that I could have done to compensate for the sagging; slightly longer shocks or something? Thanx
`86 Volkswagen Jetta NA with 9 gallon marine tank, transmission cooler tank heater, TIH, FPHE, VegTherm, Line Heater Specialist Injector Heaters on Injector Lines
Everyone should read "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn
Everyone should read "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn
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- Missing Linkz
- Posts: 1116
- Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2002 11:44 pm
- Location: Northern California
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LOnger shocks will only mke things worse if you are bottoming out. Why? Because they won't compress as far and will therefore bottom out sooner. You need a stiffer shock, and/or springs or some sort of air shock:
http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTri ... tml#Shocks
http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTri ... tml#Shocks
'82 VW Caddy, 1.9D engine, FN tranny w/ Quaife, Missing LinkZ shift linkage
I saw a guy on a forum that bought the front springs from an 87 Chevette and put them in the rear of his car. i went on ebay got a set for $30, ideally they need to be trimmed because although they are the same length and diameter the size of the metal used is greater and therefore has a better spring rate, but due to my WVO system i left them full length and now never bottom out. an added advantage it it transfers a lot of wheight to the front tires and therefore gives better traction and streering responce, i think the manual steering is a little eaisier as well. You may want to do some research to make sure i remembered the right car but i am fairly certian that is the one.
Adam F.
'73 Superbeetle
'85 Jetta TD
'96 Saturn SL2
'89 Jeep Cherokee (Gold Edition)
'73 Superbeetle
'85 Jetta TD
'96 Saturn SL2
'89 Jeep Cherokee (Gold Edition)
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- Global Moderator
- Posts: 7568
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
- Location: north central Iowa
springs
I put a set of ('84?) audi 4000 rear springs on my Rabbit. I had put new shocks on but carrying all the vegy, tools and stuff in the back of my car made it sag and the struts only lasted about 6 months. I had to use the audi lower spring seats too.
I think the front springs are off my pickup but I can't remember how many stripes and what color (spring code) they were.
I also put a 16V rear sway bar on it so it wouldn't lean so bad in the corners. You can stand next to it and try to rock it but it won't move.
It really corners nice. If I give it a little accelerator going into a corner it just dives into it.
I think the front springs are off my pickup but I can't remember how many stripes and what color (spring code) they were.
I also put a 16V rear sway bar on it so it wouldn't lean so bad in the corners. You can stand next to it and try to rock it but it won't move.
It really corners nice. If I give it a little accelerator going into a corner it just dives into it.
Front OEM Coil Springs 76-87 Chevette 81-87 T1000 NEW
above is what i bought off ebay for the rear springs on my jetta. the rear is way high but i love the way it drives now. i can go over potholes at half the speed of light with no bottoming out.
if you wanted a more stock ride hight you could easily cut a a bit off the springs to get any desired ride height. the springs are the same in hight and width as stock springs, but the diameter of the metal bar is way thicker giving you a much better spring rate. I don't ever see me replacing these springs again.
above is what i bought off ebay for the rear springs on my jetta. the rear is way high but i love the way it drives now. i can go over potholes at half the speed of light with no bottoming out.
if you wanted a more stock ride hight you could easily cut a a bit off the springs to get any desired ride height. the springs are the same in hight and width as stock springs, but the diameter of the metal bar is way thicker giving you a much better spring rate. I don't ever see me replacing these springs again.
Adam F.
'73 Superbeetle
'85 Jetta TD
'96 Saturn SL2
'89 Jeep Cherokee (Gold Edition)
'73 Superbeetle
'85 Jetta TD
'96 Saturn SL2
'89 Jeep Cherokee (Gold Edition)
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- Cetane Booster
- Posts: 84
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- Turbo Charger
- Posts: 1482
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- Location: Canada Southern Alberta
- Contact:
I guess anyone can go for the pricer off the shelf if you want to send the money on it or have the money to spend on it. I always get a charge out of recycling the used stuff as much as possible. My thinking is that if I get some beefer springs to begin with an little wear on them shouldn't hurt.
4BTA 3.9 Cummins Stepvan
86TD Golf
91TD Jetta
4BTA 3.9 Cummins Stepvan
86TD Golf
91TD Jetta
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- Global Moderator
- Posts: 7568
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
- Location: north central Iowa
springs
I wasn't looking for stiffer springs when I switched to the audi 4000s.
I was looking for something that held it higher and would come down when loaded.
Keeping it from going too low and ruining another set of shocks was the plan.
As I saw it, I could either go stiff and ride normal height all the time or go the softer route and ride a little higher and smoother.
I can't see ever getting rid of these springs either. If not on this car, they will be saved for the next.
I was looking for something that held it higher and would come down when loaded.
Keeping it from going too low and ruining another set of shocks was the plan.
As I saw it, I could either go stiff and ride normal height all the time or go the softer route and ride a little higher and smoother.
I can't see ever getting rid of these springs either. If not on this car, they will be saved for the next.
Yeah I've done a little under-the-car work using a forklift like that but I chained the car to the forklift. That's just a little scary! Maybe a few 4X4 posts would give a little more margin of safety.
I really want my own 2-post lift and a big empty garage to go with it!
I really want my own 2-post lift and a big empty garage to go with it!
Bob
'06 Jetta TDI
'82 Rabbit 1.6NA
Honda, 99 GMC Suburban, '41 Chevy Coupe
'06 Jetta TDI
'82 Rabbit 1.6NA
Honda, 99 GMC Suburban, '41 Chevy Coupe
lifter up
I've been told top use Mk2 Golf rear springs on the rear of my Mk1 Rabbit for a six inch lift. Seems reasonable to me.
Fatmobile,
Did your shocks go bad because of the A4000 springs, or all the extra weight?
Fatmobile,
Did your shocks go bad because of the A4000 springs, or all the extra weight?
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- Global Moderator
- Posts: 7568
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
- Location: north central Iowa
springs
The shocks went out before I put the Audi springs on.
Because with a load, they were riding too low and blowing them out.
That's what finally pushed me to go to the salvage yard and get these.
Because with a load, they were riding too low and blowing them out.
That's what finally pushed me to go to the salvage yard and get these.