It IS time young ones

[burn_your_money]

http://store.blackforestindustries.com/suspension.html sell it too, they also sell control arms with prothane's installed.

If you buy this stuff separately you'll get a better deal and not have to deal with BFI. 

Not dealing with BFI is a big plus if you are a Canadian

[rabbitman]

Hey what's the big deal with BFI anyways, I've heard a lot about them (mostly on this site) and it's all been totally negative. I've never dealt with 'em so I'm not biased, just curious.

[burn_your_money]

They only ship UPS. What that means as a Canadian is when your $80 order arrives it will come with a $50 "customs/made up UPS fees" on top of that. What seemed like fair prices suddenly become very expensive.
I had no problem with the parts I ordered though, everything went well.

[mystery3]

Hey what's the big deal with BFI anyways, I've heard a lot about them (mostly on this site) and it's all been totally negative. I've never dealt with 'em so I'm not biased, just curious.

I'm sure what burn your money said about the shipping is true for our neighbors to the north but the reason I don't like them is the way they've ripped off some designs/products from entrepreneurial enthusiasts and marketed them as their own. When this came up on vortex speaking in a negative way about bfi produced a strong response from the mods because bfi is a big site sponsor. I guess it's sort of silly internet politics but that kind of behavior bothers me so I don't support them and encourage others to do same. The only thing they make that I'd ever be interested in are the rear caddy coilovers but I have to wonder where the design came from and if the designer was properly compensated, all the rest of their "products" are available through other sources.

[8v-of-fury]

I will gladly boycott BFI.

I hate companies that do what they do (ie. steal ideas without proper reimbursement). I will not support them at all as a mega-conglomeration.

So I just did my taxes, yeah a month late.. Seems the Gov of Canada owes me quite a large sum of money.

Sawedoffgolf, thanks for the reply man! Yeah I will be definitely getting the poly set, and trying out all the engine mounts for sure. I am mainly wanting the kit to make the car handle like its on rails. I figure this kit along with new bj's and tie rods and it should pretty much eliminate any play in the front end, and possibly the rear beam.. by replacing the beam bushings and rear shock mounts too. Hopefully.

Now I run in to the fact that I need a new suspension all around.. New struts up front, shocks in the rear, and springs at all four corners.. Do I

A) Go OEM, and replace it all with OEM springs and sachs struts and shocks??
B) Go OEM+, and replace it with OEM springs, and an upgraded gas strut? such as KYB or the likes?
C) Go Coil-overs.. Not something I have really looked in to AT ALL.. However maybe it is a route I would like to go.. I would probably only rock an inch drop if that, not in the BASH the oil pan of every bump area...

With the OEM we run in to the problem of Sachs struts/shocks just sucking a lot of the proverbial "you know what".. OEM+ would be a good option but still leaves it to handle like stock.. I really want something I can just RIP around corners! Coil-overs, everyone says ride like complete POO! Now is this because everyone always buys them and runs them at the lowest drop they are designed for?? I plan to run them so the Control arms are near parallel with the ground for best handling (which is about a 3/4"-1" drop I have read, I think). If I go coil-over route, what brand would you suggest for the budget minded who is looking for an ok ride?

The Valvecover gasket does seem like a very viable option, if i could find the correct kit offered local i would grab it, as i cannot see it on the parts site I have an order ready to go with, and don't feel like paying shipping on one part from another site..

So far the list;

Complete suspension
Steering components
Bushings all around
Head gasket and bolts or studs
Valve cover gasket
Swap on the snowflakes
Intake - Cold/Ram Air setup
Exhaust - 2-2.25" DP-Free flowing muffler
Gauges - EGT/Water/Oil
Governor Mod (ohhh yeahh)

I was just thinking today how so many lucky people have successfully pulled these cars out of barns to make them awesome drivers, this is my Barn-to-Daily VW! I pulled it out of a barn last October and started driving it this April!! its been awesome to drive a diesel!

Thoughts PLEASE!!

[theman53]

I have a similar problem with suspension. I don't want to run coils as none of the coils I have looked at advertise stock ride height. Every vortex thread on this ends up saying that if you slam these cars or even lower a little the handling goes away porportionally to how far you get away from stock ride height. I think what I will do when the jetta needs it is the Bilsteen sport or HD. I forget which one I liked the specs on best but I think that is the route to go. There are some coilovers I would love to try, but I can't ever get an answer on tallest setting only lowest.
Definately do the head studs, intake, exhaust, and Gov mod. You will like it.

[burn_your_money]

In regards to the BFI issue I think it would be fair to read the thread on vortex if it didn't get black holed. Initially when it was posted I was on the boycott BFI bandwagon but then as more details came out about the specific incident I was swayed off the wagon.
Basically as I read and understood it there was a user on vortex who was supplying BFI with front cross braces. BFI said that he had become unreliable and there was also a quality control issue for a while (the user resolved it). BFI got fed up and starting making the braces in house. The user got mad that they were stealing his idea and made a post about it. In that post it was brought up that about 5 years ago he had posted asking for dimensions on the brace that at that time someone else was making and selling. No one had exclusive rights to the product so as I see it, all's fair. I feel that it was implied in BFIs responses that they would have continued to purchase the braces off the seller had he not become unreliable.
That's just my take on the matter, I would recommend reading the thread when it comes back and drawing your own conclusion.

[8v-of-fury]

Good day dearest forum people,

How do you guys feel about Bilsteins? I was thinking of maybe going with there Sport line as there Heavy Duty line is a tad outta my rice range. However, how do you feel about their Touring line? OR what I kinda want to do is go with KYB Gas-a-Just so that I can also budget in new springs. As I don't really need to be able to get in to any more trouble.. I already whip it around pretty quickly with a recockulously worn suspension.. a really tight one will for sure mean trouble

I think doing a completely new everything (under the car) will help substantially to make this car more fun to drive. I will be most certainly doing something along the lines of intake and exhaust this weekend, if I can source some cheap pipe for the exhaust. I should be able to get the intake opened up no problem though as I like the way you did yours Lucas

Tyler, back on topic here please However I do recall the thread turning out that way, I was reading it from the start as well.. and Vortex definitely covered it up on BFI's part.. deleting any evidence that the user even existed (yup deleting his account), and then denying it happened when confronted about it.. however it was wrong to do so.. they user openly admitted to having no patent on the design, and to stealing measurements years prior to make what he sold to BFI.. Kinda had it coming to him didn't he?

oh Well!

[rabbitman]

I wouldn't waste time going with stock suspension, springs yes, shocks and struts never.

I've been drooling over the biltein HD's too, Partsgeek is the cheapest I've found.

I'd definitely recommend getting the poly bushings. Mine came yesterday and last night I put on just the control arm bushings and steering rack mounts and I can already tell that it's waaaay better! The kit I got came with rear axle beam bushings, upper rear shock mounts, drivers side engine mount insert and front and rear engine mounts.

Part number for the kit is 22-2008

My control arms are parallel with the ground right now but I don't think I ever lowered it .

Have FUN!!!!!!!!!

[8v-of-fury]

How about Koni Special D Reds??

http://www.raceinspired.com/p-16484-koni-special-d-red-shocks-volkswagen-jetta-1979-1993-front.aspx
http://www.raceinspired.com/p-16487-koni-special-d-red-shocks-volkswagen-jetta-1979-1993-rear.aspx

Also what is better Twin tube hydraulic? or Twin tube gas struts? And what springs would you recommend with these beasts? Just OEM? or what?

I WANT A NEW SUSPENSION SO BADLY

[Rabbit on Roids]

blew out another strut yesterday.. that didnt take long. anyone know of any good heavy duty struts for an mk1 that wont blow out on the first bump?and why do mk1s have such crappy bump stops? they should be called bang stops damn it.. cause they bang..

[rabbitman]

anyone know of any good heavy duty struts for an mk1 that wont blow out on the first bump?

Bilstein......and they have an internal bump stop.

[theman53]

Alright, alright...8v see if there is a group buy for misc. bilstiens mki and mkii. If so I am in LOL

[Rabbit on Roids]

anyone know of any good heavy duty struts for an mk1 that wont blow out on the first bump?

Bilstein......and they have an internal bump stop.

so, when i hit one of these massive pot holes we have around here, it wont make that terrible banging? our county has some of the worst pot holes ive ever seen. what model bilsteins would you suggest? any in particular?

[8v-of-fury]

probably their touring line, as I assume they would offer the best ride quality.

Anyone ever use the Koni Reds I posted up there?