my new delema.... front struts....

[CRSMP5]

ever since my trip to philly the kub has not "felt right" and well threw it up on the lift today...

ever seen fully compressed strut when wheel off ground the left front is seized somehow.. turning shock shaft does not release it even.. almost like the internals are stuck..

1 this scares hel out of me in taking strut off car.. what if it unlocks as im trying to remove it??? will be big bang for sure..

2 coils?? what brand inserts if not coils?? bilstein pissed me off with there 12mo waiting for warentee service/replacement... boge is junk since sachs took them over... monro = junk...

gotta resolve by july 13th...

so what have you run on your mk1???

[8v-of-fury]

I have racelands 25mm drop/sport springs on my car right now with Monroe sensa-trac struts. They are great struts, monotube .

[CRSMP5]

you sir have never drove a mk1 on good suspention then.... monro = junk... sadly what i want is nla... some boge pro gas or old yellow turbo boge.. think the pro would be too stiff.. nla since 01ish.. and yellow turbo gas turned black in 95ish and with color change went limp too.. then sachs took it over and ruined it all..

if it were not for bilstine waiting 12mo to supply a replacemrent for a 3mo old bad one.. id do them... but they pissed me off with that 12mo wait..

so i am hoping some people will give true feelings on jap shocks, or some real coilovers.. not them cheap 200$ sets.. id do h&r if the sold front set only.. but they do not...

[theman53]

I would say bite the bullet and get the bilsteins. 99% of the time you do not need to use that warranty, but since it is your kubvan and you would have to buy another, then you would always have a set to return. I seem to be a bit more aggresive if it is my stuff too, so you maybe able to speed up the 12 month process next time if needed.

[8v-of-fury]

Whats wrong with Monroe? They have been in the business longer than Bilstein, Koni and most anybody else around. They also pioneered most of what any other strut/shock manufacturer has to date.

Sadly no matter what you choose, a mark one Jetta/Rabbit will never ride "great". Worst suspension setup of all time. lol

[CRSMP5]

i think your wrong.. its the monroes that make you feel that way.. to drive a mk1 with german struts, then hope into a monroe one.. monroe is soo stiff it rides like crap...

been running boge since 89... last set i got was 98 and upgraded to progas on the 84 coupe.. 81 coupe is my 1st set of bilstines... not as good as pro gas.. but better then yellow turbo boge.. an yellow turbo are just right for dd/cross country.. pro gas.. can be little choppy on expanson joints.. but in the twisties.. ohh man...

gotta rember been dalying mk1s for 23 years.. yea i got a b3.. its more refined.. crappy sachs on it.. but the vr6 blown b3 with bilstines rides like a mk1 on turbo yellows...

really i think its the monroes that make you feel that way.. serious.. need to get you a ride in a good set up..

[mystery3]

Kyb's? Koni's? It's not like your autocrossing a cubvan, whatever monroe "sporty" strut would probably be fine but seriously the brilliance of the mkI setup is its simplicity and with a few well placed pieces of steel you can make it stiffer than hell.

Get coilovers.

[rs899]

Sadly no matter what you choose, a mark one Jetta/Rabbit will never ride "great". Worst suspension setup of all time. lol

It sure is easy to completely rebuild, though.  Minutes....

I must say, I just put Monroe OEspectrum on my Mk2 ( only because the price was right with a rebate and juicy coupon from Advance Auto, free shipping etc...) and they are pretty good.  I am sure there are better out there and I would like to hear some opinions.

[theman53]

Second thought...call bilstein and tell them about your last experience and that you would buy a front set of their stuff if you had peace that they would take care of you this time. Then get it in writing if possible. I put their cheapest stuff on the MKIV and I probably won't buy any other ever again now. The MKIV is still squishy in the corners, but I don't think that could be helped with just struts and shocks...it is nothing like it used to be though.

[rs899]

Bilstein are absolutely the best there is on Mercedes- and they can be had for a pittance - about $45 each.  Why they are so expensive on VW beats me....

[bbob203]

I have kyb's on my mk2 got them at summit on sale I'm happy with them esp for the price.

[R.O.R-2.0]

I have kyb's on my mk2 got them at summit on sale I'm happy with them esp for the price.

everyone here seems to hate KYB suspension parts on the forum for some reason..

i dont mind my KYBs at all. i have full GR2s on my GTI, and full GAS-A-JUSTs on my Jetta.

with front and rear sway bars, my cars are STUCK to the road.. and myself personally, i like the firm ride of the KYBs. squishy cars FLOATING down the road isnt my thing. my GTI came with 170k stock suspension, and no sway bars, so the KYBs and stock sways were night and day different..

why does everyone here hate KYB soo bad?

ive had 5-6 pairs of KYB struts, and they are HARD to kill.. i TOTALLED a car, and the struts were fine, and i was positive that they WERE NOT going to be.. yes, front end impact off a 7' bank, straight down.. landed on the front suspension.

[CRSMP5]

well i have never owned set of kyb.. cannot say ive ridden in a mk1 with them too.. but talking on phone today.. it may be a possibiliy of adjustable kyb for decent price.. used 2x on dragstrip.. biggest question is strut bodies... kubvan has internal nut vs external...

owner thinks they like monroe with spacer for both styles... but will know more tonight.. for the price.. im game to try them out..

really need to build a "toebar" now.. been on my todo list forever.. this way i can easily set toe.. i have my custom camber gauge,, just hate setting toe via tape measure.. old school spring loaded bar, roll car forward for neasurement so much easier..

[R.O.R-2.0]

well i have never owned set of kyb.. cannot say ive ridden in a mk1 with them too.. but talking on phone today.. it may be a possibiliy of adjustable kyb for decent price.. used 2x on dragstrip.. biggest question is strut bodies... kubvan has internal nut vs external...

owner thinks they like monroe with spacer for both styles... but will know more tonight.. for the price.. im game to try them out..

really need to build a "toebar" now.. been on my todo list forever.. this way i can easily set toe.. i have my custom camber gauge,, just hate setting toe via tape measure.. old school spring loaded bar, roll car forward for neasurement so much easier..

i would atleast TRY some KYBs.. i have no problems with them. they are firm, but not harsh. they are night and day better than US production mk1 suspension..

i got both the fronts for under $100 (closer to $75 IIRC) at napa auto..

[CRSMP5]

well adjustable = more.. LOl.. offer made to me 150/the pair.. coil set ive thought abt 450+shipping... think ill try the adjustable koni 1st.. if i hate.. then resell..