Lowering and improving handling of Mk1 Jetta.

[homerj1]

In the process of acquiring a 84 jetta\diesel.

I would like to lower and stiffen the suspension via new coil springs and shocks ( but not coilovers) - but still retain somewhat of a sensible ride for a daily driver .  

Are there any thoughts?

I was looking for replacement springs (that would lower the car and stiffen the ride). What are the choices? Are there diy options vs buying " h& r's or?  ie: like mk1 gti springs?   $$$are also a consideration.

thanks

Aivars

ps I'm looking at stress bars front and back  - but later in this process.

[CRSMP5]

well front lower bar is a must... but screw paying $$ for one... a piece of 2.5"x2.5" or 3x3" angle iron can be made up for 20$ish.. 2 holes for front control arm bolts... a notch to clearance it to miss the tranny and done...

cut gti springs imo are great.... i have run a set of them since 94, currentl with unotanioum boge pro gas.. i also have a set of h&r i think.. been so long.. maybe ebachs too.. they good... those have set of bilstines...

your biggest issue is a good shock/strut... boge/sachs are crap... bilstine's warenty service sux... koni yellows aka adjustables = ~200 each..

big box stores crappy kyb imo not a option..

[CrazyAndy]

How many coils cut, and from top or bottom of winding?  And do shocks for the MK2 work in a MK1?  I ask because since the MK2s weigh slightly more, maybe they have stiffer compression/rebound rates and you could use them as 'sporty' shocks?  MK3 Jetta/GTI ones?

Also, food for thought.  I've heard some folks like to use the rear sway bar from a stock Cabriolet to curb the understeer prone to our FWD cars.  The bar locks the rear beam a little more, which makes the rear hold together and slide a bit under harder cornering, instead of the front washing out as much.  That's what my dad's Scirocco did, and his was lowered 2.5" with strut/chassis braces everywhere.

To beat the cost of new braces, buy used ones or fabricate like CRSMP5 suggested with the ghetto lower 2-point tie bar.  If you could weld, you be able to make your own lower K-bar!

[CRSMP5]

mk2 longer.. so no..

ghetto? dont get me banned here like on poortex...



used same trick on cars 30 years ago with cracked frame hornes... not a issue and cheap...

my 84 coupe has the autotech 4 point system... it hits the ground way faster then this way does... big room differance..

how much to cut on a coil... how low?? the 84 with progas, cut gti springs is abt a 2" drop.. cut to fill the void when jacked up so springs stay in place.. so imo.. start w/half a coil from BOTTOM as top front tapers.. rear more progreive at top.. you can always remove and cut more off.. but you cannot add it back

be warned.. took me a week to ruin the bushing in the rack.. on pass side due to change in steering geometry... one of them ebay derlin ones should be installed... so your alignment can be done 1x..

[CrazyAndy]

Oops, sorry.   Didn't mean it that way. 

So cutting from the bottom will allow more adjustability from a cut.  Sounds good.  How many coils yielded the 2" drop?

[CRSMP5]

cut gti springs is abt a 2" drop.. cut to fill the void when jacked up so springs stay in place..

[homerj1]

Update:

Bought the mk1 Jetta with the Raceland coilovers ( have like 1500km on them.)

I'm looking for plans or measurements of stress bars for a DIY, front upper and lower bars, and rear stress bar.  

Is anyone using turnbuckles ( or adjusting pts) for the front and rear upper stress bars? I'm thinking, sheet metal strut or shock towers get fatigued -  adjusting front and rear camber could be obtained via an adjustable stress bar?

I have access to a mig & tig welder, torches

Thanks

Aivars

[Rising]

Here's something else that might interest you. I just saw this over on... well... Another unnamed vw forum and it seemed like a good cheap mod to go along with CRSMP5's suggestion.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?2429595-DIY-Rear-Strut-Bar

[8v-of-fury]

CRSMP5, cut springs and angle iron stress bars are extremely Ghetto. Don't get butt hurt, don't get banned. Easy as pie buddy LOL.

Creative just sooooooooooo ghetto haha.

[8v-of-fury]

Aivars,

I like the idea of adjustable rear camber via an adjustable stress bar. However, how would you differ from side to side and not just have one take up the others slack?

[homerj1]

Aivars,

I like the idea of adjustable rear camber via an adjustable stress bar. However, how would you differ from side to side and not just have one take up the others slack?

Yeh, I guess I didn't think that thru? I was thinking a turnbuckle type affair - but that wouldn't really work? I guess it would need a solid mounting pt to the body in the middle - so you could force the tops of the struts in or out?

Back to the thinking\drawing board?

[CRSMP5]

dude.. angle iron bars been done for many years... back in 80s when frame horn cracks...

cut gti/gli sprigs... again been done, used for years before my doing it in 94.. and they perform great... trick now is finding a "true" set of gti/gli springs... they not same as stock mk1...

to adjust rear camber, get the silly shims that fit between stubaxle/rear beam... the rear upper goofy is just a "stress bar" that "helps" stiffen the rear... no way it can do any rear alignment

[8v-of-fury]

Effective, no doubt Just ghetto is all lol.

I'm building one of these!

[CRSMP5]

i have the auto tech 4pt on my 84 coupe.. rest angle... no way to do rear mount on kubvan... or id do 4pt on it.. 

the crsvan will have 4pt set up built in... but thats a to come wtf am i up too now discussion... after i get some crap cought up and my bathtub off its frame (4pt in design).. ask me abt crsvan.... few know... who i talk to via phone/in person... dont want it online till i get it figured out.. my ideas... me keeps...