MK1 changed strut cartridges, now rides high, looks ugly

[jdub1974]

So I changed the front strut cartridges on my 84 MK1 Rabbit 4 door and now the front looks like it rides high.

Thought I did it by the book but is it possible I did something wrong? Is there an inexpensive way to level out the ride height of my MK1?

I also replaced rear struts already so don't want to by a second set of new struts if I can avoid it.

Thanks,
J in Austin

[ps2375]

Depending upon what struts you put in, they could add a bit of height. Drive it and see if it settles some.

[jdub1974]

That is what I thought....I actually did the install about 4 months ago and figured it would maybe settle, but no luck.


Could I have got the wrong struts? Could I have re-installed the pieces wrong or something?

[ps2375]

Did you do just the struts? Or did you also do the upper strut mounts. What struts did you install, a high pressure gas charged one or not?

[Ian]

If you put MK2 suspension in a MK1 it raises it up. Maybe you got the wrong front cartridges?
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[jdub1974]

I got them from Rock Auto so it's quite possible they are the wrong ones....there is some 'nose pressure' to the cartridges but I wouldn't have thought it was enough to change ride height.

No I have not changed the top mounts, but I do have new ones that I was going to install....maybe that is what it needs.

[crsmp5]

kyb/monroe do that...
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[Juanito84]

Strut cartridges raising the suspension?! I've never heard of such a thing. I did change all the strut cartridges and springs on my MK2 and it made the front a little higher. But I think that's because I got the "heavy duty"springs from Parts Place Inc.
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[sgnimj96]

maybe new parts in the rear suspension will even it out. IMO a little more lift is better, less chance of hitting things or getting stuck;

To me, it keeps resale value up. When I see a lowered car i just think something is wrong with it.

[TDCTDI]

There were differences in spring perch height & spring lengths depending on year & where the car was built. Most of the aftermarket manufacturers don't recognize this or just don't care anymore. It sounds like your car had the taller springs/lower perch & the replacement struts have the higher perch.
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[TDCTDI]

Never mind, I saw that you only replaced the inserts. Some "high pressure gas" shocks & struts effectively have their own spring rate, bilsteins will have a tendency to raise a car 1"-1.5".
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[cub]

Shock absorbers don't determine ride height though. If that were the case and these were too tall there would be issues noticed before they got on the car.
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