Coilover help needed! Mk1 golf?

[creesy55]

Hi, newbie on the forum!
My new ride needs coilovers to slam it down but non are available off the shelf anymore. Could anyone please help with the dimensions of a mk1 golf suspension setup.
I need the distance between the two front hub mounting holes and the width of the hub leg. Hope it is similar to Mk 2 golf as these are spot on.
Want to run mk1 as rear coilovers look shorter than mk2?! Are the fronts shorter aswell.
Cheers for the help in advance
Matt

[RobinJI]

They're different to mk2's, can't remember the distance between the holes, but the mk1's hub leg's 20mm thich, while the mk2's is 25. Also mk1 fronts aren't shorter than mk2's, I think they're actually very slightly longer.

However, 6n Polo's suspension is mk2 Golf front and mk1 Golf rear, so might fit the bill nicely.

For the record, the difference in length of the rears is really quite large.

[gus]

My mate modified 6n polo front coilies to fit his mk1 caddy, not too sure about the rears as the caddy is on leaf springs

[creesy55]

Cheers RobinJI and gus, polo6n sound perfect, have had a look at them, the rears are definitely shorter than mk2! The fronts also look pretty short, with the thread coming right down to the hub mounting!
Looking at them on eBay etc, problem is alot of companies use generic pics so not totally sure I'm looking at the right ones!
If anyone has pics or more info on polo 6n coilies it would be most appreciated
Cheers
Matt

[kingsmith]

theres plenty of coilovers on ebay

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_kw=vw+mk1+golf+coilovers

[bigfella2]

I would be astonished if you can't still buy MK1 Golf coilies off the shelf!! Still one of the most heavily modified Dubs ever.

[cobblers]

I think the guy is fairly aware that mk1/2 golf coilies are pretty easy to get and cheap, and that he's looking at fitting them to something else.

[RobinJI]

Yeah, Polo/mk1 rear's are definitely shorter than mk2s, not 100% on the amount, but I know it's really quite a lot. If mk2's are about right for your car, unless you're wanting to go a lot lower than the mk2's will let you, then I'd suspect that the mk1's might well be too short. What car is it by the way? You never know, someone on here might be able to tell you what works and what doesn't.

The front ones are about as short as you can commonly get, with only a few rare(ish) options being shorter. Yes the threads go a long way down them, but it's the damper travel that'll limit how low they'll go, not the threads. Best bet's to get some measurements of them off someone and see how they'll suit your car.

I'll try and grab some measurements of the rears on my Scirocco (same as mk1 Golf) tomorrow at lunch. I could measure the fronts, but if you know mk2 ones are a good fit then I know they'll most likely not fit, as the mk1's are definitely narrower.

[roccoguy]

Mk1 rears are massively shorter than mk2, to the point where mk2 rear coilies wound all the way down on the back of my rocco had the ride height at about +40mm

the front hub mounting is about 4mm wider on the mk2 than on the mk1 and the space between the bolt holes is slightly out between the two too

[creesy55]

Cheers, I do need the rears alot shorter than mk2. It's for an MG Maestro! ........
There are LEDA coilovers available for them but not commonly available ( unless anyone on here has any?! ) the rear turrets are alot lower down than in my mk2 golf so the polo/mk1s look good. On the front mk2s will fit nicely onto the hub, practically the same but if the polo ones are just slightly lower that's even better as it'll probably use the shock more in the middle of its travel. May have to take the plunge and order some
Is there any difference between polo 6n and 6n2? . Would like the coilies off the later car possible, as the polo's are putting on weight each yr and so might be more matched to the maestro.
Cheers
Matt

[RobinJI]

There won't be any difference in the front's length between Polo and mk2 Golf. Yes 6n2 and 6n are cross compatible. It'll depend on what quality of coilovers you're going for as to whether it matters though, the cheap e-bay ones will almost certainly be the same for both models anyway, but it wouldn't hurt to get the 6n2 ones just in case.

I didn't manage to get any measurements today as work was manic/eventful, I'll have a look tomorrow if I get a chance/remember.

[pete127]

Apologies for hijacking the thread but does anyone know the distance between the bolt holes on the Golf mk2 front shock?I'm looking for some shortened shocks for my Fiat 127 and have read that the mk2 ones will fit.Cheers.

[creesy55]

Cheers again RobinJi. I'm yet to decide which to buy, ideally lower end ones to start with but some kits show separate rear dampers and spring setups?! And some have the more traditional wider front spring..... :/
Any recommendations, Jom, prosport, fk.....
And Pete no that's fine, measured my old mk2 struts, 62mm between hole centres and 26mm width between.
Matt

[Rev. Dick Deluxe]

If you're handy with a welder you can always make your own. I made a pair of front legs for my estima by cutting open the standard leg, shortening it, fitting inserts from a Celica and then welding a coilover sleeve over the top. Took about a day to make two struts and cost me about 100 quid in bits.

[roccoguy]

May 14, 2013 21:37:58 GMT RobinJI said:

There won't be any difference in the front's length between Polo and mk2 Golf. Yes 6n2 and 6n are cross compatible. It'll depend on what quality of coilovers you're going for as to whether it matters though, the cheap e-bay ones will almost certainly be the same for both models anyway, but it wouldn't hurt to get the 6n2 ones just in case.

I didn't manage to get any measurements today as work was manic/eventful, I'll have a look tomorrow if I get a chance/remember.

6n and 6n2 front coilover kits are different due to the different top mounts used on the cars meaning they use differnet diameter springs, not sure how much that would matter in this instance mind?

[79cord]

Terribly interested in all this for my '79 Accord & Prelude struts too, & have been paying attention when such questions arise. At least I don't need to worry about bottom mounts if strut Dia. is right since hubs clamp round the end, though rare to find actual dimensions for the various strut lengths.
Are the smaller diameter spring kits more of a standard size, making buying different spring rates later easier if required?
Guess VW might not be so appropriate at rear for me though as I have struts all round to locate the wheels.

[pete127]

Thanks for that Matt,spot on match with the 26mm but my hole centre measurement is only 48mm,which is pants!