Golf Racing Struts - workable?
06-13-2011, 05:29 AM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Golf Racing Struts - workable?
For an early car, I've been looking into Golf / VW A1 platform alternatives.
Spotted these:
http://www.bildon.com/catalog/Detail...v=10&SubNav=14
They look pretty decent at $300 each - with custom valving available too.
I know the golf struts are shorter - but how much?
Anyone predict any issues with these?
Spotted these:
http://www.bildon.com/catalog/Detail...v=10&SubNav=14
They look pretty decent at $300 each - with custom valving available too.
I know the golf struts are shorter - but how much?
Anyone predict any issues with these?
06-13-2011, 09:22 AM
#2
What are the spindle interface dimensions...I always wondered if MKII struts would work.....
http://www.bildon.com/catalog/Detail...v=10&SubNav=14
http://www.bildon.com/catalog/Detail...v=10&SubNav=14
06-13-2011, 06:03 PM
#3
Racer
Thread Starter
Our steel control arms are mk1 golf control arms, and the spindles are super beetle dimensions (not 100% sure) - so everything I've read suggests the Mk1 golf stuff bolts up. Mk2 needs 4mm or so spacer washers - 2mm each side - no problem there either.
Just overall length, and the topmount to verify now. I suppose one of us could go and find junkyard mk1 golf and mk2 golf struts to trial fit? If those fit, the racing ones will.
Slightly off-topic but is there a doc listing interchangeable parts somewhere - surely someone's been through this before!
Just overall length, and the topmount to verify now. I suppose one of us could go and find junkyard mk1 golf and mk2 golf struts to trial fit? If those fit, the racing ones will.
Slightly off-topic but is there a doc listing interchangeable parts somewhere - surely someone's been through this before!
06-13-2011, 07:03 PM
#5
I have the factory EARLY strut dimensions as I mod them every so often.
The Spindle interface on the Early strut is 20mm wide and 58mm center to center on the bolts...
The LATE struts are 18mm wide and 63mm center to center on the bolts...
I'll find the strut pic...
The Spindle interface on the Early strut is 20mm wide and 58mm center to center on the bolts...
The LATE struts are 18mm wide and 63mm center to center on the bolts...
I'll find the strut pic...
06-13-2011, 08:44 PM
#6
Is the strut travel long enough for our cars? I believe a couple people on 924board have used VW struts but they were significantly shorter and required stiffer springs, IIRC.
06-14-2011, 07:08 AM
#7
Racer
Thread Starter
http://www.motorgeek.com/viewtopic.php?t=33455
"Mark I inserts are about 12" long"
Getting closer to an answer....
http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91000
"mark 2 golf inserts and found that they are 13 inches long"
Hmm.
No measurements on the struts overall. I do notice that the OEM springs are a much bigger diameter - which is why the bildon struts seemed a better idea.
Will keep searching!
"Mark I inserts are about 12" long"
Getting closer to an answer....
http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91000
"mark 2 golf inserts and found that they are 13 inches long"
Hmm.
No measurements on the struts overall. I do notice that the OEM springs are a much bigger diameter - which is why the bildon struts seemed a better idea.
Will keep searching!
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06-14-2011, 08:21 PM
#9
Racer
Thread Starter
Paydirt! http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=25272
This tells us that the golf struts may be the right thing to go with if you want to go super-low, but...
"You'd probably be better off with the Bilstein V36-0059 front strut. . .and then add a coilover sleeve"
The v36-0059 is marked as being for Scirocco / Jetta use. You'd expect the strut to be longer on those vehicles. So - next up, search for racing struts for this application.
This tells us that the golf struts may be the right thing to go with if you want to go super-low, but...
"You'd probably be better off with the Bilstein V36-0059 front strut. . .and then add a coilover sleeve"
The v36-0059 is marked as being for Scirocco / Jetta use. You'd expect the strut to be longer on those vehicles. So - next up, search for racing struts for this application.
06-16-2011, 07:11 AM
#11
Racer
Thread Starter
There's too much to take in - so I've cross-posted to VWvortex. Hopefully someone there will have the equivalent of xschop's diagram. So far it looks like anything from 2" to 4" shorter - obviously there's a big difference!
Post here: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...0#post72094150
Post here: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...0#post72094150
Last edited by bad_monkey; 06-16-2011 at 07:12 AM. Reason: added link to post
07-04-2011, 07:55 PM
#12
Racer
Thread Starter
No luck with asking the VWers. So, kept going.
Finally got the numbers we're looking for;
Bilstein V36-0059 Golf Mk1 Race Insert
Size;
Insert Length: 12.5
Insert Diameter: 1.5
Piston Compressed: 13.875
Piston Extended: 20.125
Piston Travel 6.25
Travel seems ok. Extended length, too.
Seems like the insert is shorter and would require a spacer.
I've seen mention of a 270/100 damping rate, but the Bilstein guide reads 230/80. (see here)
This would indicate a damping force about 2300 N rebound/800 N compression at velocity of 0.52 m/s.
Can someone (xschop?) please measure the standard/koni insert length for early rebuildable struts?
Anyone remark intelligently on the suitability of this damping rate?
Finally got the numbers we're looking for;
Bilstein V36-0059 Golf Mk1 Race Insert
Size;
Insert Length: 12.5
Insert Diameter: 1.5
Piston Compressed: 13.875
Piston Extended: 20.125
Piston Travel 6.25
Travel seems ok. Extended length, too.
Seems like the insert is shorter and would require a spacer.
I've seen mention of a 270/100 damping rate, but the Bilstein guide reads 230/80. (see here)
This would indicate a damping force about 2300 N rebound/800 N compression at velocity of 0.52 m/s.
Can someone (xschop?) please measure the standard/koni insert length for early rebuildable struts?
Anyone remark intelligently on the suitability of this damping rate?
Last edited by bad_monkey; 07-04-2011 at 07:56 PM. Reason: math
07-04-2011, 08:21 PM
#13
That is the same shock discussed here over two years ago:
http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=25272
07-04-2011, 08:42 PM
#14
Racer
Thread Starter
Yup, that was the lead I was following - just wanted to verify where they were shorter before buying them. Posted that link earlier ^^^
Looks like the insert body is the shorter part, which means we may be able to space them up a bit to recover some of the travel if desired.
Anyhow, will try it - they're on the list now...
Looks like the insert body is the shorter part, which means we may be able to space them up a bit to recover some of the travel if desired.
Anyhow, will try it - they're on the list now...
07-04-2011, 09:38 PM
#15
Nordschleife Master
Yup, that was the lead I was following - just wanted to verify where they were shorter before buying them. Posted that link earlier ^^^
Looks like the insert body is the shorter part, which means we may be able to space them up a bit to recover some of the travel if desired.
Anyhow, will try it - they're on the list now...
Looks like the insert body is the shorter part, which means we may be able to space them up a bit to recover some of the travel if desired.
Anyhow, will try it - they're on the list now...
This is pretty interesting, and for how much its been talked about, I can't believe no one followed up on it.
