Matching springs and dampers

[MJK 24]

A few years ago, I fitted Boge Turbo gas dampers to my Scirocco. At the time, I was running standard GTX springs that offered a slightly lower ride height compared to the springs that carb Scirocco's ran.

Ride was a little harsh with the Boge dampers.

Now, last year, get pulled up on the MOT for having a couple of cracked springs. VW couldn't supply me with anything and I avoid £45 eBay lowering kits like the plague! Ended up fitting an Eibach prokit. Lowered the car another inch lower than a GTX. Has the tracking and camber reset. The ride is now poor on potholed roads and over speedbumps. It's acceptable on the motorway.

People talk about matching springs and dampers. Are the Boge Turbogas and Eibach prokit not going to work in harmony? Can anyone recommend a damper that will work well with my new spring? I've just invested in a pair of Eibach anti roll bars and will be rebushing the suspension along with a new rack, steering arms, track rod ends, ball joints and top mounts next weekend. I've spent a bloody fortune but don't want to compromise my efforts if there's a better affordable damper out there!

My other car is a Lotus Elise (Bilstein Dampers and Eibach Springs from the factory) and the ride quality is ten times better than the Scirocco. If anyone can help me 'flow' down the road, I'd be most grateful!

Thanks in advance for any hints and tips!

[Nate]

what do you mean by "poor"? crashy over bumps in the road? larger than normal wheels will make this worse - not so much rubber to take out the shock. poly bushes make it worse (this is my experience, others will tell you otherwise) play in the top mounts, ball joints, arb links/bushes will all make it worse. inscure dash and undertrays will make it sound worse than it is!

[MJK 24]

I'm running 195/50 R15 Firestones on G60 steels.

Top mounts and ball joints are worn and due for replacement next weekend!

Main irritation is after going over a bump, the cars bounces slightly after the bump. Does that make sense? The suspension compresses and rebounds twice for one bump if you see what I mean. The second compression is not as severe as the actual bump, but still annoying! Didn't happen until
I changed springs from standard GTX to the Eibach ProKit.

[PeteGLi]

........................At the time, I was running standard GTX springs that offered a slightly lower ride height compared to the springs that carb Scirocco's ran.

No they didn't! The only Scirocco that ran slightly stronger springs and dampers was the 16v GTX - not the 8V. The ride height on the 16v was approx 10mm lower as a result. All the 8v's ran the same setup.

[Tim_R]

Did you change bump stops when the eibachs went on? If not then you are probably riding on them at the front meaning the spring isn't doing anything and all the spring is in the rubber.
Personally I found the eibachs to be too soft on the front and went back to standard springs.

[mark1gls]

How old/ how many miles have the front shocks done?

Does sound like you are riding around on the bump stops if you did not fit shorter ones.

[MJK 24]

Bump stop issue did not occur to me despite the exact same problem on my Alfasud many moons ago!

Do I need to buy new bumpstops or will I chop what I have in half next weekend? Will have the front suspension in pieces to do top mounts, ball joints and bushes and also replace my strut bodies with powder coated items.

Boge TurboGas have done 50k miles with no signs of any leaks thus far.

Thanks for all the help so far :)

[stu.gtx]

When I first lowered my car I had Boge Turbogas shocks and Boge -20mm lowering springs. I found them to be very harsh over bumps and pot-holes. Many moons later I now have Evo front struts/shocks and SuperSport -60mm springs and the ride is much better. I think oil filled shocks are a bit more comfortable than gas. One thing that does make a huge difference to ride comfort is tyre sidewalls. If you go from a 50 profile to a 60 the ride will be noticeably more comfortable.