| There are a lot of aftermarket parts you can install on | | | | they are more compressed under normal use. This will |
| your VW in your own garage that will improve handling | | | | cause them to wear out faster. Depending on how |
| performance. You should do plenty of research before | | | | many miles are on your current shocks it is probably a |
| deciding which parts to put on your car. There are | | | | good idea to replace them at the same time as the |
| many forums online full of VW tuners that can give | | | | springs. This is especially true if you're paying someone |
| you a great idea of what parts you should or shouldn't | | | | else to install them. It will probably cost almost the |
| install on your car. Chances are if a part exists | | | | same amount to install shocks and springs as it will to |
| someone has installed it and written about it on one of | | | | install just the springs. You don't want to pay someone |
| these forums. | | | | that labor fee again in a few months when your |
| Here are a few handling upgrades you can do that will | | | | shocks need replacing. Once you've 'sprung' for new |
| make your car more fun to drive. | | | | shocks and springs, you may want to consider looking |
| 1) Sway Bars. If you take a corner at high speed and it | | | | into coilovers since the cost will be very close to the |
| feels like your car is falling over sideways you might | | | | same. |
| look into upgrading your sway bars. An anti-roll kit helps | | | | 4) Coilovers. Coilovers are a shock and spring |
| keep your car flat during cornering. Aftermarket bars | | | | combination that has the added flexibility of being |
| are usually thicker and/or stiffer than the stock bars, | | | | adjustable. You can adjust the ride height of your |
| which is how they can perform better than the stock | | | | vehicle. This is great if you take your VW to the track. |
| sways. Be warned however that this puts more | | | | You can lower it for racing and raise it back up for |
| stress on your tires grip on the road, so if you install | | | | daily driving. The more expensive coilovers also |
| sway bars on a VW with bald tires you could be | | | | feature the ability to adjust the ride stiffness. This also |
| asking for trouble. These can be installed yourself | | | | comes in handy if you race your car. You most likely |
| without a huge amount of trouble if you have the right | | | | won't want it set to maximum stiffness for daily driving. |
| tools and a place to do it. It will probably take several | | | | A set of coilovers can run between $500-1500. |
| hours. Installing these bars will not impact the ride | | | | 5) Strut Tower Bar. You've probably seen these bars |
| quality of your vehicle, which is great for those who | | | | for sale. They're usually made of colored aluminum and |
| like to take corners a bit crazy once in a while but not | | | | go across the front struts near the rear of the engine. |
| have the car feel stiff and bumpy all the time. A good | | | | It is generally accepted that these don't do much for |
| set of sway bars (front and rear) will run you a few | | | | you in terms of performance, but they do make the |
| hundred dollars or so. | | | | engine compartment look nicer. If you decide to pick |
| 2) Lowering Springs. Aftermarket springs lower your | | | | one up make sure you get the billet aluminum oil cap |
| car anywhere from .5 to 2 inches. This has the effect | | | | that matches. |
| of lowering your car's center of gravity, which | | | | 6) Tires. Probably the most overlooked performance |
| improves handling. These new springs also have | | | | enhancement you can do for your car is to replace |
| different spring rates and will usually give you a much | | | | the tires. Adding lots of engine power won't do you |
| stiffer ride than the stock springs. While springs are | | | | any good if you can't get that power to the pavement. |
| generally really cheap ($100-300), installing them is not | | | | Replacing your tires with a wider tire or tires with a |
| easy. You must have a spring compressor tool and | | | | stickier compound will help you get more traction. |
| know how to use it. These springs are under | | | | Choosing tires is usually a compromise between |
| tremendous pressure with an entire car sitting on them, | | | | Performance, Ride Comfort, and Tread Life. High |
| and if one should come loose while using the spring | | | | performance tires don't last as long as regular ones. |
| compressor it could easily kill you. Even with the | | | | High performance tires can cost quite a bit of money |
| knowledge of how this installation is done it can still | | | | too. |
| take a long time. Unfortunately this also means that | | | | I hope this helped give you some ideas about the |
| having them installed at a shop is usually going to cost | | | | upgrades you can do on your Volkswagen. Just |
| you more than the springs cost. I've seen quotes of | | | | remember that making your suspension perform better |
| $150 all the way up to $600 to install a set of springs. | | | | will sacrifice passenger comfort. You may have more |
| Be aware that lowering your car too much can have | | | | fun driving, but nobody will want to ride with you if your |
| other implications and you should do research on | | | | suspension is too stiff! |
| "camber" prior to choosing a set of springs. | | | | Bill writes articles for automotive sites all around the |
| 3) Shocks. Replacing the stock springs but leaving the | | | | Internet. VW Auto Parts is one of his specialties. Make |
| old shocks on there is going to cost you in the long run. | | | | sure you get the best upgrades for your Volkswagen! |
| Lowering springs put more stress on the shocks since | | | | |