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