Suspension refresh (upgrade?)

[Nertballs]

Hey guys, apologies I know there are plenty of suspension threads so hopefully this is okay.

I'm driving an '09 mk5 2.0 GT TDI (140) with 136k miles on it, still on standard suspension and to say it's getting tired is an understatement, so I'm looking to refresh, and maybe upgrade. This is my daily so I don't want to sacrifice a huge pile of comfort. I'm on a relatively tight budget so can't go too wild, but maybe can set up a plan to upgrade in stages. I am also in Ireland so it's a bit more awkward to get parts.

Springs and shocks / coilovers
It has the factory sports suspension (so 10mm lower?), but I would be happy to go another 10-20mm lower than that.

OEM shocks + springs are around €400, what are the best options instead of this? A combination of OEM shocks with 20-30mm lowering springs (VWR, ST etc), or are there any reputable shocks/spring kits that can be had for ~500?

I've seen the cheap coilover kits here, JOMs are around €250, Racelands €300-450, and would love to try them but they seem too cheap to be true and that I would be sacrificing too much in comfort to go lower (which I don't really care about).

If the Racelands were decent I would go for the Primo's for the adjustable damping, anyone have experience with these?

Bushings
What are the key bushings to hit when doing a suspension refresh? I'm assuming top/bottom mounts would be best, but what other easy targets are there? From anything I've read it seems to be best to go the OEM+ route for bushings, so I would probably do this for front and rear top/bottom mounts.

I would like to get an ALK down the line, but I don't think it's within budget yet.

Thanks in advance for the help, and sorry to drag this discussion up again.

[Clarkj93]

Coilovers wise I would steer clear of B14 if you want to retain comfort. Racingline shocks and springs would probably be high up on my list - I think they're quite well rated as an oem+ kind of option.

Rather than ALK I'd opt for TT arms with a the solid TT bush fitted, you'll retain all the comfort but get much better front grip from the wider track and much more optimal geo setup than simply sticking an ALK bush in.

Top mounts wise I think some people have issues with them squeaking when going lower or stiffer - I've only used uprated mounts since upgrading so not sure if it's a must have or not. TTRS top mounts are a popular option though.

[Nertballs]

Coilovers wise I would steer clear of B14 if you want to retain comfort. Racingline shocks and springs would probably be high up on my list - I think they're quite well rated as an oem+ kind of option.

Rather than ALK I'd opt for TT arms with a the solid TT bush fitted, you'll retain all the comfort but get much better front grip from the wider track and much more optimal geo setup than simply sticking an ALK bush in.

Top mounts wise I think some people have issues with them squeaking when going lower or stiffer - I've only used uprated mounts since upgrading so not sure if it's a must have or not. TTRS top mounts are a popular option though.

Yeah the coilovers idea is more so my 16 year old self shouting "stanceee" at me 

Oh nice, had a look there and TT arms aren't crazy money. That definitely seems more in line with what I have in mind, I'll look into that a bit more.

There's already quite a bit of squelch in the front top mounts so they definitely need a change, so I think I'll add the TTRS mounts to the list.

[Shoduchi]

Coilovers wise I would steer clear of B14 if you want to retain comfort. Racingline shocks and springs would probably be high up on my list - I think they're quite well rated as an oem+ kind of option.

Rather than ALK I'd opt for TT arms with a the solid TT bush fitted, you'll retain all the comfort but get much better front grip from the wider track and much more optimal geo setup than simply sticking an ALK bush in.

Top mounts wise I think some people have issues with them squeaking when going lower or stiffer - I've only used uprated mounts since upgrading so not sure if it's a must have or not. TTRS top mounts are a popular option though.

Fitting the TT arms will make the track rod ends have a lot less threads to torque. It's advised to replace the steering rack as well with the TT rack.
Fitting an ALK has the same effects on comfort as fitting solid bushes. It's just minor but the car will turn better.
I have the TTRS top mounts and they're very good.

[Clarkj93]

Coilovers wise I would steer clear of B14 if you want to retain comfort. Racingline shocks and springs would probably be high up on my list - I think they're quite well rated as an oem+ kind of option.

Rather than ALK I'd opt for TT arms with a the solid TT bush fitted, you'll retain all the comfort but get much better front grip from the wider track and much more optimal geo setup than simply sticking an ALK bush in.

Top mounts wise I think some people have issues with them squeaking when going lower or stiffer - I've only used uprated mounts since upgrading so not sure if it's a must have or not. TTRS top mounts are a popular option though.

Fitting the TT arms will make the track rod ends have a lot less threads to torque. It's advised to replace the steering rack as well with the TT rack.
Fitting an ALK has the same effects on comfort as fitting solid bushes. It's just minor but the car will turn better.
I have the TTRS top mounts and they're very good.

it's only if you have the hubs in addition with the arms is it a bit less than you'd like, there is still plenty of engagement with just the arms. I've been running them for years now.

[pudding]

Disagree about the console bush stiffness differences only being minor.  My SuperPro Poly console bushes are 90 shure. The stiffer choice for men. Compared to the rubber S3 bushes, they are harsh as f'ck, so take that as a warning    Maybe go with the 80 shure for the road.  Shoduchi hasn't seen how awful Ireland's roads are 

[Nertballs]

Shoduchi hasn't seen how awful Ireland's roads are 

Last thing I need is an earful from herself about comfort on a 5 hour drive back to Donegal. 

Reading back through old posts a bit more, think I'll go with a set of ST springs and dampers, haven't decided on -20 or -30 yet, but leaning more towards -20.

Had a poke around the rear today while doing the brakes, the dampers have had it but the springs and bushings aren't as bad as I had feared thankfully. Think I'll go with the TTRS mounts front and rear, new droplinks all round, and if I can find TT control arms + ball joints for a reasonable price over here get them and do it all at the same time.

[breeze]

Front and rear drop links are cheap and easy. Top mounts make sense if doing shocks. After that it will be just working through everything. Front end will make a bigger difference to feel that rear end and buying the front arms complete (with console bushes and ball joints) does make things easier.

I’m a big fan of standard suspension. On a GTI it is surprising how stiff it actually is when everything is new.

[pudding]

Shoduchi hasn't seen how awful Ireland's roads are 

Last thing I need is an earful from herself about comfort on a 5 hour drive back to Donegal. 

Reading back through old posts a bit more, think I'll go with a set of ST springs and dampers, haven't decided on -20 or -30 yet, but leaning more towards -20.

Had a poke around the rear today while doing the brakes, the dampers have had it but the springs and bushings aren't as bad as I had feared thankfully. Think I'll go with the TTRS mounts front and rear, new droplinks all round, and if I can find TT control arms + ball joints for a reasonable price over here get them and do it all at the same time.

The ST kit is pretty harsh and the -20mm kit is more like -35ish drop at the front, so it looks even more raked than standard, which I hate!

If you want minimal ride height drop and something moderately comfortable, I'd go with non-GTI H&R springs with stock dampers, or Bilstein B4.  It's still quite a choppy ride, but then the factory setup is hardly the paragon of ride quality either!

[Nertballs]

The ST kit is pretty harsh and the -20mm kit is more like -35ish drop at the front, so it looks even more raked than standard, which I hate!

If you want minimal ride height drop and something moderately comfortable, I'd go with non-GTI H&R springs with stock dampers, or Bilstein B4.  It's still quite a choppy ride, but then the factory setup is hardly the paragon of ride quality either!

I'll avoid the ST kit so, doesn't sound like what I'm after at all. I've read mixed things about the VWR springs and dampers too, any experience with them?

I'll look into the H&R now, if they're handy with stock dampers then that'd be a pretty cost effective change, along with the other OEM+ bits should end up a lot better than what it is at the minute.

Sidebar to the suspension, the front brakes are on the way out in the next while too. Performance wise is it worth getting the GTi carriers to go up to the 312mm discs? Can pick up carriers from a breaker down the road, but just wondering if it's worth the effort vs amount of performance gained.

[Lewo]

If you change your mind about STs I've got a set used for less than 6k miles.
Not looking for a lot for them.

[Nertballs]

If you change your mind about STs I've got a set used for less than 6k miles.
Not looking for a lot for them.

Can't send DMs yet, is there a post limit you need to reach to send them?

Are they -20 or -30? Haven't fully decided, but if they were budget friendly   
I'm in Ireland though which would probably be an issue.

[pudding]

The ST kit is pretty harsh and the -20mm kit is more like -35ish drop at the front, so it looks even more raked than standard, which I hate!

If you want minimal ride height drop and something moderately comfortable, I'd go with non-GTI H&R springs with stock dampers, or Bilstein B4.  It's still quite a choppy ride, but then the factory setup is hardly the paragon of ride quality either!

I'll avoid the ST kit so, doesn't sound like what I'm after at all. I've read mixed things about the VWR springs and dampers too, any experience with them?

I'll look into the H&R now, if they're handy with stock dampers then that'd be a pretty cost effective change, along with the other OEM+ bits should end up a lot better than what it is at the minute.

Sidebar to the suspension, the front brakes are on the way out in the next while too. Performance wise is it worth getting the GTi carriers to go up to the 312mm discs? Can pick up carriers from a breaker down the road, but just wondering if it's worth the effort vs amount of performance gained.

Lol, my thoughts on the Racingline kit are controversial    In my opinion, they are the worst damper/spring combo I've experienced over 25 years of VW modifying 

They're comfortable initially, but the softer of the two progressive rates is way too soft, and the stiffer one is, you guessed it, too stiff!  So what you end up with is spongy pedal under braking, brake dive and crashiness in deeper bumps/pot holes.  It is the only kit that has understeered me off the road on a corner I've taken for 30 years without issue, so they quickly came off.

Yeah I would upgrade to the 312 setup and just use ATE discs and pads from EuroCarParts.  The 288 setup runs out of braking seriously quickly, especially with the heavy diesel lump up front!

[Nertballs]

Lol, my thoughts on the Racingline kit are controversial    In my opinion, they are the worst damper/spring combo I've experienced over 25 years of VW modifying 

They're comfortable initially, but the softer of the two progressive rates is way too soft, and the stiffer one is, you guessed it, too stiff!  So what you end up with is spongy pedal under braking, brake dive and crashiness in deeper bumps/pot holes.  It is the only kit that has understeered me off the road on a corner I've taken for 30 years without issue, so they quickly came off.

Yeah I would upgrade to the 312 setup and just use ATE discs and pads from EuroCarParts.  The 288 setup runs out of braking seriously quickly, especially with the heavy diesel lump up front!

Ah wonderful, the worst of both worlds! I'll steer well clear of those so. I think for shocks/dampers I'll wait and talk to Lewo on his ST kit, might be worth a punt depending, and if not go like you recomended and get H&R springs and some OEM coilovers.

Yeah I think that will be the next job on the list, after the dreaded DSG service. I've just replaced the rears with stock discs and pads, will there be too much of an imbalance running 312s on the front?

[Lewo]

If you change your mind about STs I've got a set used for less than 6k miles.
Not looking for a lot for them.

Can't send DMs yet, is there a post limit you need to reach to send them?

Are they -20 or -30? Haven't fully decided, but if they were budget friendly   
I'm in Ireland though which would probably be an issue.

They're listed for sale from earlier in the year if you are able to see them?
I will do £275 ono now. I need the room in the shed lol.
Postage might be an issue but I'll get a quote for you.