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Author Topic: How do find out your strut diameter  (Read 17273 times)

Offline Top Cat

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How do find out your strut diameter
« on: June 17, 2009, 05:52:24 pm »
Need your help chaps.  :smiley:

I am selling my coilovers and they are the DSG model.

I have been on the phone to KW who have told me the only difference between the DSG and the manual is that the spring rate is a tiny bit stiffer to allow for the extra couple of kilo's that the DSG box carries.
But they will only fit onto a Strut Diameter of 55mil which all DSG cars have. but he said as far as manuals go you could get either of the 2 sizes they do.  :chicken:

So! how and where do you measure the strut diameter on the Mk 5 platform.  :smiley:

Thanks in advance chaps.  :happy2:

Offline luca

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2009, 05:53:32 pm »
 :signLOL:

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Offline gazbutS3

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2009, 06:07:18 pm »
I've bin through this myself TC, it is the diameter of the damper body that engages in the hub at the bottom. When I made some enquiries there was no deffo answer i.e cars before 07 have this size and cars after have so and so. So its just a case of measuring what you have. All of the people I spoke to said they had never come across a 50mm strut. Both GTI's that I had 55 plate regular and 57 plate ED30 were 55mm

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2009, 06:08:18 pm »
Nice one Gaz.  :happy2:

Offline gazbutS3

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2009, 06:08:31 pm »
What you havin instead by the way?

Offline Top Cat

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2009, 06:12:56 pm »
the only ones that do what i need is the clubsport. or the new hydraulic ones but they lift the suspension as well when fitted so i would need to get the springs cut down according to Kw.
I was starting to glaze over near the end of the conversation.  :rolleye:

Offline gazbutS3

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2009, 06:15:59 pm »
the only ones that do what i need is the clubsport. or the new hydraulic ones but they lift the suspension as well when fitted so i would need to get the springs cut down according to Kw.
I was starting to glaze over near the end of the conversation.  :rolleye:

are wanting to go lower then?

just went outside and made sure I wsn't talkin b@ll@x, the S3 is 55mm as well :happy2:

Offline Top Cat

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2009, 06:20:00 pm »
Cheers Gaz  :happy2: my problem is because of the offset and the fact i wanted a tyre width that i could drive round bends on. I need a little bit of camber to get it right and my V2 coils dont fit with the top mounts i have bought.  :sad:

Offline gazbutS3

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #8 on: June 17, 2009, 06:23:16 pm »
I see, they rubbing on the inside?

Offline Top Cat

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #9 on: June 17, 2009, 06:29:19 pm »
No i have not got any rubbing how it is. but i want the best of both worlds.
I dont want a car that looks great slammed but scrapes and scuff wherever i go.
I want to start doing a few track days next year but also want it as low as i can get it.  :evilgrin:

Offline gazbutS3

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #10 on: June 17, 2009, 06:40:15 pm »
fair enough :happy2:

Offline MAT ED30

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #11 on: June 17, 2009, 08:45:45 pm »
my v3 are from a dsg car fella and work great nice and stiff

Mods yes but way too many to stick in this little box

Offline the bruce

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2011, 04:50:14 pm »
There's a very simple rule for all Golf V, VI, A3, Leon, Octavia, Scirocco, Passat 3C,
Touran, TT 8J etc.:


If you have the smaller brake (256/280 mm; on the caliper you can read ''FSIII''),
you have the 50 mm strut. This is used from 75 HP to122 HP.

If you have a 288 mm or 312 mm (FN3 caliper; read ''Ate'' on front side) or the 345 mm
brake (FNRG), then you have 55 mm struts. These are used from 122 on and
a few 1.9 TDI are equipped with DSG and with all from 140 HP on.


There is no other way possible. The FSIII does not fit the 55 mm strut and the FN3-
and FNRG calipers do not fit the 50 mm strut.

Fortunately you can see it without removing a wheel. And with most engines you can
easily it's just clearly though.




 :wink:
« Last Edit: May 18, 2011, 04:52:07 pm by the bruce »
"You get what you pay for."

Offline gazbutS3

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #13 on: May 19, 2011, 05:58:01 pm »
great info :happy2:

Offline Eccie

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Re: How do find out your strut diameter
« Reply #14 on: May 19, 2011, 06:38:59 pm »
Have i missed something, I thought the GTi was going TC - Are you keeping it and going all USA with it (low and slow)?


Gone - Candy White MK5 Golf GTI (you never really forget your first true love...!)
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