Harsh front suspension - what to check / replace?

[recardo]

hoping the MK5 collective can help give me some pointers please!

The front suspension on my GTi seems overly harsh and very crashy, on some surfaces banging/thumping harshly as it feels like the tyres are doing the work of absorbing impact not the shocks etc...   I suspect my car has been lowered at some point in its past (springs are red) but I feel it should not be as harsh as it currently is.  The back end feels more compliant and doesnt bang and crash over bumps.
If it ever stops raining, I will check what I can for any obvious movement, all bolts being tight etc (subframe, droplinks, control arms, top mounts etc)

Are there any obvious suspects to check first or to replace as either preventative maintenance or good practice?  Top mounts? certain bushes?
Mileage is nearly 120K so I do expect some items will need refreshed - where should I start?

thanks!

[titchy]

Top mountings and shocks?

[recardo]

everything is solid, no clunking or anything sounding loose or worn.  I've had a look and everying is tight with no movement.

I'm erring towards the shocks - pressing down on the front of the car - there is very little movement, maybe 10mm travel at most. 

If there is no damping in the shocks then effectively they are always bottomed out and they wont absorb any changes in the road surface, hence the harsh ride?

[pudding]

The back end is lighter and has longer, softer springs, so can't be used as a reference point.

Could be knackered front dampers as you say.  Are they OEMs? The GTI isn't the best over rough roads anyway, even with fresh suspension.  Compared to the previous generation GTI, all of the bushes are considerably smaller and stiffer to inject some life into the chassis, which comes at a refinement cost.

[recardo]

Have sourced another set of standard Sachs shocks and springs.  Rears are done, just waiting on new top mounts for the fronts, will hopefully fit Thurs or Fri and then see what difference the standard set up makes to how it drives.

[recardo]

by way of an update, fitted standard shocks and springs with new top mounts etc.  definitely an improvement over the previous lowered (knackered) setup.

Its still a firm ride, but more compliant.