Shocks - how many miles before change?

[Ranbeer Singh]

Hello all from a bitterly cold Coventry.

I only purchased my MK5 in May last year and am looking to lower the car with some H&Rs or Eibachs.  I was thinking that while I get this done I could possibly get my shocks changed to save cost, but only if they need changing.  Is there a recommended mileage before shocks should be changed? Has anyone got any past experiences/knowledge they can share? Also any recommendations for shocks to suit the springs I have listed? I have read past posts on Eibachs or H&Rs and by the sounds of it they are equally rated so its really hard to choose between the two! I am after the slightly lowered look, and sliglty stiffer handling but would like to keep the ride as OEM as possible. Is there anything else that I should change/replace to achieve this. I have been quoted £300/£320 for springs, fitting and laser wheel alignment.  Is this about right? 

Any help/advice you are able to offer would be most welcome.

 

Rick
2007-GTI

[Kiwi]

If I was you I would pop over and see Chris Franklin at the Centre of Gravity, he is one if the best in the country when it comes to suspension an setup.
He will talk you through the Pro's & Con's of what your after.

Trust me when I say he is the best

Kiwi

[Ranbeer Singh]

Cheers mate.

Ill check it out.

Rick

[Tortaruga]

This is where you could take a chance on it. You don't know how or on what surfaces the car was driven by the previous owner(s), so you could save cash and just fit the springs and maybe get a lot of miles out of the current shocks. Or they could go quite quickly as stiffer, lower springs will stress them more. It's a bit of a gamble.

How many miles are on the car at present?

[Ranbeer Singh]

Its done about 63k - 07 plate.

Rick

[TomGTI]

I've been quoted £311 for eibach sport lines supplied fitted an aligned so I'd say that's spot on.

I'm in the same boat as you really my cars nearly at 55k and I want to lower and stiffen up the ride but Im thinking of sport lines over h&r super sport spring because the super sport go lower than the eibachs there for putting more stress on the standard shocks, and the fact that I don't track it or plan to track it eibach gets my vote!

[Ranbeer Singh]

...super sport go lower than the eibachs there for putting more stress on the standard shocks, and the fact that I don't track it or plan to track it eibach gets my vote!

Very valid point!

Rick

[Ranbeer Singh]

Can anybody give a rough idea of how many miles OEM shocks can/should take?

Rick

[rich83]

How long is a piece of string?

[Ranbeer Singh]

How long is a piece of string?

twice the size from the middle to the end 

Rick

[Tortaruga]

The OEM shocks are decent kit, made by Sachs IIRC.

Replace both shocks & springs if you're worried. Have you checked to see if the shocks are weeping? Are they noticeably 'bouncy' (fnarr)?

There's no way of knowing how long they'll last, especially as it's been previously owned.

[gigolo456]

Apologies for asking but what are the physical symptoms plse of worn shocks, would the ride be bumpier??

Cheers

[stubert]

Generally when you go over a bump the car should settle straight away.  If you push down on the car and let go, it should come back up to height and then settle.  If it dosn't then your shocks are getting tired.

My cars not much over 60k and it's starting to feel a little loose.  For the price of new OEM Sachs shocks from Euro Car parts (when they have a discount on), i think i'll change them out this spring along with top mounts and the WALK kit i have.

If you are changing the springs out and your car has done a decent milage there is nothing wrong with a new set of shocks, too.

[gigolo456]

mine has done c.52k miles, 05 plate, just recently had new Apex springs fitted, along with 4 Polybushes, but as far as i can tell (i will test later), my shocks are ok, but yes, maybe i should have had the shocks changed too, lol!!?? 

[RedRobin]

Apologies for asking but what are the physical symptoms plse of worn shocks, would the ride be bumpier??

....Bouncier would be a more accurate description.

Generally when you go over a bump the car should settle straight away.  If you push down on the car and let go, it should come back up to height and then settle.  If it dosn't then your shocks are getting tired.

....It's impossible for me to push down on my car's suspension and I weigh about 13 stone - It's very stiff and I like it that way (KW-V3).