Lifted MKV Golf

[baconlettucetomato]

That trash bag thing is pretty cool,where do you find those?

As for my jetta,I have all 4 tires,but the MSW wheels I wanted were supposed to be in stock last week,but tire rack said they wont be in till the end of April
So I said forget it,So I went on ebay and found some 15" older audi wheels that will fit my car,Going to give the car a bit of rally look,And according to a friend of mine the closed face design will help keep rocks and dirt away from the brakes,which is good,they should be here next week,will post pics as soon as I get them on

They look just like the wheels on this car:

And here is my car,This is a old pic the shop took that put the springs on,the car doesn't have the led lights or anything in this picture and accuse the little 205/55/16 baby tires,But I think the audi wheels and larger tires will look good on it

 

[Isgro]

I'd go the other way if I were you. The lift springs are going to get you a lot more load capacity, a good thing when you start loading stuff in the back. A weak point of any small vehicle used for expedition type stuff is the rear spring rate.

That's a very good point. I'm going to have rethink this plan. Thanks for the input.

 

[Anti Bling]

I have the H&R lift springs. but I am looking to add the front strut spacers as well. I just haven't been able to get some made up yet. the springs seem to be a little to soft as I bottom out sometimes when carrying a load and driving like a mad man. so, I am also going to reinstall the bump stops onto the shocks and struts. for some reason I left them off thinking I wanted added suspension travel. but travel doesn't do that much when your tires are rubbing during suspension compression. I also lost the upper spring mounts for the rear springs. they grew legs when I had them in storage while running the coil over suspension. this let the rear springs move outward and now the springs rub on the lower control arms just enough to sound like something has come loose. I can run it still, but I hate rattles and squeaks. it is all down to the small details now.
current project: Glamping power station
I am building a onboard power station with two yellow top batteries, two 800w inverters (one is a back up), a 12v 4-way power port, a 10w solar charge controller that will plug into the rear power port to charge the batteries while traveling. all inside a plastic tote I picked up at my local Lowes. It will also carry a 110AC 10a battery charger, HD extension cord and HD jumper cables. so now I can power 110v and 12v items while "off grid" and jump myself hehe and charge all my batteries when ever needed. I have a 100w solar panel but I haven't found a way to mount it and still have room for gear on the roof. I am thinking of building some sort of pull of tray so the solar panel will slide under the roof rack floor. but I haven't gotten that far yet. when the panel gets mounted I have a 30w charge controller for it.
Remember, 2 is 1 and 1 is none.
pictures to come soon.

 

[Anti Bling]

this is the box i picked up at Lowes.



inside the box so far. it messy as I'm still building it. 2 yellow top optima batteries (not strapped down yet), 110v battery charger tucked next to the batteries on the left, one of the 800w converter mounted on the right with a Belkin surge protector plugged in to safeguard sensitive electronics. the spare converter is not mounted yet. also the HD jumper cables tossed in.



a closer look at the solar charge controller I am using to charge from the power port located in the trunk area of the car.



the power ports inside the box. fuse protected. i have a USB plug and a Goalzero LED light so i can see in the dark and a voltage indicator so i can keep an eye on things at a glance. the solar charge controller also has a voltage display. two is one, one is none.


i still have room for my box that holds spare small rechargeable batteries and charger and my HD extension cord.

 

[hugodufour]

I finally gave the treatment that my 2009 Sportwagen 2.5 manual deserves! I'm still having an issue with the front as there's a big knocking sound on some bumps. I'll try to disconnect the sway bar and see if it improves. I used H&R Lift Tiguan springs and Bilstein Tiguan Struts and shocks as well as Jeep spacers in the back. I know that you guys are using stock MK5 struts in the front, do you think it can be related? Did you have similar issues with the sway bar connected? I think the resulting setup I have might give a bit more lift in the front. Any opinions?

Anyways, here you go!


Before:

After:

And playing with photoshop! Planning on plasti dipping the front chrome and possibly the wheels:

 

[WagoneerSX4]

The knocks you're hearing from the front is most likely your front struts topping out over bumps. Does the stock struts use body mounted bump stops or bump stops within the struts? Do the new bilstein shocks not have bump stops maybe?

Easy fix would be limiting straps and see if the knock goes away.

 

[Anti Bling]

I think wagonersx4 is correct. my front struts "top out" and clunk going over speed bumps. not on the compression but on the quick rebound. I removed both front and rear sway bars as I had big aftermarket units installed when I was running very low coil over suspension. so I am sure that the noise is not from the sway bars.

Hugodufour your wagon looks awesome! I LOVE the mud terrain tires. the height is also great. I will be swapping over to the Bilstein HD front struts. but now it looks like I'm going to get them in the Tiguan version.

could you tell us what part number Jeep spacers you used as the ones I got wouldn't fit.

 

[Anti Bling]

i just finished my first two week trip through Nevada, Oregon and California. while it wasn't a true overlanding trip we drove on back roads and scenic byways as much as possible. we did some camping when weather permitted (it rained the first 8 days). rain doesn't bother me, but the wife is new to the whole "camping" thing so we did hit a few hotels. after 1,200 miles everything went perfect. no breakdowns, flats or run-ins with the law. we did get raided by racoons one night during one of our camping nights. Oregon is beautiful. so beautiful we are planing on moving to the Oregon coast soon. the state parks are many levels better than the parks in Nevada and California. they truly take pride in their parks and everything was spotless and clean. the people were extremely friendly and courteous. here are a few shots i took. i didn't take to many pictures as i was having to much fun to stop and take pictures all the time. also the saying: "10 pound of "stuff" in a 5 pound sack" clearly they were talking about all the gear we packed for this trip even with the lift springs, the weight of the gear made the rear suspension ride a bit low but the tires never rubbed. now i have a much better understanding what to pack for a trip. balancing what we wanted to bring with us and actually needed and used on this trip was what this shake down trip was all about.

 

[WagoneerSX4]

Pretty amazing you fit that campsite into the car!

My load varies greatly depending on if we're car-camping (as in staying in one campsite for multiple days) or overlanding (moving every single day). When we car camp, we're guilty of over packing as well. I even added a boat to the list... yikes.

 

[hugodufour]

The knocks you're hearing from the front is most likely your front struts topping out over bumps. Does the stock struts use body mounted bump stops or bump stops within the struts? Do the new bilstein shocks not have bump stops maybe?

Easy fix would be limiting straps and see if the knock goes away.

The struts have the stock bumpstops within the struts. I have to say that it's almost impossible that the struts tops out as it' REALLY stiff! And actually, I did a test climbing one wheel on a curb, then the other and heard the clunk when the second wheel climbed. I was going at really slow speed. It can also happen on quite minor cracks in the asphalt at like 20-30mph.

 

[hugodufour]

I think wagonersx4 is correct. my front struts "top out" and clunk going over speed bumps. not on the compression but on the quick rebound. I removed both front and rear sway bars as I had big aftermarket units installed when I was running very low coil over suspension. so I am sure that the noise is not from the sway bars.

Hugodufour your wagon looks awesome! I LOVE the mud terrain tires. the height is also great. I will be swapping over to the Bilstein HD front struts. but now it looks like I'm going to get them in the Tiguan version.

could you tell us what part number Jeep spacers you used as the ones I got wouldn't fit.

Thanks for comments! I have to say that your project has been a great inspiration to get mine going! Thanks for that

As for the the clunk, I gave some information in the previous post, but it can happen at very low speed, so topping out the stuts appears almost impossible as it's super stiff.

Your rebound theory is interesting as I thought the sound might be delayed. What you mean is that the sound heard would come from the supension quickly coming back to its initial position? The thing though in my case is that I kind of hear that sound very often, not just on speed bumps. On the highway, it's mostly fine as it's pretty even but in intense bumps, it's bad. And the purpose of that is do little offroad! I was thinking my setup might be too stiff with both struts and springs from a Tiguan. It's really stiff. How is yours?

As for spacers, I went with TJ 1.75" ones: http://www.jeep4x4center.com/jeep-lift-kits/daystar/wrangler-tj/1.75-budget-boost.htm
I also used these TJ bumpstops extender to stuff the center: http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kit....aspx?t_c=1&t_s=101&t_pt=9426&t_pn=TER1910204

The bolts coming with them won't fit and you need additional huge washers. I actually first put them without bolts and they get blocked in the center when everything in installed, so bolts are probably useless. I put those at the bottom and kept the stock rubber bushing underneath it to help center it. So far, so good, that part of my setup seems to work very well. The only thing is with more lift in the rear, the wheels approaches the front of the fender. I have minor rubbing at full extension but nothing terrible. The resulting lift is quite impressive.

 

[Demo1986]

This is a very cool thread!

 

[Anti Bling]

Thanks for comments! I have to say that your project has been a great inspiration to get mine going! Thanks for that

As for the the clunk, I gave some information in the previous post, but it can happen at very low speed, so topping out the stuts appears almost impossible as it's super stiff.

Your rebound theory is interesting as I thought the sound might be delayed. What you mean is that the sound heard would come from the supension quickly coming back to its initial position? The thing though in my case is that I kind of hear that sound very often, not just on speed bumps. On the highway, it's mostly fine as it's pretty even but in intense bumps, it's bad. And the purpose of that is do little offroad! I was thinking my setup might be too stiff with both struts and springs from a Tiguan. It's really stiff. How is yours?

As for spacers, I went with TJ 1.75" ones: http://www.jeep4x4center.com/jeep-lift-kits/daystar/wrangler-tj/1.75-budget-boost.htm
I also used these TJ bumpstops extender to stuff the center: http://www.4Iwheelparts.com/Lift-Ki....aspx?t_c=1&t_s=101&t_pt=9426&t_pn=TER1910204

The bolts coming with them won't fit and you need additional huge washers. I actually first put them without bolts and they get blocked in the center when everything in installed, so bolts are probably useless. I put those at the bottom and kept the stock rubber bushing underneath it to help center it. So far, so good, that part of my setup seems to work very well. The only thing is with more lift in the rear, the wheels approaches the front of the fender. I have minor rubbing at full extension but nothing terrible. The resulting lift is quite impressive.

now that's the info I needed!!! thanks a bunch. I wish I could have done this before my trip but i'll be ready for the next one for sure now. did you get a chance to compare the front struts and see if they were different in any way? the front of your wagon looks a little bit higher than the set up I am running. but I'm running stock factory MK5 front struts and tiguan lift springs. as I think of it , the clunk in the front might be front the upper strut bearings/mount. they might clunk when unloaded under quick rebound. just a thought.
I had a little bit of trouble with the second link you posted but I figured it out. thanks for those. I placed an order for the spacers and bump stop extensions. I can get larger washers and bolts no problem. as for the tire rubbing the front of the wheel well, I removed the plastic guard that was there and persuaded the sheet metal with a rubber mallet. i'll try to get a few pictures. now it has enough clearance so the tire don't hit it. I cant even tell that anything was done (not hacked).
it so great when everyone gets together to help each other out without hoarding their "secret" set up. although I love my rabbit, I really want to get a wagon now. I know my wife wont let me do this to her '08 Passat wagon I just bought for her.

 

[hugodufour]

now that's the info I needed!!! thanks a bunch. I wish I could have done this before my trip but i'll be ready for the next one for sure now. did you get a chance to compare the front struts and see if they were different in any way? the front of your wagon looks a little bit higher than the set up I am running. but I'm running stock factory MK5 front struts and tiguan lift springs. as I think of it , the clunk in the front might be front the upper strut bearings/mount. they might clunk when unloaded under quick rebound. just a thought.
I had a little bit of trouble with the second link you posted but I figured it out. thanks for those. I placed an order for the spacers and bump stop extensions. I can get larger washers and bolts no problem. as for the tire rubbing the front of the wheel well, I removed the plastic guard that was there and persuaded the sheet metal with a rubber mallet. i'll try to get a few pictures. now it has enough clearance so the tire don't hit it. I cant even tell that anything was done (not hacked).
it so great when everyone gets together to help each other out without hoarding their "secret" set up. although I love my rabbit, I really want to get a wagon now. I know my wife wont let me do this to her '08 Passat wagon I just bought for her.

Yeah, it's really a fun thing to be pioneers in bringing solutions to lift our cars! I'm the only one in my area, that's for sure. I went at the VW dealer, and I got all those confused faces looking at my car, quite funny!

Sorry for the link, figured out there's a typo and fixed it.

Regarding the front struts, I compared them with the stock ones and the overall height with the strut insert was around 1-1.5" higher, which leads me to think I get more lift out of those. Now, I cannot totally recommand them because of the issue. I wonder if it's not related to that. It's REALLY stiff and hits hard on bumps. It's difficult to know what is causing what but I'll try to first eliminate the knock noise and see if the ride is still that harsh. I would for sure appreciate something smoother, which is why I was almost thinking to eventually go with the stock mk5 struts. I could add spacers on top to get the same lift possibly. But too early to tell, more to investigate. Is your front end really harsh?

 

[hugodufour]

I think wagonersx4 is correct. my front struts "top out" and clunk going over speed bumps. not on the compression but on the quick rebound. I removed both front and rear sway bars as I had big aftermarket units installed when I was running very low coil over suspension. so I am sure that the noise is not from the sway bars.

Hugodufour your wagon looks awesome! I LOVE the mud terrain tires. the height is also great. I will be swapping over to the Bilstein HD front struts. but now it looks like I'm going to get them in the Tiguan version.

could you tell us what part number Jeep spacers you used as the ones I got wouldn't fit.

Regarding the clunk, I could test on speed bump at low speed and could confirm it happens on the rebound. What I understand is that the suspension with the car weight on it is so stiff that it always stays fully extended. When going over a bump, it goes down a little, but quickly go back to the top and it's when the hit is heard.

Are you saying you have the exact same issue? Is it omnipresent? In my case, it seems almost impossible to offroad with that problem as it's really hitting all the time as soon as there are bumps and it doesn't create a very pleasant ride.