Can a stock Golf Mark III be raised?

Power Ranger · June 1st, 2007, 1:16 PM

Currently I have a need to raise the rear dampers of my mums Golf III(it's stock). Can it be done at home? Do I need somesort of an oil to fill the dampers? My technical knowledge isn't great so I'm sorry for my pretty basic questions. Thanks for answers!

bone · June 1st, 2007, 5:09 PM

euh...first, why do you want to raise it?

second, does it need to be higher, or did it drop for no apparent reason

third, you don't raise a car by putting extra oil in the shocks, you need different shocks, or if you only want to alter a little bit, you can buy new plates which go on top of the shock, and connect it with the car itself (dunno what they're called in english)

Spectre · June 1st, 2007, 5:21 PM

My guess is that the struts/springs have aged, sagged, (thus lowering the car) and now need replacement.

Power Ranger · June 1st, 2007, 6:49 PM

Actually they haven't aged, but my family is planning a trip with a lots of luggage and I wouldn't call my brother small. I just thought that raising the rear dampers was a good idea to prevent some damage to the suspension. Maybe there is something else that we could do?

Blind_Io · June 1st, 2007, 7:53 PM

Hire a bigger car.

Short of replacing the shocks and springs or adding lift blocks there's no way I know of to do what you are asking. The suspension geometry on cars is not designed for that sort of thing. I think the car has an independent rear suspension, depending on the design and geometry you could screw up the wheel camber and wreck your tires in the process. According to Wikipedia, the Golf III introduced a new more sporty suspension that lowered the car more than previous generations. You might not want to go messing around with that.

Viper007Bond · June 1st, 2007, 7:58 PM

Yep, get a rental.

cvrefugee · June 1st, 2007, 8:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Yep, get a rental.

Lend him your Explorer images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Hercules286 · June 1st, 2007, 9:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power Ranger

Actually they haven't aged, but my family is planning a trip with a lots of luggage and I wouldn't call my brother small. I just thought that raising the rear dampers was a good idea to prevent some damage to the suspension. Maybe there is something else that we could do?

Meh, my dad and I loaded all my shit into our Felicia Estate, it took up all the space even after the bigger half of the rear seat was removed (the other half was folded), did 500 km in two days on our terrible roads (we were visiting my grandma), left it parked on an upwards slope overnight and it's STILL fine.

I don't think you need to do any suspension modifications for a family trip.

NecroJoe · June 1st, 2007, 9:30 PM

Sure, the car will squat some. Yes, it wil handle VERY different, but you're not going to damage your car unless you do something like this:

http://www.afternoah.com/images/afternoah/overloaded-car.jpg

http://wilk4.com/humor/img/stupid198.jpg

http://www.welaf.com/hot-jokes/coolest-cars/car-overloaded.jpg

As the suspension gets compressed, it pushes back harder. Don't worry if you put 100 lbs in and you car goes down a half-inch. It will take more weight than that for the next 1/2 inch, and even more for the next. Your ride will become increasingly stiff, but there's really no danger from just people and luggage...unless someone is travelling with bags of concrete...

bone · June 2nd, 2007, 9:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power Ranger

Actually they haven't aged, but my family is planning a trip with a lots of luggage and I wouldn't call my brother small. I just thought that raising the rear dampers was a good idea to prevent some damage to the suspension. Maybe there is something else that we could do?

get a citroen images/smilies/lol.gif

D-Fence · June 2nd, 2007, 1:48 PM

you actually don´t want to make it higher, but harder.......but I think getting new dampers afterwards would come cheaper images/smilies/smile.gif

June 1st, 2007, 1:16 PM	#1
Power Ranger Joined: Jun 1st, 2007 Last Online: November 14th, 2009 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Can a stock Golf Mark III be raised? Currently I have a need to raise the rear dampers of my mums Golf III(it's stock). Can it be done at home? Do I need somesort of an oil to fill the dampers? My technical knowledge isn't great so I'm sorry for my pretty basic questions. Thanks for answers!

June 1st, 2007, 5:21 PM	#3
Spectre Joined: Feb 1st, 2007 Last Online: 10:26 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 32 Posts: 8,359 Car: 87 XJ6, 95 XJR, 90 WD21, 86 CB700SC, 98 PC800 Rep Power: 191	My guess is that the struts/springs have aged, sagged, (thus lowering the car) and now need replacement. __________________ Enough is enough. We are not here to subsidize your clueless business plans or reward your failures. 1986 Honda Nighthawk 700S (project, light restoration in progress) 1987 Jaguar XJ6 Series III Vanden Plas (modified) 1990 Nissan (WD21) Pathfinder SE 4x4 (little red offroad commuter box) 1995 Jaguar (X300) XJR 1998 Honda Pacific Coast PC800 (two-wheeled pickup truck/utility bike)

June 1st, 2007, 7:53 PM	#5
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: 9:49 AM Location: Utah, USA Age: 28 Posts: 10,996 Car: 2006 Nissan X-Terra - 2000 VFR800 Interceptor Rep Power: 266	Hire a bigger car. Short of replacing the shocks and springs or adding lift blocks there's no way I know of to do what you are asking. The suspension geometry on cars is not designed for that sort of thing. I think the car has an independent rear suspension, depending on the design and geometry you could screw up the wheel camber and wreck your tires in the process. According to Wikipedia, the Golf III introduced a new more sporty suspension that lowered the car more than previous generations. You might not want to go messing around with that. __________________ War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength

June 1st, 2007, 7:58 PM	#6
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: 7:30 AM Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 25 Posts: 22,275 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 296	Yep, get a rental. __________________ There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

June 1st, 2007, 9:30 PM	#9
NecroJoe Joined: Apr 12th, 2005 Last Online: 9:24 AM Location: San Francisco area, CA, USA Age: 30 Posts: 4,887 Car: 2001 Mercury Cougar V6 Rep Power: 226	Sure, the car will squat some. Yes, it wil handle VERY different, but you're not going to damage your car unless you do something like this: As the suspension gets compressed, it pushes back harder. Don't worry if you put 100 lbs in and you car goes down a half-inch. It will take more weight than that for the next 1/2 inch, and even more for the next. Your ride will become increasingly stiff, but there's really no danger from just people and luggage...unless someone is travelling with bags of concrete...

June 1st, 2007, 5:09 PM	#2
bone "bangle for president" Joined: Jan 14th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: belgium!! Age: 25 Posts: 6,506 Car: yamaha banshee (and an opel astra from work) Rep Power: 40	euh...first, why do you want to raise it? second, does it need to be higher, or did it drop for no apparent reason third, you don't raise a car by putting extra oil in the shocks, you need different shocks, or if you only want to alter a little bit, you can buy new plates which go on top of the shock, and connect it with the car itself (dunno what they're called in english)

June 1st, 2007, 6:49 PM	#4
Power Ranger Joined: Jun 1st, 2007 Last Online: November 14th, 2009 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Actually they haven't aged, but my family is planning a trip with a lots of luggage and I wouldn't call my brother small. I just thought that raising the rear dampers was a good idea to prevent some damage to the suspension. Maybe there is something else that we could do?

June 2nd, 2007, 1:48 PM	#11
D-Fence Ibiza-Proll Joined: Apr 2nd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: #gear in IRC Posts: 3,379 Car: Spanish Polo with LPG engine. Rep Power: 191	you actually don´t want to make it higher, but harder.......but I think getting new dampers afterwards would come cheaper __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the doors of heaven in a perfectly intact body, but rather to crash through the pearly gates sideways in a car with bald tires, an empty tank and your brakes on fire shouting HOLY SHIT WHAT A RIDE! RINGMEET 2009 - THE REPORT: LINK

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