Can a stock Golf Mark III be raised?

Power Ranger · June 1st, 2007, 01:16 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, 05:09 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, 05:21 PM

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

Power Ranger · June 1st, 2007, 06:49 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, 07:53 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, 07:58 PM

Yep, get a rental.

cvrefugee · June 1st, 2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Yep, get a rental.

Lend him your Explorer images/smilies/biggrin.gif

petarkb · June 1st, 2007, 09:06 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, 09:30 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, 09:39 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, 01:48 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, 01:16 PM	#1
Power Ranger Joined: Jun 1st, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday 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, 05:09 PM	#2
bone "bangle for president" Joined: Jan 14th, 2004 Last Online: November 27th, 2008 Location: belgium!! Age: 24 Posts: 6,069 Car: yamaha banshee (and an opel astra from work) Rep Power: 28	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) __________________ groups/artists i've seen live: coldplay, the cure, cypress hill, damian marley, deftones, depeche mode, dEUS, franz ferdinand, grandaddy, guns n' roses, interpol, jamiroquai, korn, lenny kravits, marilyn manson, massive attack, metallica, moby, muse, the pixies, placebo, prodigy, queens of the stone age, the raconteurs, radiohead, red hot chili peppers, REM, skin, tool, the who, Wu-Tang and so many more...

June 1st, 2007, 05:21 PM	#3
Spectre Joined: Feb 1st, 2007 Last Online: 07:29 AM Location: Dallas, Texas USA Age: 31 Posts: 3,009 Car: 87 XJ6, 95 XJR, 90 WD21, 86 CB700SC Rep Power: 52	My guess is that the struts/springs have aged, sagged, (thus lowering the car) and now need replacement. __________________ 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 (modified) My truck can swim the English Channel; what can yours do? It's just another day / Where people cling to light / To drive away the fear / That comes with every night

June 1st, 2007, 07:53 PM	#5
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: 06:53 AM Location: Richmond, California, USA Age: 27 Posts: 8,919 Car: 2004 Honda Civic Coupe 2000 VFR800 Interceptor Rep Power: 113	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. __________________ Life is like riding, you have to keep your balance to keep moving. Deacon of Dirt, Head of North American Anti-Environmental Inquisition (Left Coast Division). founder of The Church of Gear's Two Wheeled Sect. Zombie Slayer, Extraordinaire. Reasonable rates, inquire within.

June 1st, 2007, 07:58 PM	#6
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 24 Posts: 20,988 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 234	Yep, get a rental. __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! 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, 06:49 PM	#4
Power Ranger Joined: Jun 1st, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday 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 1st, 2007, 09:30 PM	#9
NecroJoe Joined: Apr 12th, 2005 Last Online: 07:25 AM Location: San Francisco area, CA, USA Age: 29 Posts: 1,828 Car: 2001 Mercury Cougar V6 Rep Power: 55	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 2nd, 2007, 01:48 PM	#11
D-Fence Ibiza-Proll Joined: Apr 2nd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Germany Age: 22 Posts: 2,317 Car: SEAT Ibiza LPG ;) Rep Power: 65	you actually don´t want to make it higher, but harder.......but I think getting new dampers afterwards would come cheaper __________________ Quiky & TechZ

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