i have heard it is doable yourself, but i really dont want to get it wrong, and am happy to cough up a bit of cash to get the garage to do it. Its a mk3, so i reckon bolts will be seized up, plus i dont have that many tools. How much will the garage quote roughly?

Also undecided whether to get just lowering springs from philj, or the springs and shocks package. Will it be cheaper/easier to just fit the springs? and will it benefit me much to get the shocks too?

much appreciated

i would recomend getting a package from PhilJ and do it yourself tbh, all you need is an ajustable spanner and some spring compressors.

2-3 hours at a guess, if you can find somewwhere that'll want to fit your supplied parts.

DIY it mate, the best thing about modifying a car is actually knowing it's your own work, not just something you paid someone else to do.

my dad owns a garage so i got quoted by the mechanic there £80 to fit the lot, but thats half price so they would usually quote 160, 40 a corner.

I would also reccomend a package, i was considering just shocks but had heard from numerous sources that the standard shocks just arent up to the job and often start leaking etc. I've been told if its 40mm you should be fine with just springs but I'm gna go for a 60/40 kit set to 60/50 or poss 60/60 so getting the whole lot.

I'm going to try it myself tho, seems pretty easy and i replaced the gearbox in my mk2 with a 5 speed 8p without trouble so cant imagine its gonna be any more difficult than that!

If you decide to do it yourself please get a decent set of spring compressors.

If your shocks are the original items then no doubt they'll be past their best and you'll definitely notice a difference with uprated shocks, and lowering springs, over just the springs.

If you decide to do it yourself please get a decent set of spring compressors.

If your shocks are the original items then no doubt they'll be past their best and you'll definitely notice a difference with uprated shocks, and lowering springs, over just the springs.

I'm going to borrow a set of compressors from the mechanic at my dads place as they dont work weekends ill scab them for a few days :p

What makes you say this though? have lots of people tried with inadequate tools or bodged it and made a mess of it?

the reason that you need good spring compressors are that the front springs are under such force because of the weight of the engine that if you managed to get the springs off and the compressors broke, the spring would take your head clean off if you had it over them, but with the correct compressors and making sure that you wind them down one turn each side at a time then you will have no problems

Jon

cheers for the advice lads. think i probably will give it a shot myself after reading the comments and the mk3 guide [nice one skatty01]. Bit aprehensive about the springs and all this talk of taking your head off. Think i will invest in some compressors - seen some on ebay for about 10 sheet.

i've got a new philj 80/60 spring and shock set for sell

and all the over parts to go with it new from VW

pm me if your interested

the reason that you need good spring compressors are that the front springs are under such force because of the weight of the engine that if you managed to get the springs off and the compressors broke, the spring would take your head clean off if you had it over them, but with the correct compressors and making sure that you wind them down one turn each side at a time then you will have no problems

Jon

Exactly, you'd be surprised how much force is in a coiled spring. Please don't scrimp on decent compressors. You're body is worth the extra £20 or so.

i would recomend getting a package from PhilJ and do it yourself tbh, all you need is an ajustable spanner and some spring compressors.

where u geting that from u dont use an ajustable spanner at all, socket set spring compressors and a special socket with two wee lugs on it oh and usually need a long bar to lever on bottom arm coz ball joint is usually tight.

agreed with blue_mk3 lol

Jon

agreed with blue_mk3 lol

Jon

well at the end of the day you cant use an ajustable spanner