Mk4 GTI from Downunder (contains Ferrari parts)

[anth]

Looks so good man. You need to add "Ferrari Wheels" or something to the title, people are missing out on this greatness.

[SebastienPeek]

I don't know about that man, but thanks!

[danielsahhhn]

pulled them off better than I ever could have

5x108 crew represent

[SebastienPeek]

Yeah, you can get plates which you install between the body and the beam to fix the pulling forward issue. I actually kind of like how they sit a little bit forward to be honest!

[P78]

also bear in mind, the lower you go, the further your rear wheels move forward, there is a way round this, but forgot what

[SebastienPeek]

So, I got home tonight and hit the gym straight away. After the gym, I decided I was going to finish off the CAI install. Once that was all buttoned up and working, it was time to get the rear down.

I measured up where it was sitting first, to see how much I'd have to lower it. I measured 4cm would give me the perfect look. I dropped the rear beam, took the spring perches out and measure from the top of the locking ring down. 3.5cm. At first I was a little bummed, but then realised in the scheme of things, 5mm is 5mm. So I removed the entire perch itself.

IMG_0002 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

This is how she sits now. To say I am happy is an understatement. I took her for a bit of a drive, got stuck on a speed bump, it was good fun.

IMG_0001 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

So yeah, I'm pretty pleased with how she is sitting now. Now I am just waiting on the Ferrari badges for the wheels and potentially get a small slip on spacer for the front. We'll see how we go. As for the rear, I have to remove the tow bar as well as a rear wiper delete.

Moar pictures!

IMG_0005 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

IMG_0008 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

IMG_0010 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

[SebastienPeek]

Can't you just unbolt the bottom of the shocks and then the beam will drop low enough to get the springs and perches out? It's been a while since I worked on a MKIV so I could be wrong.

You could if you had two people doing it, one pushing down on the brake caliper enough to get the spring to clear the upper mounting point enough for the other to pull it out.

I'll see how I go tonight though, I did it last night and it frustrated me, hopefully tonight it doesn't.

[anth]

Can't you just unbolt the bottom of the shocks and then the beam will drop low enough to get the springs and perches out? It's been a while since I worked on a MKIV so I could be wrong.

[SebastienPeek]

Removes rear perches, car goes down. Removes tow bar, car goes up.

#justsebthings

Ahaha I am going to remove the tow bar tonight too if I can be bothered, it'll clean up the rear a lot.

Also have to invest in a rear wiper delete kit. Then the rear will be finished.

[SebastienPeek]

Alright, did some research instead of working this morning.

It seems to get the rear as low as possible, I just have to remove the locking rings from the perches. This shouldn't be too difficult, but I wonder if I am going to have to remove the perches completely to get the desired drop. I'll measure up before reinstalling everything, as dropping the rear beam is such a pain in the ass in an apartment carpark.

[anth]

Removes rear perches, car goes down. Removes tow bar, car goes up.

#justsebthings

[SebastienPeek]

Cheers man!

I just need to figure out how to get the rear lower now and then I'll be happy. But for the first time in months, I'm in love with her again.

[P78]

i like the ferrari wheels

nice update


drivers side wheel sitting in, is typical for older vw's

[SebastienPeek]

So tonight I decided I'd slam the Golf.

IMG_1248 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

The front coils are wound all the way and the rear are bottomed out too. Which is annoying as the rear still needs another good inch to come down. Needless to say it didn't go as smoothly as intended, but alas it was complete.

Regardless I got it all down as low as possible. The first thing I noticed was the, ah, let's say, definite noise coming from the front end. Sway bar definitely has to come out. I jacked up the front and just disconnected it for the time being. It still rubs every now and then, but when I jack her up to cut it out, I'll see whether or not the driveshafts are now hitting the subframe and whether a notch is necessary.

IMG_1252 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

I got it all finished at the rear, put it on the floor and wasn't happy. So I jacked it all back up and adjusted the spring perch to the lowest setting too. Still not low enough. The shocks themselves have bottomed out, so I can't wind them up anymore, which sucks. The only real option is to wind them right out until the bottom part falls off, and then cut a measured amount from the bottom so that I can go lower without it bottoming out.

I took her for a decent test drive. Let's just say driving a lowered car in an apartment complex carpark is decent work. Left my mark on almost every incline which was nice. Got to a mates place where my CAI was waiting for me. So I grabbed that and made my way home. God it felt so nice to be driving a lowered car again.

Anyway, I got back home and decided I would just install the CAI straight away. I unbolted everything from the engine and then started to put the pipe work in when... I couldn't get the second pipe to go through a hole to get the filter into the front fender lining between the bumper and the wheel guard. There seems to be some wiring blocking my way and some plastics, so tomorrow night when I have a bit more time, I'll go out and cut some stuff and relocate the wiring. This is how I left the engine bay though.

IMG_1255 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

I want to buy a 2.0T coilpack kit, as well as a few other engine goodies, but for now the intake will suffice.

I left the car tonight feeling somewhat defeated that the rear can't come down anymore without modifying the shocks, but also somewhat elated as I had finally lowered Lucy and driven a lowered car again, the first time in almost a year.

IMG_1260 by sebastienpeek, on Flickr

[SebastienPeek]

haha that ocd...you must be taking over for tranz?

looking schmick though mate

on its guts for the sluts

Ah, not on Tranz' level just yet.

looking good seb. now you can't do burnouts if you want the spokes to always line up!

Thanks Anth! Definitely no more burnouts, or handbrake turns for that matter.

Stupid tempted to get out there again tonight and adjust the coilovers to get her down a good few inches all round...