Soften the Ride - Sportline Estate

[RAC0902]

Hi, I recently purchased a 2012 Golf Estate Sportline 2.0tdi DSG and whilst there is much to like about the car I find myself struggling with the both the ride quality and the level of road noise.

Other than the obvious of changing it for a non Sportline model can anything be done to improve the ride. She currently sits on 17" wheels with 225/45 tyres, is it possible to fit 15" wheels with 195/65 tyres to this model and would this be likely to improve the ride or would it need a complete suspension change, i.e. springs & dampers? Also is any partcular brand of tyre known for being quieter than others?

Thanks

[Crasher]

You could get a specialist to research the part numbers of the non sports suspension for your car (a complex task) or you my find having a set of Koni Active dampers fitted helps considerably.

[RAC0902]

Thanks Crasher, will look at the Koni Active Dampers. Would changing the wheels & tyres for 195/65/15's also help or are 16" wheels the smallest that would fit?

[Crasher]

I don’t think 15’s will over your front callipers but I have 18’s on my Octavia VRS and the ride is OK; not as good as it was on 17’s but still fine but we are getting a lot of people with PQ35 and MQB platform cars complains about the ride quality and we have done quite a few now with the Koni Active (née FSD) and everyone has been pleased, I am thinking about doing them on my Octavia when I have finished the bathroom.... Also tyre brand can affect the ride, I have found the Uniroyal RS3 to be an improvement over many and the odd thing I have found is the XL max load versions are the best and give a significant reduction in rolling resistance.

[RAC0902]

Thanks for the info Crasher. I will give the Koni Actives a go on the front first, cheapest I can find is £260 for the pair. KONI 2x Front Special Active Shock Absorbers 8745-1038 8745-1038 for sale online | eBay (https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/KONI-2x-Front-Special-Active-Shock-Absorbers-8745-1038-8745-1038/9025817626)

Labour wise would a decent independant be able to swap them in 1hr a side or would it take longer?.

[Crasher]

To avoid damaging the front hubs the correct VAG clamp spreading tool should be used and changing the front struts on this design is extremely stressful, especially the right side. To do the job correctly and safely requires the bottom ball joints to be disconnected so that means new nuts and the studs easily snap so it could mean a new ball joint. Also the drive shaft centre nut/bolt (it varies but either MUST be replaced) needs to be released and all this is so the UK can be dropped low enough to get the strut out without removing your fingers. I can do a pair in four hours now but I am getting slower and creaky and after that the alignment will have to be checked. The rears are easy, I can do a pair in 30 minutes BUT the upper and lower bolts MUST be replaced and the lowers tightened with the vehicle at ride height which requires a special offset 21mm torque adapter. It is worth changing the rear bump stops whilst doing this if they are degraded.