Where to buy OEM shock absorbers

[macmillions]

I know this may sound a stupid question, but where is the best place to buy OEM shock absorbers for our 16v?

I imagine it's VW, but obvsiously the parts department is closed at the moment, so can't find out if they stock them.

Also, what is the OEM make and part number of VW shocks? Is it Sachs? Also, there seem to be many different varients at different prices so don't know which is correct for our 1988 16v.

Any help would be great.

[ryan1396]

As far as I remember the OE shocks are made by Sachs. Eurocarparts would probably be your cheapest bet

[Crasher]

The front dampers on the 16v were specific to a few models such as post vans and the odd Seat but unfortunately the originals are obsolete from VW. Their part number was 191 413 031 R and was an insert and only suitable for struts where the insert can be removed, these are Boge 27-467-0 and Sachs 100 517. Later they were replaced by complete strut 191 413 031 K which is Sachs 115 159 and Boge do not appear to list a full strut.

The rear dampers are unique to the Golf 2 16v and most Corrado's and these are obsolete from VW mainstream but they can easily be obtained from VW Classic and via Heritage these are £65.82, these are Boge BUT they are genuine VW Boge. Heritage also sell the Boge correct part but are out of stock as I believe Boge have stopped making them, the VW part number is 191 513 033 H which changed to J and which is a Sachs 105 769 which is what heritage show in their picture and is the correct oil, not gas, unit.

If you are not too worried about originality then I would go for Sachs 115 159 and 105 769, otherwise have your original front struts powder coated and you could fit Boge inserts and genuine Boge rears. On the cars I have worked on right since the beginning of Mk2 production I never noticed anything other than Boge on the 16v rear BUT these were painted in a mid-green, not black like replacements.

P.s. Whatever you do, if you have front struts with removable inserts and you don't use them DO NOT throw them away, they are so rare and people are clambering over each other to find them when they want to fit Koni as Koni decided to drop their full strut and only make the insert, for a strut only used up to 1989 and now rare as hens teeth! Good decision Koni!

[ryan1396]

Ah my mistake, could've sworn they were Sachs originally.
Didn't know that about the front struts either. Shame I dumped 2 sets of them last year during a big clearout