Country-a-like?

[syncromad]

OK, I have a Golf Syncro which has been sat doing nothing since the MOT ran out over a year ago.

Back then I bought new discs, pads, shoes, drums, wheel bearings, strut top mounts and gear linkage components but never got round to fitting them due to a work injury.

The car is basically sound apart from the rear arches..

At the moment I have 9 VW’s and want to get down to 3/4 – 2 for daily use and 2 for occasional duties. Ideally I would like to swap the Syncro engine and use that as my daily.

My only reservation is practicality. I live in a rural area and the car would often be use for light offroad purposes.Everyone here seems to be lowering their Syncro, which is the opposite of my needs.

I hope to fit a diesel (1.6GTD/1.9D/1.9TD) engine to get more grunt out of the car and more ground clearance would be great. I would love to stick some grippier tyres on also.

I appreciate that VW made the Country but the hassle of locating and importing one seems a nightmare and buying the parts to convert a Syncro to that spec would cost even more it seems. I don’t actually need that much clearance – but admit a Country is pretty cool. Something between the two would be nice.

Is there no way of improving the ride height, without totally wrecking the Syncro suspension – perhaps lengthened shocks (move the strut mount down a bit) and shims on the springs?

I await a flaming as I am sure many will laugh at the idea. I don’t want a monster truck but an inch or more above standard would mean the difference in me keeping or selling the car – which I hate to do.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

Syncros could be ordered with +40mm suspension height from the factory! I should think that you could get appropriate shocks and springs without too much problem.

For part numbers check the ETOS catalogue or no doubt Chris can quote them off the top of his head[][][:p]

[syncromad]

Now you’re talking!

That’s the nicest news I have had all week. Was worried I would have to sell it and I really don’t want to.

It would be great if they are still available. I’ll ask around if any mates have ETOS

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

I’ve checked my copy of ETOS and think that you need the following part nos to convert to +40mm.

Front-
Coil Spring – 191 411 105J or AH
H/D Shock Absorber – 191 413 013 T
Rubber Stop for S/A – 357 412 303E
Suspension Strut Storage – 357 412 329
Spring Disc – 357 412 341

Rear-
Coil Spring – 191 511 115 P
Shock Absorber – 191 513 035
Stop Buffer – 191 512 131 A
Base – 191 512 149 A
Protective Pipe – 171 513 425 (may be a misprint and could be 191)

Hope this is of some help.

[syncromad]

Thanks so much for that Clive.

I will pop into my local VW Stealer next week and see if they are available.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

It might also be worth trying the likes of GSF, etc. They can probably get non-OE springs and dampers if you want!

[syncromad]

Good idea. I will ask them too.

[syncromad]

Just tried GSF. Nothing on the shocks or rear coil springs.

As expected – front coil spring is a special variant of the Golf Mk2

The letters seem to relate to the model variant
Coil Spring – 191 411 105J = Jetta
Coil Spring – 191 411 105G = Golf
Coil Spring – 191 411 105R = Golf GTi 8v/16v/G60

etc etc

[syncromad]

My VW dealer has confirmed the part numbers are still good, but would be on back order from VW Germany as they were never UK numbers. Price for the full kit looks to be around £700 but thats for factory parts and a proper designed 40mm lift.

The top mounts and parts like the spring cups are obviously standard Golf so could be sourced anywhere.

Rear springs were listed as Country/G60?

Anyway – here is a breakdown (translated of the correct parts)

Front-
Coil Spring – 191 411 105AH
H/D Shock Absorber – 191 413 013T
Bump Stop – 357 412 303E
Suspension Strut Top Mount – 357 412 329
Spring Cup – 357 412 341

Rear-
Coil Spring – 191 511 115P
Shock Absorber – 191 513 035
Bump Stop – 191 512 131A
Spring Cup – 191 512 149A
Dust Cover – 191 513 425

Thanks to Clive for the help to date. I will report in when the bits (assuming they do) arrive.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

The ETOS lists the following front springs

Under “Golf/Syncro/Rallye/Country” and “heavy duty suspension” (factory option PR-1BB) ;-

191 411 105 AG – +20mm
191 411 105 J – +40mm
191 411 105 AH – +40mm
191 411 105 AH – Country

Under “Golf” and “heavy duty suspension” (factory option PR-1BB) ;-

191 411 105 N – Golf/Jetta
191 411 105 P – Golf/Jetta

but these do not specify any height increase.

191 411 105 R is for Golf sport suspension, not just G60

I can not find what J and G are for, but most front springs are for Golf and Jetta, In fact suffices K to P, S and T are for both vehicles.

[syncromad]

Sorry, scrub that. The rear spring has variants T and B. T=G60, B=Country.

The one you need is plain old 191 513 035 which is the ‘Increased Ground Clearance’ option

[ld50]

Can you not fit coilovers? I’ve got some on mine and considered raising it up country-style. I think I would have only needed to add longer springs to the coilovers… e.g. 11″ instead of the standard 9″.

I figured if you raised it by the amount people normally lowered it you’d be fine. If you get excessive camber probs at the back you could fit some adjuster plates as detailed by chris and others…

Whilst I’m not intimately familiar with the country model, I have poked around a few and whilst I like the deisgn there really isn’t that much ground clearance to speak of. Most of what is gained is used up but the huge subframe so if you just jacked a regular syncro up a bit you’d probably get as much clearance, although no frame for underbody protection.

when I first looked into syncros someone in the US had made a “country-a-like” by doing just these things and it looked pretty damn good and had oodles of clearance. Will try and find a pic.

[syncromad]

I think I have seen the same pic (bracket on the shock base moved by about 20mm down?).

Thought I would ask here before I butchered anything and ruined the shocks/broke something.

[ld50]

surely this has got to be easier with coilovers than messing about moving brackets on regular shocks?

[syncromad]

I know the coilovers I saw recently for a Mk3 GTi were listed as +20mm/-80mm so perhaps there is some level of play available (especially if you mess with longer springs).

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