Low BoOst - Black Smoke under full throttle

[Dubber]

i don;t know if it is evident by the photo but the rear one has a rip in it similar to the fronts =(
subframe bushings/ is that included in that kit ? it did not mention them but i did not know if they are called something else...

[Darkside]

You want R32 lower control arm bushings. Ask Mike I think he did them on his Jetta I thought you did the tie rods ( I recommended doing them when you were doing something else. ) so they should be good. The kit has good sh*t in it the Mahle heavy duty upper strut bushing are way thicker than stock and awesome I am not sure if you need all the parts in that kit.

[Dubber]

I am trying to think when i would have replaced anything in that lineup??
I think i replaced a tierod because i ran into something last winter.. but other than that i don't think ive touched really any of that down there...?

[Mikewire]

That kit is nice, but I don't know if you need to replace your tie rods and strut bearings. With all the stuff in that kit you will be tearing your entire front suspension apart, including struts, which means big $$$ if you don't DIY. Usually strut bearings are replaced when putting in new struts, so you may want to wait ~20K miles when you need to replace your struts.

Josh is right, those are the same R32 bushings I installed on my Jetta. The LCA bushings require a press to get them in and out, so that means pulling the control arms and running them to a machine shop - it cost me $20 per arm. Also there is a front and a rear LCA bushing, and your picture is the just the rear LCA. The front LCA you won't be able to see until you pull the arm.

While you have your control arms out you may as well replace ball joints, so at minimum you should replace the LCA's and ball joints. But, If you have the $$$ and time you may as well do the whole kit. IMO, add some new struts if you are doing the entire kit.

[Dubber]

what kind of shocks would you get??
and the second image in that photoset is the front of the car...
not the rear....

[Mikewire]

You mean struts? Koni or Bilstein and you can get them all over the web. ECS, MJM etc.

Struts are in the front, shocks are in the rear.

[Dubber]

So - i am looking into doing this soon because, well i feel i have too. otherwise there are going to be issues..
First i am going to see if the struts i have on my car are aftermarket - maybe the person who lowered it made it into an aftermarket thing when he did it and i can just warranty them.

Goals for me for this car.
Comfortable is the first, i hate the super bouncy and harsh rides.
I also enjoy turning fast.. so something that is stiff enough to do that is a bonus
that brings me back to the question - how long can i wait on this stuff?
It makes a really really noticeable vibration in the cabin as it sits...
Am I going to create more problems by waiting??

I looked at MJM what about the Touring set of shocks and struts??
What recommendations do you have based upon what i am looking for =)

[Mikewire]

The TC Struts and Shocks are not recommended for use with lowering springs

You are definitely lower than stock, so these won't last very long. Look for a sport strut or something that will work with lowering springs.

[Roadhog]

id go with koni yellow struts and shocks.

[Rennwagen1]

- maybe the person who lowered it made it into an aftermarket thing when he did it and i can just warranty them.

Unless you are the original buyer and have the recipt from where you bought them, good luck. Just ask Spence. Maybe you will get lucky and they are Les schwab mountain ryders or something, then they will warranty them!