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2010 Jetta Cup Edition - Taking Suspension Down a Notch - Help

2621 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  oldbeaver, 
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Hi Folks,

Just picked up a JCE and love pretty much everything but one thing - I find the ride a bit too rough on freeways and highways at 60-80mph over less than stellar surfaces. Unfortunately my commute include a good stretch of these. The car jumps up and down quite a bit. I know it's mimicking the road surface but its a bit to much communication for me. I guess at my advanced age of 47 I'm willing to take a bit bit more "show" than "go" here.

I figure there are two main variables to "softening" the ride. Going to 17" wheels and/or swapping out the struts/springs for a combination thats more forgiving. Possible just switch over to the standard 2010 Jetta struts/springs? What about the sway bars?

The problem of course is not knowing exactly what you'll end up with in the end. It's always seemed VW has been vague about exactly what they install in a given suspension package as it can include different bushings, strut mounts, etc. So how do you know exactly what to swap out.

I know most folks go for a more aggressive suspension mod rather than the other way around. I guess I'm the outlier here.

Any help would be appreciated.
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chittychittybangbang
Well, the good news is that you can end out even in a suspension swap. I would bet that if you post in classifieds, you might find someone who is willing to do an even swap for their low mileage stock suspension for your suspension. It would have to be from a TDI because of the engine weight differences.

I wouldnt' swap out the sway bars because they don't have much affect on straight and level ride comfort.

I'd go with the easiest solution first though - get light weight 17" wheels with one size taller tire size which would be 225/50 tires. One of the VW Jetta TDI cup edition cars in the buyer's guide had the same wheel/tire combination so I know they fit over the brakes. Just make sure the offset and width are correct. VW wheels are pretty heavy so lightweight wheels will also help a lot by reducing unsprung weight.
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Any Golf, JSW, or Jetta suspension will fit. I suggest something from a TDI because like chitty said, the springs and dampers are tuned for the heavier front end.
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2010 TDI - Taking Suspension Down

I am a 2010 TDI owner and have owned several VW diesels since 1978. I have never experienced a ride as stiff as this car and it isn't even a Cup edition, just a regular Trendline. It's so bad that my wife can't ride with me for more than 1/2 hour (good way to end a marriage). I spoke to the dealer and he suggested smaller wheels i.e. 15" so as to accommodate tires with more rubber (thus shock absorbsion). It hasn't worked. I'm reluctant to try a larger wheel as it will be at my cost and if it doesn't work... I wouldn't bother talking to VW Corp as they never admit anything could be wrong with their beloved "People's Car". My last TDI was a wonderful car except it had no heat in the winter. Despite numerous complaints and trips to the dealer, the company's only answer was to recommend a grille cover at my cost (after I'd spent $25K on a new car) - furthermore it didn't solve the problem. I'm therefore afraid that any attempted fix "at my cost" will be futile. After 30+ years of VW loyalty, I'm seriously thinking about driving down the road to the competition (sans Diesel unfortunately). I hope someone at VW Corp sees this and considers responding.
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chittychittybangbang
Paul Joseph said:
I am a 2010 TDI owner and have owned several VW diesels since 1978. I have never experienced a ride as stiff as this car and it isn't even a Cup edition, just a regular Trendline. It's so bad that my wife can't ride with me for more than 1/2 hour (good way to end a marriage). I spoke to the dealer and he suggested smaller wheels i.e. 15" so as to accommodate tires with more rubber (thus shock absorbsion). It hasn't worked. I'm reluctant to try a larger wheel as it will be at my cost and if it doesn't work... I wouldn't bother talking to VW Corp as they never admit anything could be wrong with their beloved "People's Car". My last TDI was a wonderful car except it had no heat in the winter. Despite numerous complaints and trips to the dealer, the company's only answer was to recommend a grille cover at my cost (after I'd spent $25K on a new car) - furthermore it didn't solve the problem. I'm therefore afraid that any attempted fix "at my cost" will be futile. After 30+ years of VW loyalty, I'm seriously thinking about driving down the road to the competition (sans Diesel unfortunately). I hope someone at VW Corp sees this and considers responding.
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Did the dealer remove the suspension blocks? Take a look through the buying guide:

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/a5/2009-2010-VW-Jetta-TDI-checklist.htm

If you see these it means the dealer didn't do the delivery checklist.
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Grille cover for a TDI

Paul Joseph said:
I am a 2010 TDI owner and have owned several VW diesels since 1978....
...
... My last TDI was a wonderful car except it had no heat in the winter. Despite numerous complaints and trips to the dealer, the company's only answer was to recommend a grille cover at my cost (after I'd spent $25K on a new car) - furthermore it didn't solve the problem. I'm therefore afraid that any attempted fix "at my cost" will be futile. After 30+ years of VW loyalty, I'm seriously thinking about driving down the road to the competition (sans Diesel unfortunately). I hope someone at VW Corp sees this and considers responding.
Click to expand...
Hello Paul. I made a grille cover myself from no color plexiglass, so it looks nice. I made three for 30 bucks, so I can have two as spare or exchange them with other TDI owners. I am using them the year round, as this improves aerodynamics also! My engine has never heat a bit over 85 degrees Centigrades (the ideal temp).

Use a thin panel of plexiglass (1mm), it can be cut with a good seasors. First, make a model on cardboard until you are satisfied. Test it in position, taking in consideration you will need to open the hood. Leave a 5 x 20 cm opening in front of the air input and a small vertical opening for the hood lock. The diesel engine likes to work hot to 85 degrees centigrades, but it likes the breath fresh air too!

After the cardboard grill cover is ok, copy it to the plexiglass. Before drilling holes to fix it to the grill, pay attention where are you going to fix the bolts. I used 12 bolts. The bolts has to be 1 and a half inch long, but thin. You will need small pieces of rigid plastic backs, to fix the bolts to the back of the grille.
You will spend some hours of fun making the grille and will save lot of money. The car will even gain about 2% on fuel yield.

I may send you a picture of my grill if you give me yr email address.

All the best,

Oldbeaver

As a matter of fact, I am trying to soften my Skoda Octavia TDI also, when I find a solution, I will share with the forum.
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