scirocco springs

Post suspension issues and questions here

Moderators: kamzcab86, CalAltaDubber

Post Reply
jemery.wa
Posts: 12
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 12:52 am
What year is your cabby?: 1981
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: vancouver, wa

scirocco springs

Post by jemery.wa »

i have an 84 scirocco that i am parting out, it has new struts in the front and the springs have been cut slightly along with new strut bearings. i have read that your not supposed to use A1 rabbit springs on the cabby's, does the same apply for the scirocco? and if i did use them what would the result be, way to low in the front, same height, or possibly raised. my goal is to lower my front end by only 1".
User avatar
Briano1234
Whats that smell?
Posts: 4105
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:45 am
What year is your cabby?: 1992
Do you own a Cabriolet?: No
Location: Duluth, Ga
Contact:

Re: scirocco springs

Post by Briano1234 »

Since both are mk1's there would probably be no difference in the spring but you would be lowered by that amount.
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
sixsracing
Forum Niceguy
Posts: 1102
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:14 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1991
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Bangor, Maine

Re: scirocco springs

Post by sixsracing »

Cut springs are usually a terrible compromise. You lose stiffness and rebound at the same time. I have not heard that you shouldn't use Rabbit springs in the Cabriolet. I have springs from SRS and they listed no difference between the two. There was an early and late spring for the Rabbits. I believe the difference was Westmoreland or German production. Cabriolet's to my knowledge were not produced in Westmoreland. We used to use the headlight rule. Square headlights were Westmoreland, round were German.
91 Cabriolet, red w/white
86 Cabriolet white/white (oldest daughter)
97 Golf, black (youngest daughter)
98 Beetle, red
94 Cabrio, dark green (oldest son)
Cogito Ergo Zoom
User avatar
gull
Posts: 817
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:30 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1989
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Auburn, WA
Contact:

Re: scirocco springs

Post by gull »

IIRC all Cabriolets were built at the Karmann plant in Osnabruck, Germany.
VW fan who fell to the Honda side of the force
Image
rabbitinfife
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:58 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1989
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Tacoma, Wa

Re: scirocco springs

Post by rabbitinfife »

I have a friend that has worked at various vw dealerships around the PNW for a long time and he says that cabby springs are actually stiffer than other cars. I didn't believe it at first but a cabriolet is actually heavier than a hardtop car because all the extra metal used to reinforce the strength of the chassis with having the top removed. I tested this theory my friend had a rabbit 79 westy that was sagging and rubbing in the rear we installed a set of cabriolet springs problem solved. I've actually read that most of the earlier cars had thinner springs that wore out quicker and started sagging in the rear at about 100k most of the later cars 81? I think and later had a better spring that lasted longer and didn't sag and rub i have a 1989 cabby with over 300k and the stock springs ride great no sag at all. However my 1978 rabbit with only about 130k sags in the rear and bottoms out and rubs over bumps with more than 1 person in the car.
rabbitinfife
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:58 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1989
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Tacoma, Wa

Re: scirocco springs

Post by rabbitinfife »

Also just to clear it up the round headlight vs square isn't always true. All cabbys,early jettas,dashers, roccos and rabbits till about 78 were built in germany. The westy rabbits went into production in 78 in the states pretty much all rabbits and caddys from 79 on for the U.S market were made in Pa. Everywhere else in the world they were round headlights. They also made diesel cars in canada as well with rounds i owned a late 79 inari silver 4 dr diesel made by vw of canada. I have seen 79 and 80 caddys with round headlights as well from canada. The late westy style cars aka gti rabbit style front end with corner blinkers and aluminum bumpers were designed and built in america hence alot of americanized parts like fuseboxes light and heater switches, look at a ford or chevy of the same genre the style switches are about the same. Hope this clears it up. They later also started producing mk 2 cars in mexico, brazil u,s and canada and germany,
User avatar
kamzcab86
Queen and Popette of Cabbydom
Posts: 1277
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2002 3:54 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1986
Location: Arizona
Contact:

Re: scirocco springs

Post by kamzcab86 »

The Golf I/Rabbits, Sciroccos and Cabriolets share the same springs provided the weight rating is same. There is a reason the OEM springs have painted dots on them. :wink:

And, to clarify all of the differences (USA/Canada models only):

Hardtops:
1975-1978: Rabbits built in Germany; round headlights
1979: Diesel Rabbits built in Germany; round headlights
1979-1984: Rabbits, including truck, built in Westmoreland, PA, USA; square headlights
1980-1984: Jettas built in Germany; square headlights
1975-1982: Sciroccos built in Germany (by Karmann); round headlights
1983-1988 (1989 in Canada): Sciroccos built in Germany (by Karmann); square headlights

Convertibles:
1980-1993: Cabriolets built in Germany (by Karmann); round headlights

Volkswagen has never had an assembly plant in Canada. Volkswagen of Canada has imported "special" models from Europe, one reason Canada received the GTI years before the USA (with round headlights).

:beer:
rabbitinfife
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:58 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1989
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Tacoma, Wa

Re: scirocco springs

Post by rabbitinfife »

I could of sworn they made them im canada i had a 82ish tan 4 dr carb rabbit that had a canadian flag on the door pillar by the vin tag said vw of canada
sixsracing
Forum Niceguy
Posts: 1102
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:14 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1991
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Bangor, Maine

Re: scirocco springs

Post by sixsracing »

80-84 Jettas from Germany with square headlights isn't fair. They have 4 headlights. That's why I specified Rabbits. Good catch and great info. Kammie. :wink:
91 Cabriolet, red w/white
86 Cabriolet white/white (oldest daughter)
97 Golf, black (youngest daughter)
98 Beetle, red
94 Cabrio, dark green (oldest son)
Cogito Ergo Zoom
Post Reply