How much Weight can Gen4 handle?

[sh1ft]

Hi all,

just a question. i have a gen4 wagon that i picked up new bit over 12mths ago. i use it 5days a week for work and carry all my work s#*t 90% of the time which inc full boot load (full to just under the luggage blind) Appox total 100-150kg, and rear seats always have a 2 40kg boxes and the odd TV's depending on jobs, o also a ladder on the roof! I know you will say why did i buy this car wrong for the job etc etc, but I love the gen4. looks good, ace though the hills, good on fuel and i'm at the snow every second week end in winter

story so far: stock til 10,000k and rear springs colapsed = fitment of king spring heavy dutys
-17,000, fitted front and rear heavy duty swaybars = cos i could
-45,000, rear shocks completely blown out and i mean gone! hit a dip in the road and the rear would bounce for 30+meters down the road!!!
-54,000, able to get subi to pay for most of the cost of OME bilsteins due to the fact of so many other warranty problems with the car (fitting this weekend)

so would any1 know whats considered normal/ok weight 2 carry full time as i think the gear i lug around is bout the same as driving with 3 people in it full time.
Subi was very shy at giving out any info bout weight and carring loads, just saying i carry alot! which i knew...

also thoughts on the bilstiens, i'm sure they will be better that the OME KYB's, but up to the challange. thats another question?

Thanks for reading
Daniel

[teK--]

The manual will state what the max GVM is, as well as max weight on each axle. Of course running towards or close to those limits is going to give the suspension a beating though.

The Billies will take a lot more punishment than the KYBs in any case, and the upside is that they are rebuildable as well when you are out of warranty and have to cop the expense yourself. You should pick up a pair of KYB rear strut complete assemblies to use as temporary changeovers whilst the Billies are getting rebuilt, to minimise downtime for your work horse.

I think the most practical improvement is to run a lower tyre pressure so it takes some of the load off the suspension. I'd say 36psi cold in the rear would be plenty. Perhaps run 16" wheels?

BTW installing the uprated swaybars only makes the suspension work harder.

[sh1ft]

id have to agree with the rim sizes in one view as with my volk 18" rims on the car its has alot more float in the rear, since gone back to the std 17"s for now as getting the rims repainted, dont think 16'' could be fitted lol, i know the larger side wall profile would help greatly though.

tyre pressure is a big thing as well and have been playing with alot of different pressure settings as clocking up around 5000k a month does not take long to see different pressures and the way they affect the tyre wear.
i have found 38 in the front and 40 in the rear has proved the best all round pressure for daily use and the odd sprint through the hills with the 17"s
18" still playing round with pressures on them

ah the joys of cars ey love em

[drndrn]

YOU GOT THE VOLKS REPAINTED? NOOOOOOO

[teK--]

What model you have? 16" will fit on 2.5i brakes, but if you have GT/3.0 brakes then you'll need the 17.

[sh1ft]

What model you have? 16" will fit on 2.5i brakes, but if you have GT/3.0 brakes then you'll need the 17.

Is not a matter if they will fit or not i don't think i could bring myself to ever put wheels that small on it

YOU GOT THE VOLKS REPAINTED? NOOOOOOO

ha, yeh thought why not going to go high gloss black! should look good (i hope)

[teK--]

They won't fit your ego then

[drndrn]

But the Volk bronze was awesome to begin with.. Oh my heart is breaking lol.

[Laps]

If your date will fit through the doors then its safe to say the libs could handle her

[sh1ft]

well the bilstiens are in,

after driving the full weekend and last 2 days i don't know how i lasted so long without upgrading completly changed the car, love em.

down side... front ride hight has lifted by a not cool 38mm. now need an even lower set of spings for the front it never ends!

[teK--]

Yeah when I changed from KYB to Billies the front went up by around 10mm and the rear dropped by 10mm, but it's still worth it