Currently running KONI yellow shocks and he sport springs, all poly bushings in the rear, Rs3 and TTRS in the front. Also running Passat spindles and control arms and a rear sway bar from Neuspeed with a UM haldex tune. My car weighs 3000lbs and I can tell you it is about as good as it gets handling wise.
Now on the shocks: Before I cut the bump stops, the car would frequently bottom out on the rears, so they weren't really able to do any work. Afterwards though, she smooth. I'll still feel bumps and holes through the chassis from the springs and hear the tires going over cracks, but I don't really feel the cracks quite as much. Train tracks that used to rock the wheels are more floaty and smooth now.
I installed a pair of Koni Special Actives in the rear, but didn't have time to do the front yet. Initial impressions (remembering that I only have the Koni installed in the rear): - Compression damping feels about the same as what I remember newer OEM valving feels like. - Hitting small to medium bumps feels pretty good. It's firm but still controlled. Probably a little better than stock. - In low-frequency mode there is a little too much rebound damping. I noticed this when driving past expansion joints on the freeway that form a /\\ shaped ramp. The rear feels like it's being picked up and then dropped. It's subtle though. - In high-frequency mode there might be too little rebound damping. I noticed this when corning hard on smooth roads with occasional rough patches. The Tiguan tilts a little more than I would have expected. But since my front dampers are still worn this really isn't a fair evaluation yet (roll couple is way off). I'm not sure what I feel about the FSD valving yet. The change in valving from the FSD is a little "weird" if I'm paying attention to it. I would say that there is a touch too much rebound, but that gives the impression of sportiness. I think for most people these would be pretty good dampers. They feel sporty but still handle bumps well.
Now I am in the middle of getting some Koni Special Actives installed to help with the ride.
The KYBs that I put in 12 years ago are ugly, but equal to each other and a bit stiffer than the new Bilsteins. The fitment of the new shocks looks nearly identical and the eyelets fit my hardware.
Love my Koni STR.T's (Orange) with VW Driver's Gear Spings (similar to stock GLI springs, only lower), they're perfect. Particularly since I don't have to wonder if they're on the right setting, as they're not adjustable lol. Inexpensive too. Simple, solid, can't go wrong.
Koni yellows, simply for adjustability. This can give you a option of making it a weekend cruiser.. Koni orange is basicly koni yellows set on soft settings, IMO best for daily because of price point and comfort.
KYB shocks front and rear, usual stuff like alternator, brakes, wheel bearings, coolant hoses, front end rebuild and fixing all kinds of electrical switches, lights and gauges that weren’t working. Just keeping up with systems that were failing.
I had GR-2s on an old Mk3 Golf. They were fine.
My experience with KYB on Volkswagen's was not the greatest, they have a lifetime warranty, which is good, because I found myself replacing shocks constantly (about every 5,000 miles).
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