Golf MK4 Sport Suspension – Low Cost Options
Continuing the quest for decent for decent VW MK4 sport suspension (dampers) for the Octavia RS project. (Octavia RS is based on the Golf GTI MK4 Platform). The project Octavia has H&R springs at the moment but the new Sachs dampers are far too soft. This article looks at alternatives
MK4 Sport Suspension – The Story So Far
The MK4 project had a complete suspension refresh with H&R springs and Sachs stock replacement dampers. Unfortunately the Sachs dampers are too soft (I think because they are designed to be close to the stock dampers) for the H&R springs. The ride is sometimes bouncy. Hence looking for sport damper solution that is a big step up in firmness.
Bilstein B8 MK4
Why not just fit Bilstein B8 dampers?
That is a great question and it comes down to two things.
One, a single B8 dampers is around 210 Euro.
Two, I’m not sure if it will solve the issue I have (I want stronger rebound damping).
At this point, I’m not prepared to spend so much money on a damper I’m not sure will get me where I want to go. Hence looking at lower cost alternatives.
Alternative MK4 Dampers
| Brand | Brand Model | Code | Car Make/Model | OE Number | Max Length | Min Length | Notes | Price (Eur) 9/2025 |
| Bilstein | B8 | 35-046387 / VE3-4638 | TT All,Octavia RS, (not R32) | 8N0 413 031 K | Inc brackets 2wd 4wd | 210-230 | ||
| Bilstein | B4 | 22-145550 | Audi TT Quattro Stock, Octavia 1.8T 4×4 only, Leon 4×4, TT All, A3 Quattro, Golf 4MOTION ONLY | 8N0 413 031 K, M, D, AD, R, H | S3 starts with B8 | 70-80 | ||
| Bilstein | B4 | 22-045751 (Gas) | Sports, Golf Octavia everything. | 66 | ||||
| Bilstein | B4 | 19-145563 Rear | TT 2wd ONLY | 62 | ||||
| Bilstein | B4 | 19-029177 Rear Gas | “Sports” | |||||
| Kayaba | Excel-G | 334670 (GAS, Sports / ) | SPORTS A3 1.9TDI, 1.8T Quattro, Octavia All SPORTS (S3 not listed, TT not listed) not R32 | 1J0413031CM, BL, CQ, DD | No TT | 67 | ||
| Kayaba | Premium | 634812 (oil) | Standard Suspension | 56 | ||||
| Kayaba | Excel-G | 333713 (gas) | STANDARD SUSP. Leon Cupra R (standard) not R32, (S3 not listed, TT not listed) | 1J only | No TT | |||
| Kayaba | Excel-G | 334812 (gas) | A3 Normal models std, sport, bad, Leon All ex 4wd, Sport sus, Oct 4×4 only, std Suspension, MK4 vehicles with Bad Road Version | 1J only | No TT | 60-70 | ||
| Koni | Sport | 8710-1377 Sport | TT all, Golf MK4 4 Motion, R32 | 8N0413031K, + G, H, M, AD, R | 594 | 420 | 255-265 | |
| Koni | STRT | 8750-1062 | TT only, S3 | 8N0413031K, + G, H, M, AD, R, | 595 | 420 | 144-154 | |
| Ridex | Plus | 854S1804P / 854S0952P (Sports, Standard for TT) | Octavia RS, 1.8T 4×4, Leon 1M1 All (Listed as only choice TT quattro) | 8N0413031CQ +more AD, H, M, R, B, D ( K sometimes) | 521 | 353 | Includes brackets for 4wd and 2wd | 67 (Set) |
| Ridex | Plus | 854S1527P / 854S0009P (Normal) | MK4 Golf All, Octavia All | No 8N code. | 525 | 355 | 38 (Set) | |
| Monroe | Normal | G8618 | Leon 20VT4, 1.9TDI Sync, 2.8Cupra 4, TT all (not for R32), S3 | 1J0413031CT | 524 | 353 | 2wd & 4wd brake brackets | 52-62 |
| Monroe | Normal | G8378 | Normal A3s, Octavia RS, 4 Motion Golf MK4 | 1J only | 524 | 354 | 2wd & 4wd brake brackets | 50-60 |
| Monroe | Normal | 16731 | Leon Cupra R+all Leon, A3 normal+quatt, Golf MK4 All | |||||
| Monroe | REAR | G1236 | R32, S3 | Bore Ø 25 mm Piston Rod Diameter 12.4 mm, Packaging length 50.5 cm | ||||
| MTS | Sport | MTSVW004F | TT Quatrro Only, Leon, Octavia all | Not Listed | ||||
| Optimal | Gas Press | A-3406G | S3, TT All (normal suspension), Octavia Combi Only (not Leon Cupra) | 8N0413031K, + G, H, M, AD, R, | 2wd and 4wd brake line brackets | 77-85 | ||
| Optimal | Gas Press | A-3211G | Sport for 1.8T MK4 180BHP & Octavia RS. Leon not Cupra | 1J only | 2wd & 4wd brake line brackets | 145-155 | ||
| Sachs | 317368 / SFE32/22X135A | Only TT All + Quattro (Standard susp), Not Leon Cupra, Not R32 | 8N0413031K, + G, H, M, AD, R, | S3, Leon Cupr R nothing listed | 89-99 | |||
| Sachs | 200 954 SFE30/22X179A | Octavia RS, Sports | None | 60-70 | ||||
| Sachs | Gas REAR | 556 271 SEOV26X187A | Octavia Leon Sports, Not Cupra R, see TRW | |||||
| TRW | Front | JGM209T | A3 S3 all sports, std, FWD & RWD | 22mm rod | ||||
| TRW | Gas | JGM277T | R32, Sport Suspension A3 sports, Leon Cupra Sport, S3 sports, TT standard sus. 4wd only no upper brackets for ABS sensor | 1J, 8N | 521 Piston Rod Diameter [mm] : 22 | 353 | Pair | 100 |
| TRW | Gas REAR | JGT408T | For vehicles with lowered suspension. FWD, Leon Cupra R, Octavia RS only. | 637 | 411 | Diameter [mm] : 39 Rod 12mm | ||
| TRW | REAR | JGT287T | R32 | 512 | 341 | 38mm diameter | ||
| TRW | REAR | JGT289T | Leon Sports, A3 Sports, TT | 637 | 411 |
Impressions
The impression I get it is that the TT dampers are stiffer than dampers found on the Octavia and Golf. Let’s dig into this impression to see if it’s true.
Ridex
The 0952 dampers from Ridex are the only code listed for the TT.
For Leon Cupra R the 0009 dampers are listed for sport and standard suspension models. The 0952 dampers are listed for the sports suspension model only.
Hence the 0952 is the stiffer damper. And 0952 are stock fitment on the TT which means the TT should have stiffer suspension from the factory than the Leon.
And the 0952 dampers are only listed for the Octavia RS and Octavia 1.8T 4×4.
Optimal Dampers
Optimal list a sport damper for the Octavia RS, code A-3211G. But this dampers is not listed for the TT at all and only for normal A3s, not the S3.
A-3406G is listed for S3 and all TTs and Octavia 4x4s estate models (It seems 4wd cars have stiffer suspension? Why?).
Again, assuming the S3 uses stiffer suspension than normal A3s, A-3406G is the stiff damper choice.
Optimal claim A-3211G is the performance damper for the Octavia RS but on this evidence, it’s probably not as stiff as the 3406G.
Would the 3211G damper be enough? I’m thinking no. We are miles away on damper stiffness with the stock replacement Sachs. The sport dampers needs to be a big step up, not a little (A-3210G is the stock damper for normal Octavias).
Monroe “Original” Dampers
For S3 and all TT models, Monroe list the G8618. For 4wd Leons, Monroe also lists the G8618.
The G8378 is listed for Octavia RS and 4wd models, for vehicles with standard suspension. And for A3 Quattro only and Golf MK4 4motion only.
In other words for lower models of A3 Quattro the 8378 is given but for the S3 8618 is given. This tells me the G8618 is the stiffer damper. And it’s listed for all TT’s and TTs seem to have the stiffest stock suspension.
For normal Octavias the Monroe code is something different again.
Bilstein B8
For the Octavia RS, Bilstein only list the B8 and B6. The B8 and B6 is an upgrade for the Audi TT (Bilstein list B4 for the TT).
This tells me Bilstein thinks the Octavia RS needs dampers stiffer than stock TT. Which means I need at the very least, dampers that are as stiff as the TT dampers and preferably stiffer.
Ultimately
We need at least TT dampers or TT sport dampers.
But if I fit TT dampers they won’t have the brackets for the brake lines, unless I choose Bilstein, Monroe, Optimal or Ridex.
Which kind of narrows things down.
MK4 Sport Suspension (Performance) – The Choices
This leaves me with four choices.
Optimal A-3406G
Ridex 854S1804P / 854S0952P
Monroe G8618
And obviously the B8 which everyone says is amazing.
Monroe is a brand I’ve never experienced and it seems to be popular so I’m probably going to try them. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Sachs dampers a lot, the valving in them feels expensive but I’m worried that the sport upgrade will not be stiff enough. I don’t think that’s down to Sachs, more down to VW because they fitted such soft dampers from the factory. I could go for the Sachs Audi TT option but I’m I fancy a change.
