Suspension issue

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:13 pm

I replaced my front shocks at the weekend, which was a lot of hassle and took a lot of time, energy, new tools, late night working etc etc.. I finished at 11:30pm on the second night of working on it so was tired and wanted to go to bed, so didn't really give it a decent checkover.. checked it today and it seems that the mountings at the top of the struts aren't actually flush against the body of the car, they're sitting away from it at an angle.. I tried tightening the nuts further butthey seem to have reached the limit of their travel, feels like it's up against the bearing already. Strange thing is, it all seems to be pretty firm and I'm not getting any knocking noises like I'd expect if it was loose, but I can't imagine it's meant to be like that

Can anyone suggest what I might have done wrong? I already had a problem like this half way through replacing it that turned out to be caused by my fitting the bearings at the top of the strut upside down, so it's more than likely that I've done something very, very stupid...
Don't much want to be driving around like this, so any suggestions would be appreciated...

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:31 pm

I think this is one of those jobs I wish I'd never started and just left to a mechanic... I'm sure I shouldn't have had quite so much trouble with it..

metz · Post by **metz** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:34 pm

The top caps dont sit flush with the body, if thats what u mean. there should be a gap as they move about when u drive.
If i have the wrong end of the stick pretend im not here.

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:43 pm

They do?
Fantastic

Exactly the answer I was hoping for! You don't know how happy you've made me

Thing is, I never really looked at it before I took it apart, so I just assumed that it was all meant to sit flush... well that's a weight off my mind

metz · Post by **metz** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:16 pm

if nothing is knocking then it sounds more than fine to me, i would only worry when u turn a corner and a leg drops off.

I reckon its fine but don't sue me if im wrong

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:57 pm

Yeah, it all feels firm.. huge handling improvement having replaced the shocks - it still had the original ones from 1986 in there

And no knocking or banging, I was just a little suprised to find that the tops weren't sitting flush, I thought they were meant to be tight against the body of the car. I'll take your word for it for now though, I'm sure the MoT testers will be all too happy to point out if it's not right at the end of the month..

metz · Post by **metz** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:37 am

When i first got my car i thought the same as you so i nipped to a local back street garage and asked them..they said all was fine and thats what they were supposed to look like...i didn't believe them so went to VW and they said "yea theyre spot on".

I believed them so went home happier and sweating less.

mk2keel · Post by **mk2keel** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 4:09 pm

It depends how far they sit away ffrom the body, if they sit so you can get your finger under them and move it then your top mounts could be shot.

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 4:55 pm

No, they're not that bad.. just a few mm really. Top mounts looked perfect when I took it all apart, which suprised me because I doubt they've ever been changed if the shocks were still original..
Bit of a testiment to VW reliability really, that they can make shock absorbers last 19 years.. ditto the front exhaust silencer which I replaced the other day, stamped 1985.. only changed it because of a slight rattle as well

VF_Marshall · Post by **VF_Marshall** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 4:28 pm

Nowt wrong with that, both my MK1's and my MK2 are exactly the same, just looks kinda weird if you open the bonnet with the wheels on full lock...

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 4:38 pm

All good to know, cheers

It started clonking yesterday which scared the hell out of me.. went round and tightened up all the bolts properly and it's fine now

One last thing, can anyone tell me how to replace the bushes at the ends of the antirollbar? I was going to do it when I had it apart, but I got to that stage and I was too tired and I couldn't work out how to do it, so I thought I'd just postpone it for a while.. if anyone could tell me how I remove and refit them though it'd be a help.

VF_Marshall · Post by **VF_Marshall** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 4:45 pm

The bushes on the end of the anti-roll bar are integral with the bottom Track Control Arm, i think you would need a press to remove those, even then i don't know if you can get replacements (maybe poly bushes..?).
Once the bushes have gone, i've always changed the whole arm in the past.

The other bushes on the ARB are splt along their length, and just lift off once you've removed the plate over them (two bolts, which like to snap incidentally on removal..).

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:06 pm

Yeah, the other bushes weren't a problem.. but I do have a pair of replacement bushes for the track control arm end sitting on my desk, bought them from GSF.. kinda assumed they'd be replacable if you can buy them seperately

VF_Marshall · Post by **VF_Marshall** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:15 pm

Well, they must be repaceable then. I've got three spare TCA's in the garage, and all i can tell you is that those bushes are gonna put up a good fight without some kind of vice or press. Wishing you good luck with that!

polock · Post by **polock** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:33 am

Hi there.

Ive been thinking about the suspension on my wee polo as its veeeery spongy and bumpy roads are making me sea sick, LOL

Ive come to a few decisions and hopefully you can give me some advice and direction. So here goes:

1. Do i just replace the shock absorbers all round as a quick fix?
2. Do i replace everything (springs and shock absorbers) all round with a set of standard parts, and if so, with gas or oil?
3. Lower it about 40mm with a full set of Gmax or similar?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated as the MOT is looming round the corner (July i think)

Cheers,

Brian