Rehab's Mk3

[jimmydub]

An impact gun will spin the top nuts off in about 5 seconds... Either get a garage to do it and slip them a fiver, or you can get an awesome 240v Clarke one from machine mart.

this is exactly what i did, and yes, 5 seconds... probably less.


so, a bit of a delayed update but none the less....




and how she used to sit:



She flew through the MOT! 3 minor advisories, i was made up. so the work commenced...


I went for the budget JOM's after getting some advise from some forum members. I've had a proper nightmare with these coily's, which is still on going! i have no intention of writing up a 'how to' but i will post you a few pics and problems that i came up against.
In a nutshell, the rears went on one weekend, the fronts went on the following weekend, and the whole lot got stripped, readjusted and put back on the third weekend! (with lots of f**king around most nights, after work, in the dark :/). during this whole debacle, heres a couple of guides i found particularly useful:

http://jettajunkie.com/vw-jetta/showthread.php?10567-MK3-Jetta-Golf-How-To-Install-Rear-Coilovers

http://joshlasko.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/diy-walkthrough-vw-mk3-golf-front-raceland-coilover-install/



As mentioned before we couldn't get the front top mounts un-done so we attacked the rears first.



everything went well, it was an easy job and that was weekend one out of the way. now she just looked like a dog dragging her arse.

immediately following install, there was a horrific rasping noise. thought they just needed time to bed in so let it be. it didnt go away, far from it. worked out it was the plastic 'washer' (excuse my ignorance) rubbing up and down the thread:




so the plan was to correct this problem in weekend two, whilst fitting the fronts. but inevitably the front end wasn't without its problems and the day vanished, along with my temper.
none the less all four coilys were on for a week which gave me a good idea of what i needed to do to get them right and what the ride was going to be like.
roll on weekend three, up at the crack of dawn, stripped the lot off and started all over again.

the problem with the rear nearside was easily diagnosed, i'd assembled the top mount incorrectly. i'll explain with this diagram:



I  got 16 and 17 the wrong way round.

so for what its worth, here's how to assemble both ends:

Rear:



Front:



If i've got either of these wrong please let me know! haha!
In my opinion, getting the assembly right is the battle won; fitting the coily's is actually childs play.

initially i had her proper slammed, but the ride was pretty bloody awful. so the second time around i raised her a bit and am relatively happy with the ride/height ratio. my main pitfall is not knowing where to measure to and from. so there was a hell of a lot of faffing.
basically, right or wrong, i took my measurement from the locker nut to the base of the thread. on the front its 56mm, and on the back its 82mm. now i dont know if such a big difference is good or bad, but i do know the measurement between arch and wheel, both front and back, pretty much matches.

the measurement:



__________________________________________________________________

NOW FOR THE ON-GOING NIGHTMARE...



As you can see I took her in for 'hawkeye' alignment.

they toed in both fronts. the rears are obviously fixed, so apparently they cant do anything about the misalignment there.  the positive camber and negative caster up front they also can't do anything about apparently.

So this is where i really need some advise from the forum. before fitting the coilys i had no issue with alignment. now i have, shes tracking to the left, pretty bad too (imo). i watched the guy sit the wheel straight and toe both sides in, but shes still pulling to the left; exactly as was before i paid them £36 quid for the pleasure.
They told me there must be a underlying problem, but like i say, there was no problem before i fitted the coilys.

is there a way i can sort this myself?

should all the coily's be sitting at the same height?

if so, how do i get the most accurate measurement?

how can i make sure each corner is mirroring the opposite? again, how do i get the ride height measurement? as i know this will affect the steering as well.

if i could just correct this tracking problem i'd be happy as Larry. my mate reckons the only way to do it is take it in for full four wheel alignment, but if im gonna do that, i might as well have just paid someone to do the whole lot.
If anyone can lend some help or advise it would be hugely appreciated.


thanks all

[AGGGTi]

As far as your trackings concerned, i had issues with pulling to the left due to track rods showing unequal threads/measurements on each side, so even if tracking measurements show true on tracking equipment. The steering rack overall length from centre to track rod end can still be unequal causing pulling one way or the other! Mine had even had the steering wheel moved to rectify it in the past, in the end all of which was found out after changing to coilovers... Its usually down to poor tracking adjustments or track rod/end replacement in the past! Other than that check ball joints, bushes, issues with top mounts from fitment of coilovers, or any damage to lower arms, subframe or track rods. On the coilover measuring thread issue i just measure threads showing below spring and adjusters with a tape measure and make sure theyre roughly equal side to side. As youve done, doesnt make a difference if measurements differ front to back generally its just looks and handling characteristics, wont do any damage. Hope this helps, if you can understand half of it? Lol

[jimmydub]

On the coilover measuring thread issue i just measure threads showing below spring and adjusters with a tape measure and make sure theyre roughly equal side to side. As youve done, doesnt make a difference if measurements differ front to back generally its just looks and handling characteristics, wont do any damage. Hope this helps, if you can understand half of it? Lol

thanks a lot bud and yeh it does all make sense! this is exactly how i measured but i just dont know how that measurement relates to the overall ride height. so say the thread shows 52mm from locker nut to base of thread, what does that 52mm mean once the wheels are back on and shes sitting on the tarmac... measuring anywhere on the body to the ground is pointless and means nothing right. so surely the only real measurement would be from ground to subframe? and that is a measurement i cant even get without having a pit to get under the motor!

As far as your trackings concerned, i had issues with pulling to the left due to track rods showing unequal threads/measurements on each side, so even if tracking measurements show true on tracking equipment. The steering rack overall length from centre to track rod end can still be unequal causing pulling one way or the other! Mine had even had the steering wheel moved to rectify it in the past, in the end all of which was found out after changing to coilovers... Its usually down to poor tracking adjustments or track rod/end replacement in the past! Other than that check ball joints, bushes, issues with top mounts from fitment of coilovers, or any damage to lower arms, subframe or track rods.

again all this makes sense, but just sounds like stuff im not gonna be able to diagnose on my own. Ive spoken to a 'reputable' garage locally (the last one was F1 auto centre, against my better judgement!) who said they will take a look and adjust what they can adjust.
So F1 told me all they can do is toe it in and that cost me £36 for the pleasure. car is exactly the same as before. so if i take it to this other place, who want £72 for 'full wheel alignment', whos to say they wont do exactly as F1 did??? and then im still in exactly the same position i am now, £107 lighter, and then gotta take it to someone else to diagnose the problem! although like i say, this other garage are meant to be good.... ugh.

I dont know what to do, but i do know i aint got a clue how to fix it myself haha! ive done everything in my power and googled the f**k out of google...

[AGGGTi]

I spose if you wanted the overall height drop amount, you could calculate how much shorter the coilovers are against your old shocks and springs with both built up side by side, giving you a lowering figure like you get when purchasing lowering springs? If you have time and patience its easy enough to check/adjust tracking to straight ahead position, you just have to count/measure the threads shown by eye or measure with a tape or verniers, and adjust until even in length both sides. If they already appear to match in length, either your steering wheels off centre, easy peasey to move and an excuse to buy a new one  . Or you have an under lying fault with your suspension/steering. Any good garage in the know, should be  able to give you the answers you need, and unfortunately from what ive heard im not surprised your having issues after going into an f1 place. Id happily have a look at it for you if you were close by 

[jimmydub]

I spose if you wanted the overall height drop amount, you could calculate how much shorter the coilovers are against your old shocks and springs with both built up side by side, giving you a lowering figure like you get when purchasing lowering springs?

i thought about this too but they will dampen differently right, so side by side when off will be totally different to when fitted?

If you have time and patience its easy enough to check/adjust tracking to straight ahead position, you just have to count/measure the threads shown by eye or measure with a tape or verniers, and adjust until even in length both sides.

maybe i should get under the motor and count the threads like you say, can't hurt. they were toed in the the hawkeye though so should be right.

If they already appear to match in length, either your steering wheels off centre, easy peasey to move and an excuse to buy a new one  . Or you have an under lying fault with your suspension/steering. Any good garage in the know, should be  able to give you the answers you need, and unfortunately from what ive heard im not surprised your having issues after going into an f1 place. Id happily have a look at it for you if you were close by 

thanks for the offer mate! i think my only options now really is get under n check the track rods like you say, then try dropping the front right by a couple of mm, maybe adjusting the ride height slightly that side will bring the steering back to center (a mate was telling me about a skyline he used to have which did the same thing when he fitted coilys and he lowered the opposite side slightly and job done apparently).

following all that im just gonna have to lump it, pull out the credit card and take it to the other (reputable) garage and see what they say.

[jimmydub]

So it's been a while but here's an update for what its worth...

R.E. the coily issues, they're gone. replaced with standard struts and apex springs. this has been a much better option in the long run but still not without its problems; and of course not as pleasing to the eye but i decided to compromise because she is my daily and theres a lot of speed bumps round my way and even more pot holes.

my top mounts are still suffering so am thinking about going for Powerflex bushes, any opinions on this greatly appreciated.

this happened a couple of times...



AND IF ANYONE HAS USED MY COILOVER 'GUIDE' FOR REFERENCE, I'D GET YOUR MOTOR BACK IN THE AIR IF I WAS YOU BECAUSE ITS WRONG.

______________________

Recent editions since my last update include:

some sh*t Audi pepper pots i had to settle for, customized slightly by myself.
wind deflectors
rear Votex mud flaps
VR6 splitter (not in the photo below)
colour coded spoiler
Head unit
and a engine bay splash guard for the coming months








also been working on this:









And this:




other bits in storage awaiting installation include:

vento front end (painting required :/)
Sounds (currently planning boot install and sub box building)
Black Highline ABC's
Black roof lining

[jimmydub]

other bits in storage awaiting installation include:

vento front end (painting required :/)
Sounds (currently planning boot install and sub box building)
Black Highline ABC's
Black roof lining

[Andy grim]

Loving it mate big thumbs up

[jimmydub]

Loving it mate big thumbs up

nice one thanks for looking in! Haven't updated this for a long time, have been overseas and also a lot of the work done on her has been mechanical and not very interesting!

[Andy grim]

No probs hopefully you get it sorted and I see it at some shows this year bud