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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 11:59

Title: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 11:59
drove home last night rattling....found this today...is it forked?

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk196/vdubnut2008/DSC00765.jpg)
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Khare on 28 December 2009, 12:03
that looks to be very broken...
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: justalex81 on 28 December 2009, 12:06
the shock isn't. who put them together?? doesn't look like the top mount is there at all. the mount you can see is the bottom mount that is supposed to be errr on the bottom.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: JC on 28 December 2009, 12:08
ooooops  :grin:
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Khare on 28 December 2009, 12:09
the shock isn't. who put them together?? doesn't look like the top mount is there at all. the mount you can see is the bottom mount that is supposed to be errr on the bottom.
no it's not...that is the top part of the top mount.

check you haven't broken a spring on the coilover.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 12:12
Just a top mount failure. Get a new pair for both sides and jobs a gooden.

Nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: JC on 28 December 2009, 12:12
could be khare,  but you say you noticed a RATTLE,  was going to ask didnt you notice a change in how it handled, but then remembered we are in the mk3 section  :grin:
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Khare on 28 December 2009, 12:15
Just a top mount failure. Get a new pair for both sides and jobs a gooden.

Nick
doubt it is. The whole spring has sunken there...Looks like a spring related issue. The top mounts just cushion it not hold it up.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 12:15
LOL!! "was going to ask didnt you notice a change in how it handled, but then remembered we are in the mk3 section "....yes did notice it wasnt right but with the frozen snow and ice hard to tell!!....are the top mounts easy to change and where to get.....is it safe to drive (not stupid distances)
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 12:16
update..in case it helps...car is sitting at normal height...
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: JC on 28 December 2009, 12:16
DO NOT DRIVE - you havent CONFIRMED the fault yet.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Khare on 28 December 2009, 12:17
Easy to change, especially the back ones. It's a 10 min job with an air gun. And no it is not safe to drive, no matter what the distance is.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Khare on 28 December 2009, 12:19
update..in case it helps...car is sitting at normal height...
Well that just adds to confusion. If the ride height is the same then it looks like it's not a spring issue, although still check them. Your best bet is to remove the whole coilover and check it properly. It could be the top of the damper has broken off or something similar.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 12:33
update..in case it helps...car is sitting at normal height...
Well that just adds to confusion. If the ride height is the same then it looks like it's not a spring issue, although still check them. Your best bet is to remove the whole coilover and check it properly. It could be the top of the damper has broken off or something similar.

WHHHATTTTTTTT? You can see it in the pic!!!!!!!!!

It's just a failure of the top mount, tis all. When the one inside the arch goes the shock pops up through the hole.

Nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Wayne on 28 December 2009, 12:35
Horney is spot on the top mount has failed.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 12:46
are these available from any motorfactors? is it a case of...jack up back end...take off wheel, nut from inside the car, top rubber bit then slide out the shock? does the whole shock have to come out?
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 12:48
You should be able to get them form your local autofactors but they may have to order them in. If not GSF and ECP usually have them in stock.

To change them you need to drop the whole shock assembly but it's not hard, shouldn't take more than an hour. I would do both sides as if that one has gone the other side is probably pretty knackered as well. I think they're only a couple of quid each.

Nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 12:51
cheers guys.... does this look like what ill need?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Golf-Mk2-3-Vento-Corrado-Rear-Top-Suspension-Mounts_W0QQitemZ390093518692QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item5ad362b764
Need to try and fix in next few days as have to drive 800 miles next week LOL!
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 12:54
Yup that's the ones. You need to re use the metal sleeves from the old ones.

Nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 12:55
cheers nick....are the sleeeves in the old mount and whats the best way to get them out>
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Khare on 28 December 2009, 12:55
well on the hottuning coilies at least they have a plate at the top, and it is big enough not to go in through the arch, hence why I doubt it's a top mount failure.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 13:03
well on the hottuning coilies at least they have a plate at the top, and it is big enough not to go in through the arch, hence why I doubt it's a top mount failure.

That's the spring plate, does nothing to stop the shaft coming up through the wheel arch once the mount has gone.

Nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 13:04
cheers nick....are the sleeeves in the old mount and whats the best way to get them out>

They just slide off the shaft. You can see it in your photo, where the shock shaft looks thicker at the top, that's the sleeve.

Nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 14:29
update : jacked car up and took off wheel......springs looked fine...not even that manky LOL!  Cant get top mounts till tommorrow :(


silvery bit at the top of this pic...is this the sleave....can see the rubber bit in the hole looks odd too (no sleezy comments LOL!)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Golf-Mk2-3-Vento-Corrado-Rear-Top-Suspension-Mounts_W0QQitemZ390093518692QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item5ad362b764

Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 14:31
You posted the ebay link again.

nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 14:33
fail.....yup been a long day!! blaming working 60 hours over last 6 days ;) :embarassed:

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk196/vdubnut2008/DSC00770.jpg)
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 14:34
Yup that's the sleeve :-)

Nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 14:39
huge thanks for the help all!!...going to have a bash at this tommorrow :) car park mechanicing for the very cold win! is the bottom bolt at the hub a sod to get off?.....
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Horney on 28 December 2009, 14:49
Yeah it can be, soak it in Plus Gas, WD40 or 3in1 oil today and in the morning and it should be fine.

Nick
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Wayne on 28 December 2009, 17:00
Been thinking about this over lunch, check the picture below, has something else failed to allow the shock to come up through.


(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/511100.png)
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: mac7 on 28 December 2009, 17:14
Wayne's using his brain :wink: I think...

The upper spring platform is supposed to be secured to the damper piston rod, otherwise the thing wouldn't work, would it?
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Wayne on 28 December 2009, 21:53
Wayne's using his brain :wink: I think...

The upper spring platform is supposed to be secured to the damper piston rod, otherwise the thing wouldn't work, would it?

Your thinking the same as me, something has let go.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 28 December 2009, 21:57
 :sad: not good news :( im heading to have a proper look tommorrow so keeping everything crossed.....it did seem odd i could push the rod back into the shock manually....
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: vdubnut on 29 December 2009, 16:47
update :)....took off the coilover and it looked fine.....looked again..... the top spring plate that should hold the damper...had a bigger hole than is should hence the rod going through it....(installed wrong i think :o not by me tho think they missed out a washer!)  steel washed added where it should have been and its fine again! need to check the other side tho

Huge thanks to everyone who input into helping your time is appriciated !Have an ace new year guys! :smiley:
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Khare on 29 December 2009, 16:58
That's why I argued that it couldn't be the top mounts, I knew something else had to be wrong. Until you look thought you can't really do much more than suggest ideas. Good luck with the repair.
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: JC on 29 December 2009, 17:08
good guess Khare  :grin: :kiss: :tongue:
Title: Re: mk3 coilover....is this knackered :(!!!
Post by: Khare on 29 December 2009, 17:09
Ye ye  :kiss: