GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: stainesy on 13 January 2010, 16:52
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as some of you no i have been having problems with one of my coilovers.
figured out today that who ever fitted them somehow didnt fit one of them right. and somehow its not sitting right in the top mount resulting in a damaged mount and a missing bearing.
i have never fitted a top mount on one of these before and my haynes manual does not cover the top mont.
i no i can buy a top mount kit witch contains a mount and a bearing.
could some kind person explain how to change the top mount please. i.e. where the bearing goes wot way round things go. is there any washers and what i will need.
its probly a realy simple job but as i say it has not been put together proply so i need to no the right way it goes together.
any diagrams or pictures welcome.
cheers
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I don't know about coilovers particularly for the top of the strut arrangement.. But the standard setup..The rubber top mount way up should look obvious with the bearing fitting in the underside of it..then the mount is located onto the top of the strut and followed by a fixing nut on top of that..
When the whole strut is attatched to the vehicle there's a cap and further nut/washer or locking nut fitted to the strut top from inside the engine compartment..
Hope that's a help anyway,
Christo
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i just did mine the other day, was sure its in haynes, think its just included in the strut dissassebmly section, basicly
1. remove strut
2. compress spring
3. remove nut from top
the order things should go on is 1 spring top plate,2 bearing,3topmount,4first nut,5 take off spring compresser + put srut back on car,6 put the lil disk on + the top nut
this is for standard sus+ from memory so dont poop on me if its wrong but someone will say?
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dont get gsf top mounts they are poop, genuine VR6 ones are best+ ones off ebay that say vr6 arent nessesarily any good
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This should / might help:
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/407150.png)
I used and can recommend these top mounts: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-MK3-GTI-VR6-CORRADO-SHOCK-TOP-MOUNT-KITS-C358_W0QQitemZ190303140410QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item2c4ef37a3a
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Theres a guide in the maint section!!!!
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This should / might help:
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/407150.png)
I used and can recommend these top mounts: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-MK3-GTI-VR6-CORRADO-SHOCK-TOP-MOUNT-KITS-C358_W0QQitemZ190303140410QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item2c4ef37a3a
i can also NOT recomend these after having a poor fitment with them.
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Well I never had a problem with them.
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anybody no if taking the coilovers off to change top mounts will throw my tracking out?
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anybody no if taking the coilovers off to change top mounts will throw my tracking out?
Yes it will do, you should always get camber and tracking checked after any work on susp. anyway.
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i can borrow a tracking gauge from work but how do i check and adjust my camber?
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loosen bolt 29 in the above diag + hold it in right position + then re tighten
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i can borrow a tracking gauge from work but how do i check and adjust my camber?
You really need the proper kit to be honest.
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cant i draw around the hub bolts on sespension leg wile on as it is then but it all back so bolts are in same place. also use a spirit levil on wheel edge when parked on flat service?
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cant i draw around the hub bolts on sespension leg wile on as it is then but it all back so bolts are in same place. also use a spirit levil on wheel edge when parked on flat service?
Maybe but it would still be best to get it checked.
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cant i draw around the hub bolts on sespension leg wile on as it is then but it all back so bolts are in same place. also use a spirit levil on wheel edge when parked on flat service?
they draw round the postion in the haynes manual so all good :wink:
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cant i draw around the hub bolts on sespension leg wile on as it is then but it all back so bolts are in same place. also use a spirit levil on wheel edge when parked on flat service?
they draw round the postion in the haynes manual so all good :wink:
ive done that but getting it all right again is a pain especially when on your own, best is to get it all as close as poss+ then get it done on a pro one, the local high tech one is £40 i think, just make sure u do all sus parts at once otherwise ull have to do it all again.
You could measure it all ure self but itd be alot of measuring+ make sure everything is level+ straight+ would be best to get one of those digi inclinometers
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ok right gona now do the work as close as posible then take it to get checked.
what will be a good cheap place to tyake it. i.e quick fit or something?
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I'd agree with that,
When i did my suspension i paid particular attention to getting the strut legs to hub back to the same position best i could using a spirit level and marking the positioning before removal...still, i was left with my steering wheel slightly off centre! so something wasn't quite right.. Very hard to get it spot on, Only a proper tracking/camber alignment job at a specialist will do that.
Christo
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just phoned a place in luton near me called tyre city and they said it is about £28 per adjustment so could go up to like £80
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Try not to just go anywhere, and avoid those high street type car centres, you know the ones!
Any mates or mechanics you know who might recommend somewhere..
I often ask my local garage/MOT shop mechanics for advise on certain things, I get my vehicles Mot'd there and they know i'm local, I tell them! So they'd be fools to mess me about!
Also, make sure you know what your getting for your money..ask about the details of checking/adjusting and how they're going to price it. know where you stand exactly..if in any doubts go somewhere else.
Christo
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ok changed the top mount today.
managed to change it without removing the bottom from the hub bit.
i was right the bloke that fitted the coilovers put the bearing in upside down and didnt use a nut to compress the coil as nut was missing.
bearing had ripped itself to bits.
so now its all good and feels alot better.
have noticed the other side seems to be ok with the bearing in right but it just has the coil compression nut missing.
so in theory i should be able to just remove the top nut and metal plate under bonnet and put the coil compression nut on from there and just do up tight.
does that sound like it will work?
makes you think tho the bloke that fitted the coilovers must have had to put the top mounts in place then lower the car down to compress the springs :laugh:
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Seems to be 2 different ways of putting them together.
When I did mine I found the the nut was nearly the same size as the hole in the spring plate, as below.
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/Vw%20Golf/01.jpg)
So I then fitted the bearing underneath the nut as below.
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/Vw%20Golf/2.jpg)
Only issue then is that the top plate would not sit down flush but I never had any problems.
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/Vw%20Golf/2008_0603mounts0001.jpg)
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i thought the bearing went under the coil compression nut anyway?
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i thought the bearing went under the coil compression nut anyway?
To me yes it should, I was told after that it should go on top the nut.
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i thought the bearing went under the coil compression nut anyway?
To me yes it should, I was told after that it should go on top the nut.
on top of the nut? that dont make sence?
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the nut i got from vw parts witch is the right nut for it is alot thinner than that nut and it has a slite dome on the bottom to sit on the bearing properly
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noooo i still have a slite clonking sound from the front drivers side suspension.
i braked quite heavy earlyer and it sounded like sumit moved with a grindy clonk
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When i did my suspension change i noticed the new top mounts weren't sitting quite central in the wing mountings..i jacked each side up to release pressure on the top mounts and manouver them into a symetrical position while allowing the weight of the car down to hold position..
I'm sure they're supposed to self centralise but i didn't like the look of em..
Hope your all sorted anyway
Christo
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the sound witch made me change the mount is back completely now.
it must not have been the mount that was making the sound.
god sake this is doing my head in. it almost sounds like the shock in the coilover is totaly dry and moving around.
im starting to loose the plot over this now. :cry:
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Can you not get someone to bounce the car up and down on the corner where the problem is, listen as close as you can..you might be able to tell more precisely where and what's making the noise..
Christo
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it dont make the sound when im parked now its only when moving. if i go over a small bump the sound kinda goes up and down with the bounce of the car. (if that makes sence)
the only way i can explain the sound its like sticking a plunger on something and pulling it up and down. thats the sound i get when bouncing on the bumps.
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Well perhaps the only way you'll get to the bottom of it is either to get your local garage to pop it up on a ramp and have a look or take the whole strut off yourself and investigate the assembly, also look at the lower arm and bushes while your at it..
Christo
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Anti roll bar link maybe.
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yeah it realy is a strangle one. at speed it dont happen but in traffic or slower roads its realy noticable. then it will go away and the next day will be there with vengance.
going to get the wheel off wednesday as i got day off work and seen what i can see. it always happens just before an MOT dont it LOL
sods law
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halalooya at last i got to the bottom of the suspension sound.
its the plastic shock cover inside the coil has somehow rissen up and is rubbing on the coil. just got to sort it out tomorow.
its always the simplest things aint it LOL
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There you go..good it's sorted, the only way in the end is to get your hands dirty and poke around, as they say..
Christo
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ok well got the car in the air took the wheel off and sorted the inside sleeve out.
totaly soaked the hole coilover in WD40 checked everything to do with suspension and is still making the blooooody noise. its louder than ever now.
i just dont get what it can be.
i can onlyb think its one of the wishbone bushes now but the sound dont seem to come from down that low.
its a mystery
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anybody no if coilovers are oil or gas filled shocks?
as the only thing the sound can now be is from inside the shock. think something rubber inside the shock is rubbing up and down when i go over any bumpy roads serface
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Have you checked the bolts on your wishbone bushes?
I thought my topmount were shot but it was the bolt on the drivers side front wishbone bush...
Hope this helps