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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: leegt5 on 24 January 2011, 19:18

Title: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 24 January 2011, 19:18
I need to change my rear shock absorbers and I just wondered what type the standard ones would be.

Im gonna change the rear bump stops, top mounts and sleeves at the same time as well.. Is there anything else I should change while im at it ?
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 24 January 2011, 19:42
Gas as standard, better to fit uprated ones if you can, Boge are a good choice.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 24 January 2011, 23:04
Gas
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 25 January 2011, 21:05
So gas shocks came as standard on the car when new...?

Looking at getting these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320647476454&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123

It says that they fit other mk3 Golfs (non GTi). What I don't want is to fit them and make it sit higher than a GTi should because they are for non GTi's as well. I've sent the seller an message to make sure they will not do this..

Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 25 January 2011, 21:33
So gas shocks came as standard on the car when new...?

Looking at getting these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320647476454&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123

It says that they fit other mk3 Golfs (non GTi). What I don't want is to fit them and make it sit higher than a GTi should because they are for non GTi's as well. I've sent the seller an message to make sure they will not do this..



They will not, springs set the ride height, all the shocks are the same.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 25 January 2011, 21:41
Cheers Wayne... This was the ones that are saying they will affect ride high on the GTi as they are for lower models as well !!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-MK2-MK3-REAR-GAS-SHOCKS-AUTO-ADJUST-gti-etc-/220724715517?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item336437dffd

So you reckon the Boge ones I posted up a will be fine ??
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: snifferdog on 25 January 2011, 21:43
Yes they will.Shocks just affect the rate of damping. Whats the difference between gas filled and oil filled though?
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 25 January 2011, 22:04

So you reckon the Boge ones I posted up a will be fine ??

Yep, some might affect the ride height by how the spring plate is fitted but the Boge ones will be fine.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 25 January 2011, 22:31
Cheers Wayne thats all ordered up then..

2 x Shocks Boge Gas (Delivered from rusty_buckets_classic car parts) £72.90
Top Mounts (Delivered from Murrays Direct) £16.60
Bump Stops and Sleeves (Delivered from veedubmachine) £18.70

Total = £108.20
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 25 January 2011, 23:38
Cheers Wayne thats all ordered up then..

2 x Shocks Boge Gas (Delivered from rusty_buckets_classic car parts) £72.90
Top Mounts (Delivered from Murrays Direct) £16.60
Bump Stops and Sleeves (Delivered from veedubmachine) £18.70

Total = £108.20

 :cool: what are your front ones like  :smiley:
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 25 January 2011, 23:45
Front shocks are ok. Did the front top mounts about 18 months ago and the bottom ball joints about 5 months ago.

The rears are proper fooked though.. Its still bouncing 2 miles down the road after going over a bump and it really twitches.. Feels like it slides a tiny amount into the road camber.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 25 January 2011, 23:47

The rears are proper fooked though.. Its still bouncing 2 miles down the road after going over a bump and it really twitches.. Feels like it slides a tiny amount into the road camber.


Sounds like most mk3's  :grin: they were underdamped from new.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 25 January 2011, 23:51
I know they're not great to start with but its getting to the stage where 60mph + doesn't feel safe with it twitching like it does on bumps.. Go down a pothole doing 30mph and its scary !!
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 25 January 2011, 23:52
I know they're not great to start with but its getting to the stage where 60mph + doesn't feel safe with it twitching like it does on bumps.. Go down a pothole doing 30mph and its scary !!

Should be loads better with the new shocks.

Boge are a good choice.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 26 January 2011, 00:18
I hope so... She needs a few things doing of late.. All just wear and tear items like the rear shocks, rear discs and pads need doing next. Did the front discs and pads at the same time as the bottom ball joints.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 07 February 2011, 12:10
Fitted them at the weekend.... What a difference !!
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 21 February 2011, 18:54
Fitted the new bump stops, shocks and top mounts. It sorted the twitching rear end out and is well tight now which is great.

However every time I have someone in the back and go over a bump theres a squeek from the rear shocks. I took them off to try and figure out what was causing it so put a bit of grease on the top plates incase it was them but its still there. It sounds like its the bump stops making the noise when they slide up and down the shock making a squeak.

Im wondering have I put the shock back together correctly regarding the bump stop and protective sleeve even though it looked really simple (the old one was in bits) or am I supposed to trim the bump stop?
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 21 February 2011, 19:31
You should only trim the length down of the bump stop down if you've fitted lowering springs.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 21 February 2011, 21:26

Im wondering have I put the shock back together correctly regarding the bump stop and protective sleeve even though it looked really simple (the old one was in bits) or am I supposed to trim the bump stop?

As Thai said only if it is lowered, if you shorten it you run the risk of shock damage.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 21 February 2011, 21:33
Any idea what it could be then thats squeeking.. When I refit the struts I lower the car back down on its wheels before tightening the top bolts up in the boot.... Am I right in thinking they shouldn't be done up too tight and just tight enough to bite....
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 21 February 2011, 21:34
Any idea what it could be then thats squeeking.. When I refit the struts I lower the car back down on its wheels before tightening the top bolts up in the boot.... Am I right in thinking they shouldn't be done up too tight and just tight enough to bite....

They should be tight and from memory you should have another nut on top as well. :smiley:
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 21 February 2011, 21:39
Yeah theres 2 nuts per strut inbetween washer type things small top mount and top gold plates !!

Any idea what sort of torque they need to be done up to then as that may be the problem...

Cheers Wayne..
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 21 February 2011, 21:43
Yeah theres 2 nuts per strut inbetween washer type things small top mount and top gold plates !!

Any idea what sort of torque they need to be done up to then as that may be the problem...

Cheers Wayne..

No idea on torque, I just nipped mine up.
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 21 February 2011, 22:17
Oh ok then... All i've done is nip them up !!
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Wayne on 21 February 2011, 23:49
Oh ok then... All i've done is nip them up !!

Has it worked  :smiley:
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: polo6n222 on 22 February 2011, 12:21
that sounds like what my car is doing
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: Len on 22 February 2011, 13:21
Any suspension member should be tightened as much as possible. You only want the parts that should move to move!
Title: Re: Gas or oil filled shocks
Post by: leegt5 on 23 February 2011, 10:40
Anyone got a picture of a built standard rear strut ?