GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: jetblack92 on 01 June 2011, 20:36
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Right I've been battling at this for long enough, and im just about ready to throw it away and sulk.
Bear with me, I will do my best to explain clearly!
Bought some boge second hand 60mm lowering shocks/springs, got them all fitted, and the rears are fine, but the fronts are not.
When i bolt them all up I'm left with a fairly sizeable gap, between the top mount and the cap that bolts down on top of the body mounting point-no matter how much I tighten them up, it looks like the cap doesn't sit down inside the top mount far enough. Which of course means the shocks are free to rattle and clunk over every bump.
Tried with a different set of supersport 60mm shocks/springs, with a different set of top mounts, and same problem!
I know TDI's and VR's had different shocks because of the heavier engines, but I assumed mine would be the same as the GTi?
Someone must know the answer to this???
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Sounds like your putting it together wrong.
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That's what I thought too, but I don't see how? Top mounts the right way up, so I don't know what else I could be doing wrong?
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There is usually a 5-10mm gap between the top mount cap and the turret top(inside the engine bay)
Is this what you mean?
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Yeah that's the one, except that on mine its a big enough to mean the shock isn't held firm and clunks when you bounce the car or go over any bump :undecided:
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Post a pic of the gap and if possible a pic showing how you put them together :wink:
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Long shot but here goes.
The last owner has not left 2 nuts fitted, you need one to hold the top spring plate and bearing then the other to hold the plate under the bonnet.
I hope this makes sense :grin:
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Right got some pictures now.
Theres two nuts on the shocks-one above the top mount, and one holding the top cap down. is this right? I've tried to photograph them.
Top mount on the shock
(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/jetblack92/IMG_0955.jpg)
(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/jetblack92/IMG_0957.jpg)
In situ
(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/jetblack92/IMG_0960.jpg)
With the cap bolted down
(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/jetblack92/IMG_0952.jpg)
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That gap is about the same as mine was with coilovers fitted.
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Yup, that gap looks pretty normal to me as well.
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any help? All the bits there?
http://javalins.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/mk3_sus.jpg (http://javalins.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/mk3_sus.jpg)
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Only thing i can think is these shocks and springs are from a late golf gti.
Did the gl ever change the front suspension to the later type.
Maybe thats why they are rattling.
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Its a '96 though, so not particularly late?
Reassuring to know that the gap isn't the problem, so I guess my question is now why the fook does it all rattle so much?! :shocked:
The top mounts don't look very worn, although I don't know how many miles they've done? The bearings still spin freely and don't have much play in them.
I can't think what else could be causing the knock-it's definitely suspension related.
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bushes maybe? Perhaps its the bottom of the front suspension now, not the top?
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looks normal to me aswell as just done same on mine, if ride ok then not to worrie :)
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I can't see any wrong there, what spring plates are on these though? Were they seated on top of the springs correctly as the GL ones could be the larger ones rather than the smaller ones fitted onto late GTI's.
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Spring plates are the ones off the original shocks.
As an experiment, I used a spare spring plate and some rubber to space it to replace the top cap, meaning it clamps down on the tower tight, rather than having the gap. This stopped the knocking!
I know its a bodge, and I have no intention of leaving it like that, but that says to me that there must be something wrong at the top!
Oh and its definitely no issue with the top mounts, I've replaced them and the bearings, but it didn't change anything.
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am i missing something? that gap looks normal to me. mines the same with my coilovers. :huh:
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Don't drive your car like that! you will bend the turret.
When you turn left to right your topmounts also move. This is why there is a gap.
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(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5232/5795956133_df56b0db09_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59145949@N03/5795956133/)
Photo0037 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59145949@N03/5795956133/) by tweedub (http://www.flickr.com/people/59145949@N03/), on Flickr
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/5795958811_6b68be1bd2_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59145949@N03/5795958811/)
Photo0037 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59145949@N03/5795958811/) by tweedub (http://www.flickr.com/people/59145949@N03/), on Flickr
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Spring plates are the ones off the original shocks.
As an experiment, I used a spare spring plate and some rubber to space it to replace the top cap, meaning it clamps down on the tower tight, rather than having the gap. This stopped the knocking!
I know its a bodge, and I have no intention of leaving it like that, but that says to me that there must be something wrong at the top!
Oh and its definitely no issue with the top mounts, I've replaced them and the bearings, but it didn't change anything.
Don't drive your car like that! you will bend the turret.
When you turn left to right your topmounts also move. This is why there is a gap.
Spot on the Gap is needed :afro:
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Yeah, don't worry, I know the gap is vital-the experiment was only over a hundred yards or so, so I can't have done that much damage! :wink:
So the gap on my top cap is not abnormal, so why should it be clunking?
Surely if clamping it down tight stops it, it must be something to do with that top cap/mount? Or could that just be a red herring? I've narrowed it down to just the nearside now, but not sure how that helps!
I'm definitely confused with this one!
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Well it could be the shock itself clunking
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Hmm. Food for thought.
They look in really good nick though, and for the shock itself to be clunking it would have to be fairly heavily damaged surely?
I'm thinking I might try swapping them out anyway-work my way through the whole set up bit by bit!
Cars are frustrating sometimes...