GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => The garage => Topic started by: sKrEwBaLL on 17 December 2003, 11:43
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Chaps,
I am going to attempt to lower my car (mk2 8v) over the Christmas holidays, and to be honest, I'm pretty sh!t at car stuff but I'm going to have a go. I have lowering springs and dampers and new bumpstops. What other bits will I need to replace? Do I need any special tools? (I have a set of spring clamps). Do I need a torque wrench or is this not important for suspension?
Also, anything else I need to be aware of?
Cheers
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You will need a tool for the slotted nut that holds the front suspension together, you can get a set from Halfords. You should always use a torque wrench really but especially if you are inexperienced. Change the top mounts on the fronts as well.
Get someone to help you as well. The backs can be a pain to get out as you need to lever the trailing arms down.
Change all the bolts and nuts for new. Allow at least a day to get it done if you haven't done it before, and don't rush it!
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If you want any advise when doing it then just ask :-*
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You will need a tool for the slotted nut that holds the front suspension together, you can get a set from Halfords. You should always use a torque wrench really but especially if you are inexperienced. Change the top mounts on the fronts as well.
Get someone to help you as well. The backs can be a pain to get out as you need to lever the trailing arms down.
Change all the bolts and nuts for new. Allow at least a day to get it done if you haven't done it before, and don't rush it!
Which torque wrench should I buy?
The Haynes manual reckons you can get the slotted nut out using a allen key and a spanner? Is this right?
I dont suppose you could list the nuts and bolts I need so that I can buy them before I start..? :D
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I think your looking at the wrong nut, to get the plate off inside the engine bay you need a spanner and allen key, you need an offset spanner by the way. The slotted nut holds the front suspension together.
I got a better idea , if you are near to Woking, pay me and i'll do it ;) :D
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How much...? ::)
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About 120 bar :D
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LOL - '6 you mercenary - what happened to the brotherhood!! or are juniors nappies infringing on your modding budget? ;)
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What if I give you a hand? Cheaper..? ???
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Too right mate, its not the kids , its the wife Ho Ho Ho :D
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Might do it cheaper for a hand.
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Back in about 1.5 hours. Got to go to mothercare and get a swinging seat, more money :'(
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I dont have a lot of cash, thats why I was going to attempt it myself. Let me know if the ghost of Christmas past visits you and you have a change of mind :D
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What if I give you a hand? Cheaper..? ???
Saw a sign in a garage that read:
Hourly rate...25.00
if you watch...30.00
if you help...50.00
Thought it was funny at the time. Suspension isn't too bad just follow the book and you should be fine. :)
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Its double if you help cos then the feckers will have to do it properly
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Woking MOT centre have got that on their wall.
Also
If you worked on it yourself 60.00
If you laugh 75.00
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I am available for work after this week and next. However i am too skint to do it for nothing i'm afraid. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
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What about ?50 if I help
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I'll do the fronts for 50 bar
:D
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I thought you liked tinkering around with cars.... heres a great opportunity for you to have a tinker and make yourself a fifty ::)
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I've done plenty of tinkering. In fact thanks to German Swedish and French, and their dodgy suspension kits, i've had the front suspension off more times than i've had hot dinners.
ho ho ho
:D
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There you go then. You sound like you know what you're doing. Shouldnt take you any more than a couple of hours to do the lot. ?25/hour aint bad money mate. :D
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2 hours for all of it? we are not on club gti now!
It will take about 2 hours to do the fronts providing the fixings aren't too stubborn.
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How much for the rears? tenner? ???
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The rears take a bit longer, depends on fixings again. I was doing a polo a while back, and the bolt on the bottom had rusted into the bush, had to drill it out, so took all afternoon.
Once front and rears have been done, i would then check front wheel camber. And you would then have to get the tracking checked at a garage. Not essential but very advisable.
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Have a bit of pity for a man that just spent ?150 for AA recovery and then ?120 for a battery and alternator that he didnt need all because of a loose connection :(
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How about i just help you do the fronts for 40 bar, then when you got a bit of cash, get the rears done.
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What about 75 slabs for the lot?
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I don't know about that. I still advise to get the fronts done, as they do most of the work. What car is it? how much lower? what kit have you got?
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Its a mk2 8v gti. I bought the bilstein streetline kit (-40mm). Its got bilstein shocks and some springs that I've never heard of.
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Ventura? You should get new top mounts, new lower suspension bolts and nuts, front and rear.
4 x bolts, 4 nuts Front
2 x bolts, 2 nuts Rear
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Yeah Ventura. I know they're not the best but I have spoken to some people who have them and they say they're OK. I will get the top mounts from gsf. Will I be able to get the nuts and bolts from there too?
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NO NO don't do that. GSF mounts are sh!t. Get them from VW and the bolts and nuts. Pay the extra, trust me!
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Is there a website or something I can order them from..?
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Go down the main dealer. Where abouts are you?
How about 80 bar all in, but you better be able to give me a hand.
Ho Ho Ho
:D
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OK. Its a deal. Are you available this weekend? (if I can get the parts)
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Thats the only downside, you will have to wait a couple of weeks. As my wife only gave birth last week!
I usually work Saturdays, how you fixed on Sundays?
I could get it done on a couple of Sun mornings.
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I'm going to be away for Christmas, be back on the 3rd. I was hoping to get it done before I go. I might have a bash myself when I'm up there, but if not, we can do it when I get back.
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OK mate, gotta dash, speak to ya soon.
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OK cheers
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9889&item=2448607544 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9889&item=2448607544)
Found these. Some nice new VW top mounts going cheap! ;D
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them GSF top mounts only cost ?11 new anyhows
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Golfnutz are a f**kin geg
they charged ?4.50 for the dipstick collar, it costs 80p of GSF and they tried saying that there's was a VAG original
its a f**kin bit of plastic!!
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GSF top mounts are cheap and CRAP
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I lowered my mark 2 GTI meself, was a bit of a bastad as had to do the front one morning and the back a weak later and did not really have the ideal spanners etc but got there in the end. I was well chuffed with it until it drove like a boat. I then realised I needed the tracking/toe to be corrected. That cost me ?80 odd................and to think I thought I was saving myself money doing it meself :(
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Tracking should only cost 25 quid to get reset. Camber can be reset yourself with a spirit level.