my golf sounds like a shopping trolley even after many suspension changes

[Adezmk3]

Hi,

Il start from the beginning, my car failed its MOT on strut top mounts, back in 2009. At the time I also needed a new gearbox and plenty of other things needed fixing and replacing. Anyway, I went to undo the top nut and the allen key sheared a chunk of strut out on both the struts so both were pretty much buggered. Careful angle grinder work chopped the plates out so the struts could be removed.
I bought a donor car, this was a K registration and my car is an M registration.
The strut tops were different as were the springs (at the time I didn't spot the differences apart from the rubbers).
All parts had accidentally sold me top mounts which would fit the K reg struts so I thought great, there shouldn't be a problem as surely the car bodies are exactly the same...

The car passed its mot then under a week later the shopping trolley shudder returns....
I go to see the VW dealer to find out what's going on and learn the fit is completely different, 3 or 4 strut changes later, a new set of wishbones and another mot of praying and the problem is still bloody going on. I cant get rid of the rattle!

What am I missing?? Has anyone else had as much trouble as this before?? The struts on the car now are of the right top mount fit but the top mounts are old and came with the struts from a breakers, will new rubbers really get rid of the trouble? I've had the front struts on and off 5 times now and really cba to do it ever ever again.... (damn I have to change a snapped spring on the GTI I've just bought too!)

The top plates stick up out of the body about 5 or 6 mm at the moment, is this the problem??

I need to solve this as with it like it is I'm unlikely to get anything for the car despite over £700 being spent on in the repair weekend to end all repair weekends back in 09.

If you have read all the way through this waffle thanks very much.

All answers and suggestions keenly received,

from
Adrian

[Wayne]

What am I missing?? Has anyone else had as much trouble as this before?? The struts on the car now are of the right top mount fit but the top mounts are old and came with the struts from a breakers, will new rubbers really get rid of the trouble?

The top plates stick up out of the body about 5 or 6 mm at the moment, is this the problem??

from
Adrian

The fact you have a gap suggests your top mounts are knackered.

[christomk3gti]

The fact you have a gap suggests your top mounts are knackered.
[/quote]

Is this "Definately" correct tho?? Because I've just had my car pass its MOT and it has about a 5mm Gap aswell. I've checked other cars aswell and there the same. hmmmmmm...

 

[Wayne]

The fact you have a gap suggests your top mounts are knackered.


Is this "Definately" correct tho?? Because I've just had my car pass its MOT and it has about a 5mm Gap aswell. I've checked other cars aswell and there the same. hmmmmmm...

 

They should have no gap but most times once they settle you will have a small gap.

[christomk3gti]

How much is a small gap then?? 5mm??

[snifferdog]

Mines got a gap (1cm or more) , passed its mot fine, and it drives ok?!

[jonnypolish]

If you've been over the whole suspension with a fine tooth comb then start looking elsewhere IN the car.
Like a fool changed all my top mounts and examined all the suspension for the most annoying squeak!
Turns out it was the rear bench :'(
Problem sorted for free... at least the suspension got done though i suppose!

[rubjonny]

they always have a gap even when brand new. if they didn't the upper cup would catch the bodywork and stop the wheels from turning properly. mine have around a 5m gap and these are brand new lemforder (basically genuine vw)

despite this you should always put new top mounts on when you're changing suspension. you can use either top mount style on any mk3 golf, the chassis is the same. it also makes no odd what shocks you have early or late, again either top mount can be used.

The 'late' mount you mention is actually MK3 GTI, they were fitted thruout the production years on the MK3 GTI and VR6. then after 96 the lower spec models also got them.

The only difference between the 2 top mounts styles is the upper spring plate, top mount retaining threaded bush and the top mounts themselves.  you cant missmatch the 2 top mount styles and spring plates, the GTI spring plate has a different shape to the top of it where the top mount bearing fits into.

also fyi there are 2 upper spring plates available for the GTI top mounts due to the springs being made larger diameter on the later GTIs.  So if you want to swap to later mounts you need to check which size springs you have and then fit the matching upper spring plate.

[Khare]

I was going to say they will always have a gap, mine is about 8mm or so, maybe 1cm and it drives well, no knocking and squeaking.

[crazy_e]

Hi,

i know this mite sound odd but i had the same thing with mine as soon as i started to play about with lowering my car i got a rattle noise and it turned out to be the stupid metal bracket things that clip in to the brake pads can you wiggle the pads and does it recreate the noise?