Author Topic: Loose springs  (Read 1609 times)

Offline Cockneymark

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Loose springs
« on: 08 July 2012, 20:41 »
Wonder if anyone has encountered this?

I'm in the process of swapping the springs on my 1999T golf estate (Mk3). Fitted fronts and found that due to the shorter springs, there is a gap between the spring cap as it lays on the top of the spring and the bearing of about 10mm, meaning that when jacked up the spring is actually loose and you can rattle it about. I understand the benefits of matched spring & struts or coilies, but shocks are ok and i'm doing it on a budget. Is there something that can be changed on the spring cap front or something else like a spacer or something to stop this? The spring caps are the later gti style flat type rather than the early domed types.

Offline stainesy

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #1 on: 08 July 2012, 20:43 »
when the car in on the ground there will not be a gap as the weight of the car is on them.  :wink:

Offline Wayne

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #2 on: 08 July 2012, 20:46 »
If they do not rattle when on the ground they will be fine.

Offline Cockneymark

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #3 on: 08 July 2012, 20:48 »
Thanks guys. Isn't there something in the new MOT's about loose springs when jacked up failing, or have i been sniffing the plusgas too much :laugh:

Offline Screech16v

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #4 on: 08 July 2012, 20:50 »
I think this could be an mot issue as technically the spring could become dislocated as full travel is achieved,sounds like the wrong spring to me,but in the real world they should  be fine.

Offline JC

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #5 on: 08 July 2012, 20:55 »
correct about the mot regs  :smiley:

Offline leigh_harty

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #6 on: 08 July 2012, 20:57 »
Aslong as they are legit springs you will be fine, my vr had lowering springs on and when i had my MOT i found out that the fronts had been cut, so they were loose when jacked up!

Swifty binned them for obvious reasons
Dont lose your dinosaur!

Offline Cockneymark

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #7 on: 08 July 2012, 20:59 »
Springs are defo for my car, only thin i'm wondering is could it be the 60mm drop?

Offline Screech16v

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #8 on: 08 July 2012, 21:03 »
I know you dont want new shocks but i think shorter performance shocks are the answer  :wink:

Offline thai-wronghorse

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Re: Loose springs
« Reply #9 on: 08 July 2012, 23:53 »
Shortened struts are the answer. I use Weitec Ultra GT on mine.