Front passenger spring snapped, considering options

[CanisLupus]

Hi all, got a problem myself again :/

Got into the car on Saturday and heard a loud metallic bang from front passenger side. Long story short, have had a look today and found the upper part of the the spring has snapped off Oo It was resting in the well of the bottom mount and the top of the spring now lies half over the cover plate and half on the top strut...

Anyway I am looking at my options here as to what to buy. Have done a lot of searching online and on the boards. The general message is though stay well clear of cheap coilovers, JOM ect. Yet alot are very happy. I don't slam the car, but do live in lovely countryside wales with 1000 potholes everywhere.

My question is what are my best options here...I don't really want to spend loads, but at the same time it makes more sense for the long run do get something decent. I will be buying new top strut mounts, covering plate ect for both sides.

From reading I gather most people say that Eibach spring set (goes for around £144) is brilliant quality. I don't really want to do the rears yet though, but they would come in handy for when I do do it.
Other question is I should probably get new shocks too...as I have no idea what is on there, they havn't ever been changed in the 6 years I have had the car, and before that she stood for 4 years too...so thats at least 10years old. Possibly even OEM.

But if a decent shock is around £40, times 4 is already £160 + £144 for the spring set + say £40ish the new top mounts, plates and screws... + I'll have the garage do this as am uncertain about the broken spring as it not resting on the plate anymore...thats nearly £400 again :/ Would a "mid range" or even budget coilover set make more sense here?


Also, my Dad gave me these BBS rims 2 years ago from germany (auction not mine) http://www.ebay.de/itm/ALufelgen-BBS-VW-Golf-3-III-15-Zoll-6J-x-15H2-4-Loch-/321029134797?pt=Auto_Felgen&hash=item4abed3d9cd#ht_500wt_1414

Their 6j ET45 and mine have 195 / 50 tyres. Will I have any problems with any of the set ups here? Have no problems right now, but you never know. 

[Diamond Hell]

195/50 R15 tyres will be correct on those wheels.  ET45 seems a bit high though.

Buy the Eibach springs, if they're a set of four, you might need to put the rears on the shelf.... although fitting the rears should take about 30 minutes and might help ensure your ride height's not off front to back.

Buy a pair of Bilstein OEM quality front gas struts to replace the dampers - you might as well while you're in there.

Or you could pick this set up, which won't be terrible:

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares_Susp-Kit-Spax-Golf-Jetta-Mk2-1-6-1-8-Gti-8v-40mm-WC412V7936_act_shop.product_pID_16408533_lang_EN_country_GB.htm?crumbStartPage=1

That way you get new rear dampers too - after all, if you're paying someone to do the suspension swap the rears might as well get done at the same time.

If I were you I'd also swap to Golf3 GTI top mounts on the front - you need to find an early G3 GTI for the right spring caps.  They're a lot tougher and more simple than the G2 ones.

Alternatively just do the new struts, springs and G2 top mounts (the WILL be tired).  Make sure the garage sort the front alignment and get them to dial in -0.5 degrees of camber while it's in there.

[CanisLupus]

Thanks Diamond, 2nd time you've been a great help to me!

Yes your right with the rear, might as well do all as the rears are probably god knows how old too, might as well do the whole thing in one go.

I take OEM Bilsteins are the B4 versions, as B6-14 costs loads and are all sports range. Found a good price for the whole lot, 4x Bilstein shocks + the Eiback kit for £287. Think I'll go with that as have read plenty of threads here where people are really happy with the combo.


About the mounts, yes I've read this a few times that it is best to upgrade to the MK3 mounts. WIll do a bit more of searching and see what I can do there. Will also replace all the rear end too then, mounts ect.

Thanks about the camber, didn't know about that. So I should ask to set it at (minus?) -0.5 degrees? Is that all round, or were the rears non-adjustable (sorry read so much and this did pop up somewhere).

Many thanks!

[Wayne]

Et45 would be Vauxhall fit, VW tends to be around et35.

[CanisLupus]

Et45 would be Vauxhall fit, VW tends to be around et35.

Thought the ET was weird too when I first got them, didn't want to say no to my Dad, was thank full and never had a problem with them, no rubbing at all.

They were a fit to Golf 3s over in Germany. If you look at the ebay link in the 3rd picture you can also see the ET stamp of 45 and the VW logo. Same as mine. Will be going the Eibach spring and Bilstein combo. Hope this won't be a problem, but if all lines up like before it should be fine. Mines a GTi so if I understand correctly it should be around 10-15mm lower. Apparently the MK3 strut upgrade raises it by 5mm, so were looking at 10mm...But only read that so not sure. We shall see.

[Gambit]

mk3 cabs had 4-stud et45

id stick with mk2 G60 top mounts, mk3 top mounts you'll need to change the spring cap plus they make the car sit 5mm higher at the front - if you really want to run the mk3 top mounts, get a set of lowering spring caps for the front, they drop the car 10mm or so , which gives an extra -5mm drop when running mk3 top mounts rather than +5mm on top of the spring drop

Eibachs for 8v plus decent set of replacement bilstein/sachs shocks

also, replace the rear rubber spring seats while you are at it
http://www.clubgti-sussex.co.uk/article/Sagging_suspension/Bumpstops.htm

[CanisLupus]

Many thanks for the info Gambit.

Have already ordered all the parts needed for the MK3 top strut conversion so I'll give that a go, even if it sits 5mm higher it will be still lower than my current setup and I don't think 5mm will be noticeable between the front and back. But if it is and it annoys me I can always change back or get a set of those lowering caps. Have spent to much already lol

Yes, got everything ordered for the rear too, complete overhaul.


I've decided to screw the garage and do it myself. Everything I've done on the car I've done myself and learnt a lot, so this will be kinda exciting as it is something new. Have ordered some decent spring clamps.

I would though like somebody's input on this picture, I hope you are able to see what I mean:



What has broken off looks like --> C <-- so that much is missing from the top of the spring. If you can tell in the pic, the spring has gone over the top plate and is now resting against the frame. What is the best way to proceed here?
If I put clamps on first it will try and drag down the top plate, which of course won't budge and I don't what it to go pop while I'm under there.

Do you think as the spring is now higher that there might be no tension left and I could just safely remove the top nut and lower bolts? Any way I can know for sure there is no tension on it?

Cheers fellas


Edit: A dull moment of mine, my girlfriend just suggested to put the clamps on, tighten it slightly and then loosen it all...if it is still under tension then it can't go up anyway lol...guess that would be the best way?

[Diamond Hell]

I don't think you're going to have any problems with spring tension there.

Remove the top plate on the top of the turret, in the engine bay, then jack up the car.  If the spring is now against the top of the inside of the turret, as you jack it up it will release gently.

If it's still trapped under the plate then remove the strut and check to see if there's any tension on the spring.  If there is apply the spring compressors on the deck and buzz the top mount off.

Incidentally, the benefits of going to early Golf3 top mounts and spring plates is that you get away from that moronic slotted nut thing and the top mounts are dead simple and more durable.

For 5mm it's worth the effort.