A little advice please!

[JWebb]

Hi all.

Little bit of help please. 

I recently picked up a 1.8T. The ride was incredibly stiff when I took it out and got it home, it was on coilovers and has the R32 18s. I took it off the coilovers which were completely seized, the rears weren't returning and were a bit of a mess all round! It's currently sitting on standard shocks with a lowering spring of around 40-45mm. I hoped this would fix the problem and convinced myself it would be the broken coil overs that were causing the problem.

If I'm honest there's no real difference at all. I can feel every imperfection in the road and if I go over any crack/slight bump or where one lot of tarmac meets the next there is a large jolt and the whole car feels as if it's going to break or if something will crack etc. If I hit a grid or a manhole cover or some small of pothole it's absolutely horrendous, the best way I can describe it is like driving off/up a kerb. It genuinely feels like something will break and I need to get it sorted.

The garage I normally use were closed over christmas so I gave VW a call who said swap the alloys out for some original 16s and issue solved, however I know there are plenty of people on here runing 18s who I'm sure can't be having the same issue. I've tried having the PSI between 29-34 but can't feel a difference.

Last weekend I got it down to the mechanic I use, he took it out for a quick run and said he's pretty sure the bottom arms have had it, he's suggested new bottom arms, with ball joints. Top mounts front and back and bump stops for the back.

I'm considering looking at standard springs as well.

I'd like to get this all sorted on the 30th Jan. My question is can anyone shed any light on the above. whether VW or my guy are likely to be right, should I do both/all. or has anyone had any experience of anything I'm saying!?

Any help will be hugely appreciated.

Cheers.

Jack 

[barrym381]

could the mechanic not have put it on a ramp to check these bits rather than driving it  the bottom arm bushes are prone to failure if not been changed but can be replaced with better 1s

[JWebb]

could the mechanic not have put it on a ramp to check these bits rather than driving it  the bottom arm bushes are prone to failure if not been changed but can be replaced with better 1s

He was absolutely rammed and I was on my way into work so he just took it for a quick drive. I imagine the bushes probably have gone, think the guy who had it before me was more worried about how it looked rather than if it was in a solid way. How severe would the ride be if they have gone, it is easy to do just the bushes or is it a better idea to do the whole arm for longevity?

J

[barrym381]

could the mechanic not have put it on a ramp to check these bits rather than driving it  the bottom arm bushes are prone to failure if not been changed but can be replaced with better 1s

He was absolutely rammed and I was on my way into work so he just took it for a quick drive. I imagine the bushes probably have gone, think the guy who had it before me was more worried about how it looked rather than if it was in a solid way. How severe would the ride be if they have gone, it is easy to do just the bushes or is it a better idea to do the whole arm for longevity?

J

if the arms are still ok just have the bushes replaced with better bushes if your keeping the car the mechanic will sort both sides in 90mins easy  but if its been looked after like you describe it might need drop links and anti-roll bar bushes too but these are not expensive or hard to fit

[JWebb]

could the mechanic not have put it on a ramp to check these bits rather than driving it  the bottom arm bushes are prone to failure if not been changed but can be replaced with better 1s

He was absolutely rammed and I was on my way into work so he just took it for a quick drive. I imagine the bushes probably have gone, think the guy who had it before me was more worried about how it looked rather than if it was in a solid way. How severe would the ride be if they have gone, it is easy to do just the bushes or is it a better idea to do the whole arm for longevity?

J

if the arms are still ok just have the bushes replaced with better bushes if your keeping the car the mechanic will sort both sides in 90mins easy  but if its been looked after like you describe it might need drop links and anti-roll bar bushes too but these are not expensive or hard to fit

That's brilliant thanks,

I think the way it rides it's going to be better to just do it all, as it is god awful.

So is there anything other than, Bottom arm x2, top mounts front and back, ball joint x2, drop link and ARB bushes?

Thanks so far!