Scared of pot holes
Posted
#1634760
(In Topic #225459)
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hey up folks, since driving my golf Ive noticed i feel every little bump in the road and have hit some pretty bad pot holes that i thought would result in a puncture.
Is there any shocks or springs that can improve the stock ride ?
Is there any shocks or springs that can improve the stock ride ?
Posted
Old Timer
I know that feeling. Mine turned out to be worn items rather than wrong items.
Have you checked your dampers & top mounts? Do you have stock springs or lowered?
After I got mine sorted I was aiming at pot holes, just because it was so nice not to have the bang going over them.
Have you checked your dampers & top mounts? Do you have stock springs or lowered?
After I got mine sorted I was aiming at pot holes, just because it was so nice not to have the bang going over them.
Whip
/wip/
Noun - Car
When the steering wheel was first put into use in automobiles, it was called the whip. The term has now been generalised to classify any automobile.
/wip/
Noun - Car
When the steering wheel was first put into use in automobiles, it was called the whip. The term has now been generalised to classify any automobile.
Posted
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the_whip said
I know that feeling. Mine turned out to be worn items rather than wrong items.
Have you checked your dampers & top mounts? Do you have stock springs or lowered?
After I got mine sorted I was aiming at pot holes, just because it was so nice not to have the bang going over them.
Thanks pal their stock i believe, what would you change first?
Posted
Local Hero
I would definitely change the worn-out components.
Posted
Old Timer
!00%paul_c said
I would definitely change the worn-out components.
I would check the fronts first. You should be able to see the if the top mounts are okay. Briano has a good guide on it: https://www.volkswagenownersclub.com/threads/replacing-front-struts-and-mounts.32171/
I think the dampers have to come out to check them properly. Push the piston all the way in and watch how long it takes to come up. Something like this should give you an idea:Briano1234 said
This is a bad mount:
Good mount Bad mount .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITm6817bI6E
Also, check your ride height against pictures of other cars (same type e.g.cabi) with stock suspension.
Whip
/wip/
Noun - Car
When the steering wheel was first put into use in automobiles, it was called the whip. The term has now been generalised to classify any automobile.
/wip/
Noun - Car
When the steering wheel was first put into use in automobiles, it was called the whip. The term has now been generalised to classify any automobile.
Posted
Local Hero
okmate said
the_whip said
I know that feeling. Mine turned out to be worn items rather than wrong items.
Have you checked your dampers & top mounts? Do you have stock springs or lowered?
After I got mine sorted I was aiming at pot holes, just because it was so nice not to have the bang going over them.
Thanks pal their stock i believe, what would you change first?
The tiny avatar pic is definitely not stock height, can you post a bigger pic? Or measure it (eg from centre of wheel to the wheelarch) for comparison.
Posted
Local Hero
Larger wheels with lower profile tyres won't help if fitted.
paul_c said
okmate said
the_whip said
I know that feeling. Mine turned out to be worn items rather than wrong items.
Have you checked your dampers & top mounts? Do you have stock springs or lowered?
After I got mine sorted I was aiming at pot holes, just because it was so nice not to have the bang going over them.
Thanks pal their stock i believe, what would you change first?
The tiny avatar pic is definitely not stock height, can you post a bigger pic? Or measure it (eg from centre of wheel to the wheelarch) for comparison.
1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
Posted
Settled In
Posted
Local Hero
For a non-GTI that's definitely lowered. You need to measure it and compare.
Posted
Old Timer
New inserts, top bearings, and GTI springs on a 92 Clipper. 195/50/15 tyres.
Posted
Local Hero
It isn't the small pot holes that bother me, it is the Pot Moon Craters that do.
What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?
They all start with GOOD Grounds.
Where are my DIY Links?
They all start with GOOD Grounds.
Where are my DIY Links?
Posted
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paul_c said
For a non-GTI that's definitely lowered. You need to measure it and compare.
Thanks mate will do, these are 15 inch wheels if that makes a difference
Posted
Local Hero
Think late cars had 15inch wheels as standard? Yours doesn't look stoopidly lowered but def lower and skinner tyres than a standard 13 inch wheel ballon tyred car.
In my experience even standard cars driven carefully give the front suspension a workout with state of roads and speed humps etc. Check the dampers are still working and bump stops are intact.
In my experience even standard cars driven carefully give the front suspension a workout with state of roads and speed humps etc. Check the dampers are still working and bump stops are intact.
1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
Posted
Settled In
Thanks for all your help guys I really do appreciate it' I know nothing about the coilovers or suspension ride height so will shortly measure the distance from the floor to the wheel arch, is there a way to determine the ride height so I could change the front first?
Posted
Local Hero
okmate said
Thanks for all your help guys I really do appreciate it' I know nothing about the coilovers or suspension ride height so will shortly measure the distance from the floor to the wheel arch, is there a way to determine the ride height so I could change the front first?
You need to also measure centre of wheel to wheel arch. Get some pics up of the suspension and someone will be able to advise if its standard or coilovers or looks totally worn out
1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
Posted
Settled In
Thanks pal
Posted
Old Timer
And whilst using the camera, take a shot of the strut tops as well.
Posted
Settled In
What you think guys ?
Posted
Local Hero
Fronts look like original struts with 3rd party springs, def not coilovers anyway. From what I can find on internet they are sold are standard repalcements? Assuming that if they went to trouble of changing springs they also put in new/uprated dampers?
Rears look pretty standard springs or dampers.
I'm not sure what the standard ride heighst are and haven't got easy access to my Cabrio at the moment to check mine, but don't look that lowered as prev said.
Top mounts look worn and stretched.
Rears look pretty standard springs or dampers.
I'm not sure what the standard ride heighst are and haven't got easy access to my Cabrio at the moment to check mine, but don't look that lowered as prev said.
Top mounts look worn and stretched.
1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
Posted
Settled In
thanks Early 1800 that's really helpful,
if I feel potholes that thud through the car will the top mounts do anything to better the ride,
as i said before pal havent got a clue how to check the springs/struts or mounts
if I feel potholes that thud through the car will the top mounts do anything to better the ride,
as i said before pal havent got a clue how to check the springs/struts or mounts
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