Very Loud bang over bumps

Hi, I'm just trying to find out whether anyone has any similar experience to me, and how they fixed it, before I start taking things to bits

I have a 86 cabrio, which has been lowered by about 40mm. I didnt get it lowered, it was lowered when I got it.

Well when I drive over certain potholes (not necessarily just big ones, but there usually the worst) there is a really REALLY loud bang. To me it sounds like the suspension is bottoming out, but thats just what it sounds like, I have no idea what it is really.

Its far more likely to happen when the car is full of people (extra wieght) and it seems to have got worse recently.

Has anyone any ideas what it might be? My shockers are not too badly worn they seem ok, though they are quite old.

Only other peice of info, which may be relelvant is that I've had to change the bottom ball joint twice in two years… but obvioulsy that could be anything.

All advice is welcom and appreciated

Lindon

Hi, Check that the top strut mountings havn't perished allowing strut to 'hit' the top over bumps. I had a similar problem, scared the hell out of me!

Easy to replace ?10 is per side I think.

Hope this helps

J

As above, it'll be the 'bump stops' that have perished.

Dan

Your suspension is bottoming out.

You will still get a good bang with good bumpstops - you can cut them down so that you have a bit more travel.

Things to check:

Top mount condition
Bump stop condition
Shocker condition

None of this lot is expensive to get parts - if you end up changing shocks VW do the whole leg for about ?35

Thanks a lot guys,

I'll have a look, see whats what,

you're a very helpful bunch!

Lindon

I changed the top mounts in the engine bay but still get the bang
How do I check the bump stops?
Cheers

maybe the dampers are past thier best, if you push down on each corner it should come up again and stop wihtout bouncing. if it sits there bouncing up n down thats not good. also any oil leaks are bad too

what about the bump stops what are these and where are they and what am i checking
cheers

The bump stops are here.. number '5'.
http://www.declangrady.com/gti/technical/front_strut_diagram.png

They are made of a type of rubber and sit around the piston stoping the suspension 'bottoming' out.
You might have a plastic cup cover sitting over them. (its a wheel off joby)

Gd luck.

Cheers I take a look over Christmas
Jsy

Could this course the loud bang when going over pot hole though ?

jayjay31 said

Could this course the loud bang when going over pot hole though ?

Yes,  as if the 'bump stop' has perished theres just bump and no stop  :wink:

Is there any guides on how to get to them and change?

Think you need to buy yourself the brown haynes manual, its awesome. often get em for 99p off ebay

Haha I got one ! Just like the guide on here normally

sorry but at 40mm lower if your bumpstops are bumping something is seriously wrong else where even on shorter shocks you'll have 60-100mm between the top of the shock and the bumpstop, if they've perished you can double that.

top mounts, shocks, ball joints, swing arm mounts is the route i'd take to checking.

get the wheels of the floor on axle stands. move them in the vertical plane and feel for movement, now do the same from side to side, while it's in the air look for oil round the stanchion of the shock and broken springs (very common) if there isn't any unusual movement then do the shock test as mentioned by rubjonny, then with the wheels on the floor look for a gap between the rubber and metal of the upper mount, while your there check the top bolts are tight and that the mounts are tight on the body to mount bolts.