what have you done to your car today ?

[Rich.T]

Cheers mate, respray next then I need to start enjoying it and leave it alone.

Cheers. Ive had a long day and that cheered me up no end lol

 

[Dazzalcr]

Cheers. Ive had a long day and that cheered me up no end lol

Thanks I think, think the car coughed a little chuckle too or its another issue to fix lol, glad my pain is your salvation.

 

[iammooks]

Hello there...

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[Dazzalcr]

Hello there...

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Looks like someone is about to be busy, hope its smooth sailing we know it never is.

 

[iammooks]

Looks like someone is about to be busy, hope its smooth sailing we know it never is.

Luckily I did the top mounts on the front a couple of months ago, so I know I'm not going to have any trouble getting them off, but the other bolts I'm a little nervous about. As far as I can tell, the shocks are what came with the car or were replaced last before I got the car in 2008, so I'm always going to be nervous about getting the bolts out - especially the rears. The lower mounts on the rear I replaced because one of them seized, but it's the top mounts there that I hope don't snap, given they bolt into the body.

On the front, it's more about undoing the lower bolt and getting them out of and into the knuckle. I've watched plenty of videos and read how-to guides, but we all know it's never that straightforward sometimes.

I might wait until I can visit the parents and stretch out a bit on their driveway - the thought of doing the nearside while I'm half lying in the road isn't something that fills me with confidence - it was bad enough trying to do the ball joints.

 

[Yellow fr]

The ones that go into the body will be ok it’s the one on the shockers that are fun hope you have a vice as it helps a lot


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[iammooks]

The ones that go into the body will be ok it’s the one on the shockers that are fun hope you have a vice as it helps a lot


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It's why I'm probably going to get a noisy gun for this job - shock the bolts out.

The top mount nuts I bought a few months ago came with new lower shock bolts, but if anyone knows what kind of Torx I need for this one...

It's *huge*.


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[Thai-wronghorse]

The ones that go into the body will be ok it’s the one on the shockers that are fun hope you have a vice as it helps a lot


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I will echo this and I've taken enough apart to be sure.
The upper body ones are generally fine, the only one of these can be a wee bit awkward is the one furthest back on the drivers side as the socket is super tight against the arch liner.

The lower strut bolts can be a fucker though, especially if they've never been taken off before as the metal sleeve inside the bush corrodes around the bolt and they literally become one piece of scabby metal.
Once these get really bad no amount of beating, heating or screaming will get it out of the shock.
This is where Mr angle grinder comes out to say hello.

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[iammooks]

I will echo this and I've taken enough apart to be sure.
The upper body ones are generally fine, the only one of these can be a wee bit awkward is the one furthest back on the drivers side as the socket is super tight against the arch liner.

The lower strut bolts can be a fucker though, especially if they've never been taken off before as the metal sleeve inside the bush corrodes around the bolt and they literally become one piece of scabby metal.
Once these get really bad no amount of beating, heating or screaming will get it out of the shock.
This is where Mr angle grinder comes out to say hello.

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Tell me about it - when I did the rear beam bushes, the offside one backed off a little but I had to saw the rest of it off. The fronts have probably never been touched...


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[Thai-wronghorse]

Front strut pinch bolts are easy to remove.

One thing I will stress to anyone new to taking out front shocks on any mk4 Golf platform vehicle is to invest in a hub spreader socket.
Without one of these it can be an utter ballache.

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[iammooks]

Front strut pinch bolts are easy to remove.

One thing I will stress to anyone new to taking out front shocks on any mk4 Golf platform vehicle is to invest in a hub spreader socket.
Without one of these it can be an utter ballache.

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Got one on order - I've never thought it was the best idea to take a lump hammer and start smacking my suspension about anyway, but it was the getting the shock back in again that was one of my biggest concerns, so that'll solve that. They're so cheap it doesn't make sense to bodge it.

 

[Thai-wronghorse]

Got one on order - I've never thought it was the best idea to take a lump hammer and start smacking my suspension about anyway, but it was the getting the shock back in again that was one of my biggest concerns, so that'll solve that. They're so cheap it doesn't make sense to bodge it.

Good man, it's a godsend for doing this job.

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[iammooks]

Good man, it's a godsend for doing this job.

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Pretty much every job I do these days I start by asking if there's a specific tool that's going to make my life easier. It all goes back to when I did my tie rods - if I'd known that a pickle fork that cost less than £10 could have saved me a day hitting things with hammers... It means I've got a load of tools I'm probably never going to use again, but I'll pay way more if I end up not having to fight the car all the time.

Just hope it all makes a difference to the handling now. To be honest I think the shocks have been dead for years, but if it makes any kind of difference I'll be happy.

 

[Yellow fr]

It's why I'm probably going to get a noisy gun for this job - shock the bolts out.

The top mount nuts I bought a few months ago came with new lower shock bolts, but if anyone knows what kind of Torx I need for this one...

It's *huge*.


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Is that the pinch bolt for the front shocker ? I will find out tomorrow but I think it’s a m12 or m14 something is saying m14 but I will get the tool onto it to find out tomorrow

 

[Thai-wronghorse]

Where's that bolt from as it's not a shock bolt?

Edit: just realised you said it was aftermarket.

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[Rich.T]

The gear knob that i shouldn't have bought has turned up.

Not sure what to do with it now.
It has been used and didn't notice in the ad that the chrome ring is worn.
Whats the ring made out of? Looks like copper/brass?
Do these knobs come apart easily enough?
Thinking zinc plating?

 

[Thai-wronghorse]

Chrome plated plastic im afraid.

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[Rich.T]

I'll stick it in the drawer for now and come back to it.
Have some time to ponder on it.
Did see these on Ebay though. Cheap enough to sacrifice.
Maybe next month eh?

 

[iammooks]

Where's that bolt from as it's not a shock bolt?

Edit: just realised you said it was aftermarket.

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I'm not likely to use it, to be honest. It came with Febi top mounts and if I have to buy a new Torx bit just to fit it when I can spend that money on a proper bolt instead, much easier.


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[MoToJoJo]

Got one on order - I've never thought it was the best idea to take a lump hammer and start smacking my suspension about anyway, but it was the getting the shock back in again that was one of my biggest concerns, so that'll solve that. They're so cheap it doesn't make sense to bodge it.

Oh I dunno, got a pair of front shocks out with a liberal application of WD40 and a rubber mallet (and eventually an extension bit). Ok, putting the new ones in required the spreader bit but still, it was fun.

Am I the only one that copper greases the inside of the bit where the strut mounts?