Front Struts

[astranaut]

Dont really know where to put this as i'm not looking for them atm, but how much am i looking to pay for two front struts? I've aquired my bro's red 1.6 8v (hes into Euro look mk2 golfs, and has picked one up dirt cheap) and its been lowered, but the springs have been cut to acheive this (only on the front). Also the bearing/bush at the top of the strut is torn and perished. I dont have spring clamps so think this is easiest, with standard springs what am i looking at? Also is it a hard job? Thanks

 

[djwilde69]

if you dont have spring clamps you culd loose your hand if the spring fly's off.. its fairly easy if you have the tool's, im also doing this but as il be working all week im paying around 80 for them to be done with my wheel bearing's. and last time i did strut top's it was about 30 pound at the garage altho the mounts are about 60 each from GM

 

[ega-estate]

if you get struts from a scrappy they will have punctured the shocks anyway to get the oil out by law, so you will have to strip them so not worth the hassle.

i would just replace the springs and topmount and bearings.

standard springs about £30
topmounts about £15 from motorfactory
bearings about £5.00 off ebay

also their is two kinds of struts. big block and small block. what ones are yours? small block i presume

 

[astranaut]

Cant i just undo to two top nuts and the whole unit just come away? without the spring flying off? i dont think it will anyway because its been cut that short when its jacked up it looks really loose. Not sure bout the small/big block - 1.6 8v so i presume small ones. didnt know they had to puncture them. Maybe get some off here, like i said i dont have the right tools or know how to go that far into it.

 

[Turboshed]

You are looking to pay about £20-30 a side for strut top mounts and bearings (the bearings are about £5 each) but spring clamps would be easier. You can pick up springs from a scrappy for pennies, unless you want to get some specific lowering springs.
IIRC its not too bad of a job, though I havent done it myself. I think it is a case of clamping the spring, undoing the shock bolt (in the middle of the strut top) that drops down, undoing the two bolts that hold the strut top on, and that then comes off, and the bearing stays on the strut so is easily taken off and replaced. But I await the responce of those who have done it to confirm

 

[djwilde69]

if you have no compresion on thr spring when you take the top-mount off you will be ok, and yeah pretty much take the nuts off the top, track rod, drive-shaft and ball joint off, if your keeping the cut spring's witch i think you should not do, you can just replace the top mount with not much bother

 

[djwilde69]

You are looking to pay about £20-30 a side for strut top mounts and bearings (the bearings are about £5 each)

30 quid would be pattern witch last about half the time, get GM save in the long run.

 

[astranaut]

no cut springs are going, the ride is terrible lol. ok cheers guys, got time to ponder it anyway

 

[djwilde69]

if you are going to use 2 pice clamp's on the new spring put plenty of tape each side of it, (less likly to slip then) or try get one pice one's that look kinda like a horse shoe.

 

[astranaut]

my bro has some a hook at either end of a threaded rod> obviously one side tightens as the top hook is welded to the shaft, tighten the bottom and the bottom one goes up and compresses the spring. think thats how it works anyway. just remembered i got a hanes manual the other day to, so will have that next to me lol.

 

[Turboshed]

no cut springs are going, the ride is terrible lol. ok cheers guys, got time to ponder it anyway

good lad, cut springs sound to me, frankly, dangerous

are you gonna replace with standards or proper lowering springs?

 

[djwilde69]

good luck, be carefull

 

[astranaut]

er if i can get hold of some i will go -40mm, but tbh not that ar5ed. plus if i do it, then get some lowering springs,it will be easier to do the second time around