Bad front shock? - Troubleshooting - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• Bad front shock? by ericgoum on 08 Apr, 2008 12:29
• So I just finished rebuilding the jetta with great results, thanks all for the help.
  
  When I visited my folks place after the rebuild to show the working car, I went over a speed bump and the front left corner when "CLUNK" and the front rocked back and forth. I checked tire pressure and such to see if it was something simple that was causing this issue with no luck. I put weight on each corner and each bounced back properly except for the front left which went down but did not rebound very much at all. I'm figuring its either the shock or the strut bearing...is this a proper prognosis or is there something I'm overlooking?
  
  I actually have some "heavy duty" springs laying around that I got from www.partsplaceinc.com and I called about the rest of the parts and they said it'd cost about 165$...sound like a good price? Is this something I should take to a mechanic or would that cost substantially more than ordering the parts and doing myself?
  
  Thanks for any help or advice in advance!!
  
  Eric
• #1 by burn_your_money on 08 Apr, 2008 12:54
• Jack up a side and grab the upper part of the spring. Pull it back and forth. If it moves the strut mount is done
• #2 by ericgoum on 08 Apr, 2008 13:05
• The driver side that is having the issue does move like that when the car is jacked up. Would the strut mount be enough to make it clunk like that? Will I need a spring compressor to replace the strut mount?
• #3 by burn_your_money on 08 Apr, 2008 13:40
• yes bad strut mounts make clunking noise. Remember that they are carrying all the weight of the car (for that corner). You do need a spring compressor. You'll also need an alignment afterwards unless you scribe the bolts that hold the strut to the bearing housing thing at the bottom that the CV goes through... I forget what it's called.
  
  It's pretty painless, last time I did one it took about 20 minutes
• #4 by Possum79 on 08 Apr, 2008 15:30
• Steering Knuckle. Just for reference on Burns unknown name at the moment.
• #5 by burn_your_money on 08 Apr, 2008 18:13
• perfect, thanks
• #6 by ericgoum on 08 Apr, 2008 19:31
• Thanks a lot for the info, I will try to replace it tomorrow.
  
  Eric
• #7 by burn_your_money on 08 Apr, 2008 19:50
• there is a crazy bolt like contraption in there. You are suppose to use a special tool to take it off, I just use a flat screw driver in a similar fashion as a chisel. Once you compress the spring it usually comes off pretty easy though.
  
  If you have problems with the very top nut spinning, hook a socket up to a pair of vice grips and then insert an allen key where the ratchet usually attaches to the socket. Hook up a socket and extension to the end of the allen to get some leverage