Author Topic: Struts? (Read 7810 times)

mainer · « **on:** March 13, 2006, 08:44:14 pm »

Best place to get struts? I'd like a heavy duty strut, the frost heaves are really bad round here. Other thing is can you buy them with the springs compressed on them? Or do I need to find a friend with a compression tool?

Also Radiator, Should I just get any old radiator that is made for it? or should I get a thicker one? Will a thicker one fit? Are they alumium?

Thanks COoper
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moosiah · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2006, 01:38:23 pm »

struts come in insert or whole strut versions. insert struts have a nut on the top of the tube. I bought a spring compresser $70 at napa. autotek.com has many types of front strut replacements, some more $$ than others.... I run a brass an copper radiator that came in a volksdiesel picup, I think that it's the biggest type available .......

mainer · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2006, 06:18:27 pm »

I picked up some struts at a loacl parts store. I can barrow a spring compressor from a friend, I also grabbed the tool for pulling the nut on top off. Is the nut on top the only thing that holds the spring down? Do they get put together in the car, or does everything get taken out and put together?

Coop
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hillfolk'r · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2006, 07:22:20 pm »

:twisted: dont do what i do for disassembly,which is to wrapa towel evenly around the spring,put on some workboots,grab an airgun,and sit down on the floor,feet out,and put the strut bearing ears on the insides of my feet,lean up,and zap the nut off,,the strut usually slides across a smooth concrete floor about 15-20 feet when the nut comes off,, ,,if you are careful,its kinda fun! :twisted:

firestorm13666 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2006, 10:32:24 pm »

LMAO i have to say it does sound like fun but i hope you ware a cup just in case,because man i would hate to get hit in the sack with a few 100Lbs of force :shock:

hillfolk'r · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2006, 01:47:23 am »

naw,its ok,,just make sure the floor doesnt have much friction,,,,i told ya not to do it

fatmobile · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2006, 04:46:32 am »

What kind of car?
Probably not the dodge in your signature right?

mainer · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2006, 09:41:11 am »

I should really update my sig. Its my new to me 89 jetta. Thanks Coop
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hillfolk'r · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2006, 12:38:39 pm »

damn 650k,,, :shock: ,,theres a dude i see at waterfest once in a while,,he has i think a fox or a jetta,or a quantumor somethin,,,i cant remember,but he always shoepolishes on the car "750k,head never removed",,aughta get a medal,,,,,,,,you too,,,,,,,

mainer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2006, 05:09:54 pm »

Ya, the odometer reads 650k. But I dont think it is right. The car has had some rust fixed, but hardly any. It is just too clean to have that many miles on it. Even the A/C works, not sure why it still works but its fine with me. something must have shorted out and wound the odometer up.

Coop
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mainer · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2006, 09:09:53 pm »

So how does the strut come out? I returned my stut inserts and got the entire thing. It dosen't have the sping on it, but i have access to a compressor and it should be no porblem doing it. The nut on top holds the spring down correct? This means that I shouldn't remove the nut untill I'm ready? So if that nut on top holds the spring compressed what holds the sturt assembly up? There are two bolts that hold the bottom in, i pull those and it than drops out. I use a spring compressor to compress the spring, than pull the nut off the top. I then put the spring on the new sturt, still compressed, and put the nut on top of the new sturt? sound about right? Anything else i should know?

I've been told that the rear struts are easy and you dont need the compressor? This true? anything i should know about doing the rears?

Coop
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Kudagra · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2006, 09:43:48 am »

Dont buy em all...I want a set...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BILSTEIN-SHOCKS-STRUTS-VW-GOLF-GTI-JETTA-GLI-85-92_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33590QQitemZ8049359423QQrdZ1

thats a full set and I got this from a guy with a smooth all black 525i. He gave the guy good marks.

mainer · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2006, 08:35:08 pm »

I got my struts from auto parts international. They are KYB's the fronts have the lower spring seat on them. The rears are just the shock. They have life time warrentee on em. It was 269 for the 4 sturts and 2 front strut bearings. I had to go back today and get rubber sleves for the back, and new rubber bearings for the back. that was like 68 bucks. I wasn't thinking, since the back needed the protective sleve the front is gonna need it. So, i'll order it on monday, and have it shipped to me tuesday. I can see about 350 when they are in the car. The backs went in so easy, just the 2 nuts on the top and the one on the bottom to pull em. They came apart easy, and went back in easy.

Hopefully I have most of the tools to take apart the fronts. In my bently it says that I can remove the nut seen on top without having the spring blow up in my face. Is this right? In the drawing they show, its the only nut holding the thing together. I purched a tool to remove the nut off the top, but didn't know that i would need teh 524 tool to remove the slotted nut. In the bently it says that the slotted nut holds the spring compressed, I dont see any slotted nuts in any of the drawings. Is the step by step proccess that is in the bently the one i need to follow? I always thought that the nut on the very top is the one that holds everything together.

Please let me know, I'm planing on taking this stuff apart tomarrow. Thanks Cooper
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fatmobile · « **Reply #13 on:** March 26, 2006, 04:26:21 am »

I was helping a friend with some front struts on and Audi Quantum.
I think the fronts are much like the A2 Golf or Jetta but I haven't done mine yet.
The slotted nut that holds tension on the spring looks more like a bushing in the bentley picture. It real life (on the Audi) it's a round bushing with slots. I think we made a tool out of a 9/16" deep socket ... Good use for SAE tools.
On the Rabbit the top nut holds the spring compressed.

Patrick · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2006, 07:58:16 pm »

If you really want to toughen up the ride in the back, there used to be a thread here that suggested back struts from an older Audi 4000, or 5000.
Found (I think!) another solution to the butt drag syndrome (MK 2) today. Spent a little time in a wrecking yard today with a tape measure looking for a sprin with the same diameter wind, same hieght (more or less) and a bigger diameter wire. Picked up a pair of springs sitting on a shelf about an inch taller, two more winds, and I'm guessing about 30 % bigger wire. Turns out they're from the front of a 1986 chevette! Going to attempt to install them this weekend, will post the results when I get a chance. I'm betting an extra 750 lbs carrying capacity , which is good because my wife likes to use her Jetta for a truck!