Author Topic: Mk2 top strut bushing.  (Read 4839 times)

November 01, 2017, 10:13:29 pm

scrounger

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Mk2 top strut bushing.
« on: November 01, 2017, 10:13:29 pm »
When I bought my Jetta diesel 7 years ago I noticed that the top bushings were missing. A previous owner had put in adjustable Koni shocks but they left off the bushings. I had stretched rubber in the space until now but decided to design and print some plastic bushings. They don't take a lot of stress like the bushing under the strut.



Hopefully my car will ride tighter and quieter.


M2 Jetta TD.  Northern Missouri

Reply #1November 04, 2017, 10:47:02 pm

Ian0391

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2017, 10:47:02 pm »
When I bought my Jetta diesel 7 years ago I noticed that the top bushings were missing. A previous owner had put in adjustable Koni shocks but they left off the bushings. I had stretched rubber in the space until now but decided to design and print some plastic bushings. They don't take a lot of stress like the bushing under the strut.



Hopefully my car will ride tighter and quieter.
Those are sweet, what kind of printer did you use? I have access to an abs printer and I might copy this

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Reply #2November 04, 2017, 11:52:08 pm

scrounger

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2017, 11:52:08 pm »
I don't think it makes any difference what printer you use.

I put an STL file on thingaverse.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2626693
M2 Jetta TD.  Northern Missouri

Reply #3November 05, 2017, 04:25:18 pm

TylerDurden

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2017, 04:25:18 pm »
Stock MK2 never had such, IIRC. Even using coils, the stock strut bearing is used, no?

Reply #4November 05, 2017, 06:35:45 pm

scrounger

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2017, 06:35:45 pm »
Others may answer that, My car had the area between the dished washer and top of the strut tower open. I shaped the part to fit down into the rubber lower bushing and to take up the space with a slight compression. I assumed that there should be a rubber or hard plastic part similar part as mine.
M2 Jetta TD.  Northern Missouri

Reply #5November 13, 2017, 01:14:00 pm

fatmobile

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2017, 01:14:00 pm »
Makes sense that there should be something there.
 Freaked me out when I jacked up my first MK2 and the strut dropped down a little and had so much up and down play in it.
Tornado red, '91 Golf 4 door,
with a re-ringed, '84 quantum, turbo diesel, MD block

Reply #6November 13, 2017, 02:12:50 pm

scrounger

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2017, 02:12:50 pm »
What did you put in yours? Mine runs quieter over our gravel road.

I put a file on thingaverse if you have access to a 3D printer.
M2 Jetta TD.  Northern Missouri

Reply #7November 15, 2017, 05:13:07 pm

fatmobile

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2017, 05:13:07 pm »
What did I put in mine?
 I didn't put anything there,.. figured the weight of the car was supposed to hold it in place,.. I like your idea though and will probably do something like that next time.
Tornado red, '91 Golf 4 door,
with a re-ringed, '84 quantum, turbo diesel, MD block

Reply #8November 15, 2017, 05:23:48 pm

scrounger

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #8 on: November 15, 2017, 05:23:48 pm »
Mine was noisy as it would top out on bumps. 
M2 Jetta TD.  Northern Missouri

Reply #9November 15, 2017, 08:47:06 pm

TylerDurden

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2017, 08:47:06 pm »
The MK2 would have to be airborne for that top retainer to be making contact. If there was clunking on bumps, the bearing and/or cartridge was probably shot.

Reply #10November 15, 2017, 11:38:59 pm

scrounger

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #10 on: November 15, 2017, 11:38:59 pm »
Not sure why you don't believe me!

Our roads are pretty much unimproved, about 5 miles of crushed rock and clay. before we get to pavement. Lots of sharp changes in the surface. railroad track crossings. Makes the stiff sprung car jiggly, lots of minor unloads and top outs. I generally share the road with 4wd trucks and horse drawn buggies. The narrow steel wheels on the buggies grind the crushed rock to sand. This isn't the burbs.


My car was rebuilt by a previous owner with koni shocks and hard plastic bushings at many locations. It rides about 2" below stock.

I run snow tires on all four wheels of all my cars year round.

M2 Jetta TD.  Northern Missouri

Reply #11November 16, 2017, 10:50:57 am

TylerDurden

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Re: Mk2 top strut bushing.
« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2017, 10:50:57 am »
I get the picture... I lived on an unimproved road for over a decade. Actually, it was right where the pavement ended. My wife would drive on the washboards and I would drive on the paved section... I replaced her MK2 struts 4X more than mine, due to wear.

But more to the point. if the bushing is rattling in the strut tower any amount, it deserves inspection... could be failed or wrong parts for the job. The koni setup might be better for paved roads or tracks, the stock damping might be better for the washboards. Might be the setup is some hybrid of mk2/mk3 bits, or missing a needed component like the threaded sleeve that goes inside the strut bearing.

Maybe the additional 3d printed part is good for the setup. But it might be a band-aid on a bigger issue.  It is not required on a stock setup and might do more harm than good. VW made bolt-in bushings for other models, and chose not to on the MK2 for a reason.