[Vwdiesel] RE: rear shocks and manifolds

[greg rich]

Hi Shawn
I used KYB's for a couple years on my Jetta's, just got tired of the ride 
with them (atleast here in the eastern of Canada), they freeze solid when 
the temps drop below -20, as in no suspension your head bobs up and down 
uncontrollable! I had two cars with the same syndrome, I never bought them 
again. I also found that they didn't last very long (2 years and shot), some 
retailers offer lifetime warranty others don't (claim it is available to US 
residents only). The price is fair for a gas shock, Boge ones are available 
for slightly more and seem to work better, try the turbo gas (pro gas is 
very stiff), the TG costs $60 (as is what the autoparts place pays), oil 
shocks start at $30 for Cofab or Flennor (cheapest) or $40 for Boge 
automatic. You may want to try an Altrom retailer, I think they offer good 
prices on shocks with all types available (altrom.com)
When I changed the manifold gaskets I did them on the car, I removed the 
intake first then exhaust, left the downpipe connected (one less headache). 
Be sure to tap in your allen sockets and make sure each bolt head is clean 
or you will never finish the job without removing the head. It took me a 
couple hours total, not bad but my arms and wrists very pretty sore from all 
the twisting and such, bad place to work! Look carefully into the cyl head 
ports, I had one exhaust port pulgged with soot (oil burning). Be sure to 
use new nuts on the exhaust manifold, brass ones are nice but copper is 
cheaper.
Greg

>>Just returned from the first longish trip in our 'new' 85 Jetta D, via the
>Coqihalla one way, and the Fraser Canyon on the way back. The car did
>very well, managing 120km/h much of the way, and only down to 3rd
>gear once on the Coq.
>
>However, the rear shock that was leaking oil before the trip is now totally
>ineffective, transforming the rear half of the car into a large American
>land yacht... or so it seems. Just wondering if anyone knows of a better
>source/brand for rear shocks? So far, BowWow for $55 CDN for KYB GR-
>2 seems to be the best deal. I have these on my Westy, and they are ok,
>but nothing to get excited about. How are they on the A2s? (I have new
>Spax gas struts on the front of the Jetta, so only need rears).
>
>Also, I was thinking of pulling the exhaust manifold to check the gaskets,
>since I still seem to have that ticking noise under load. Is it easiest to 
>pull
>both manifolds together, or can they be done separately?
>
>
>
>--
>Shawn Wright
>http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
>~This message sent by Pegasus Mail, the safe E-Mail alternative~
>"Friends don't let friends use Outlook"
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 10
>Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 22:03:49 EDT
>From: LBaird119 at aol.com
>Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] A2 shock recommendations?
>To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
>Message-ID: <19d.2305c23a.2dadf605 at aol.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
>   Depends on what you want for shocks.  Give www.shox.com a try.  I
>bought a set of shocks for Dad's Merceds there.  Good price.  I've run
>KYB, Boge and Cofap.  Nothing special about any of them but the
>Cofaps that I could tell.  They're sort of a Brazilian OEMish replacement.
>The special part is the price.  :)
>   You can pull manifolds seperatley if you remove the link piece
>between the two of them.  (NA?)  Problem is getting to the exhaust
>manifold with the intake still on the head.  Might be easier to go
>ahead and just pull it.  You'll find out once you get in there.  :)
>      Loren
>
>
>------------------------------
>
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>End of Vwdiesel Digest, Vol 6, Issue 22
>***************************************

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