[Vwdiesel] suspension rebuilds

[Matt_Lisa]

For awhile, I had the same troubles with my Rabbit.  I finally ordered every single bit of the front end that I could replace, and replaced it all.  I also did a completely new suspension at the same time.  The suspension was Bilstein Sport struts with H&R sport springs.  I also did both tie rods, wheel bearings, all brakes, control arm bushings, ball joints, etc etc.  Total cost was $950.

That may seem like a lot, but the car drives really smoothly now.  Plus, you don't have to get a $600 suspension either.  If you want to keep the A2 around for awhile, I would simply do all the replaceable parts.  Your car will thank you.

Now, if I could only find a steering u-joint that didn't break the bank, I'd be all set!

-Matt
http://matt_lisa.home.sprynet.com/

-----Original Message-----
>From: "S. Shourds" <sshourds at flash.net>
>Sent: Feb 21, 2008 12:16 PM
>To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
>Subject: [Vwdiesel] suspension rebuilds
>
>Apparently, I forgot to knock on wood or something.  The TDI is down 
>with electrical flu.  Again.  Same as last time.  Only 5V getting to any 
>circuit served by the ignition switch.  I have a new switch coming, but 
>it'll be a few days. 
>
>In the interim, I'm driving the old '85 TD.  At least until I was 
>heading in to work this morning, came up to a stoplight and skidded it 
>into a curb on the wet street.  Knocked the car out of alignment bad 
>enough that I didn't want to drive it as is.  I ran it over to a cheap 
>alignment shop where they told me that the suspension is so worn out 
>(312,000 miles) that they can't align it.  I'd been told that at chain 
>places because they won't align anything that they would have to 
>warranty later on but never at a sketchy independent shop where I can 
>tell them that, "I'm not worried about the warranty, just get it as 
>close as you can." 
>
>It is honestly pretty bad at this point with all the tie rod ends loose, 
>I'm losing a  lot of power steering fluid from somewhere around the 
>rack, the strut mounts wobble, and the a-frame mounts are all original.  
>I bought new inner ends a while back, but then I found out I can get a 
>rebuilt rack for $160 that comes with new inner ends.  I figured this 
>after I saw that Bentley says you have to pull the rack to replace the 
>ends and I don't see how that rack comes out except through where the 
>engine and transmission are.  I probably need to pull them anyways 
>because the clutch is somehow messed up and I think I have a bad engine 
>mount somewhere with all the clunking.  On the other hand, I drive this 
>car maybe 2000 miles a year.  It's just backup to the temperamental TDI 
>and I keep my kayak on top of it so I can run down to the lake real 
>quick and paddle around a bit. 
>
>Anyone gone in deep enough to pull the rack or done anything like 
>replace all of the consumable suspension components?  I'm wondering what 
>I'm in for. 
>
>-Shalyn
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