[Vwdiesel] 89 Jetta D Harsh Ride

[Arkady Mirvis]

I had once 89 Jetta D with 30k and having diesel set up and test tools ( 
many dealers would be happy to have them ) made the finest adjustments 
according to extensive diesel experience of my diesel expert friend Andreas 
Ruppert Norkus Gerhold Gereon Helfenschneider von Gerlach. The best mileage 
I got was 51.8 MPG. I suggest to check your math. Your statement is 
particularly suspicious given that the tire pressure was 26 PSI. When I 
asked my friend to comment on your message, he did say that: " I thought 
that Muenhousen with his lies and  and braggery is uniquely German 
phenomenon, but now I see that USA has its own one. Apparently the fellow 
was driving downhill and helped by 100 mph wind". Ark

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doyt W. Echelberger" <doyt at buckeye-express.com>
To: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2010 8:07 PM
Subject: [Vwdiesel] 89 Jetta D Harsh Ride


>I bought an 89 Jetta D 5spd last month, and have driven it about 400 miles.
> I'm still sorting it out. It gets 54 mpg but the ride is _considerably_
> harsher than my experience with my 85 Jetta TD, which it replaced.
>
> What do I mean by "Harsh?"  We feel most of the bumps and dividers in the
> road, through the seat and lower back, and we hear them also. This is true
> at low speeds around a big department store parking lot, and at middle
> speeds on average asphalt roads in town. At higher speeds on rural roads
> the ride is less harsh, but still uncomfortable for two hour trips.
>
> The car doesn't exhibit any unbalanced behavior that would suggest a 
> single
> failing shock or strut on one corner.  But I want this great little car to
> soak up those harsh roads and ride more like my Mercedes! (More-like, not
> same-as.) Is this an impossible dream?
>
> I'm gonna take it in to a suspension shop and have them go over it. And 
> I'm
> PROBABLY going to have to decide on which new shocks and struts they put 
> on
> the car....KYB,  Bilstien, Monroe, Sachs-Boge, etc.
>
> Anybody made this choice with good results? By that I mean....did the 
> harsh
> ride get considerably more comfortable? Which manufacturer has earned the
> best reputation for making YOUR Jetta ride better? I'm interested in
> benefiting from your experience.
>
> Here is some extra information about the suspension:  It has almost-new
> 175-70-R13 Douglas MS tires which I run at 26 psi. I thought one of them
> might have a bad belt, so I took off all 4 wheels and balanced them and
> checked them for running true. Replaced the passenger rear tire because it
> wasn't quite round. (Had about an 1/8 inch high spot in the tread at one
> point.) Will use it as a spare.  Ride improved some on smooth roads, but 
> is
> still harsh.
>
> Also, the car has the original struts and shocks, and is now at 100k miles
> and 21 years. The original shocks and struts probably were good for 60-80k
> miles, and it probably needs new ones.  WHICH new ones is the
> question....and which should I avoid.
>
> Doyt
> in Northern Ohio, near Cedar Point
>
>
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