Suspension refresh - what would you replace?

Ken Long

Ken Long

Member
I'm contemplating a suspension refresh on our 2001 1.4 TDI and I wanted to get an idea of what you would recommend getting replaced. The car has done 105k miles.
So far I'm thinking:
  1. Shocks all round.
  2. Top mount bearings (at least). Worth doing all round? One front one was an advisory so the fronts are definitely being done.
  3. Is it worth getting the springs replaced whilst the suspension is in bits?
  4. Front droplinks.
  5. Bushes. What bushes should be replaced?
  6. Something obvious that I've missed...
We haven't got tonnes of cash to throw at this so if there are suggestions for cost-effective brands/suppliers for the various parts* required that would be great. Am I optimistic to use the words "cost-effective" here? I am thinking that I will be entrusting this project to my very handy indy mechanic, with his pillar lift, as I don't fancy trying to do this off a couple of axle stands!





*We don't need the car to become a go kart, so "regular" components are fine!
 
Meanwhile the price between brands are obvious, the labour it takes to complete those tasks, will be the highest cost, I'd say 3x more than you spend on parts.
 
Front top mounts, shocks and springs all round. Meyle Hd drop links and then forget about it for another 100k.

I would t bother doing the rear top mounts, replacing every bolt or replacing the bump stops/dust covers unless they are horrendously bad.
 
@Ken Long
Talk to your trusted indie. Ask him to go over the suspension, and give you a quote for what needs doing. Tell him you are on a budget, but want the car to be safe, handle as it should, and not need suspension work for a few years. You can talk brands once he has done the quote.
If the ride height is as it should be, why would you replace the original springs? If they are not broke, (they aren't or MoT would have picked it up), they don't need fixing.
Mac.
 
Front - ARB bushes, drop links, top mounts. At the rear - spring seats and probably bump stops.

With the ARB bushes hopefully the later type of antiroll bar is present as the early ones with the plastic sleeves that disintegrate may need addressing if not 100%, otherwise new bushes may still allow movement and consequent knocking.

Everything else on the basis of need - are the shocks tired or serviceable, are all the springs in good nick (is it sitting level all round), are there any untoward knocks or rattles that aren't resolved by the list in the top line. One thing worth noting - as mentioned by @A2Steve above the quality of the drop links is key. Meyle HDs do have the best reputation although there are a handful of others that are usable. On the "cheap" A2, I got some no-name ones to replace utterly perished ARB bushes and equally knackered droplinks (that needed to be angle-ground off as they were totally seized on). Despite everything else there was a persistent rattle (not a proper knock) that I couldn't trace for a few months until we needed to replace a recent Suplex front spring fitted in the same refurb that fractured without warning in less than a year of low mileage - during which job to replace with a new pair of Sachs' equivalent, I got the mechanic to put on some Febi Bilstein drop links that were in a set I had not used for something else. Realistically probably only £6 per side more expensive than the rubbish I fitted to begin with. Rattle resolved, and it has been good as gold ever since on the noise-vibration-harshness front.
 
This is all very helpful. I think I'll try to get booked in for a pre-work inspection and see what needs to be done, and then maybe add to that what would be nice to get done (budget permitting!)
Thanks for all the input, much appreciated.
 
Go for meyle hd droplinks like it has been said and skf top mount bearings. I've gone for monroe and sahcs shocks but did not have to replace the springs. Also bump stops. The bushings were all fine believe it or not after 175k miles but it makes sense to replace them. If you are doing it yourself then try and get polyurethane ones because they slide in nicely without having to use a tool, in expesne of a bit rougher ride.

Also renew the wishbone ball joint and the tie rod ends since you are at it.

If the universal joints + boots (inner and outer) have not been replaced think about doing that at the same time because the labour is going to cost more in the end.

Don't forget new shock bolts if they old ones have seen better days, especially the front.
 
Quick update here. I was cleaning the car at the weekend and realised that the rear drivers side tyre had a smaller gap to the wheelarch than the other three. It's not much, I made pistol fingers with my fore and middle fingers and that's the gap. The other three wheels have not quite another fingers worth of wiggle room (stop me if I'm being too technical...)
I have had the wheel off and the spring looks fine, although I'm guessing unweighted would disguise any issues. The top of the shocks look a bit manky but I don't see how that would impact the car when it's sat on its wheels.
I don't have the time, skills or space to do this myself so managed to get it booked in to a local garage for tomorrow ( I will be mentioning correct jacking technique!). We're meant to be off to the Highlands on Friday and we were looking forward to 70mpg up the M6. I'm hoping we don't have to take my Transit (more luggage space - do I take my mountain bike? - but half the mpg!)
 
Quick resurrect of this thread:

I'm looking to get the front suspension done now, so shocks, droplinks and shock top mounts I think.

Where are people getting these sort of things from? Local factors or is there a good online source? If you can post links to your favoured suppliers that would be amazing!
(Car is 1.4 TDi, 2001)
 
That a good price for the shocks, I’d grab them. Have a look for Febi Bilstein top mounts on a deal with new bolts, I got mine off EBay if I remember rightly
 
Yes that’s what a I got. It will be worth seeing if any UK sellers are supplying, might be able to save a bit on postage. Autodoc very good thou, got my Monroe shocks from them last year
 
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