I just want to share my hellish suspension adventure with you all.
First of all, wheel bearings. Holy crap that was a nightmare.
The passenger front wheel bearing went bad, and I tried to pull the steering knuckle off of the car, and I was going to do the one bearing, and then do the other side when I had the time/money.
Well the upper control arms sure changed my mind right away.
I removed the lower control arms from the knuckle so I had room to work outside the car.
Anyone here who's ever worked on these things knows how much fun that upper pinch bolt is, right?
So naturally being new to the Volkswagen world, I tried putting an impact gun on it aaaand sheered the head right off.
So I tried a sledgehammer... yeah that didn't work either.
Since I had to replace the control arms on the one side, I found a set for US$200 for upper and lower control arms and sway arm links on both sides.
I also bought my aftermarket struts for it while I had it torn apart. Roughly US$900.
When I took the driver side apart, I couldn't get the upper control arms off of the steer knuckle... because of that damned pinch bolt.
I spent a whole weekend trying to lower the car, only to end the night with it 12 inches higher than factory.
Also, I don't have a garage.
Oh, and the city threatened to tow my car mid-project.
I ended up breaking down and buying used steer knuckles for both sides. There's another US$200
Holy mother of God those bearings were a pain... After shoving the center race out of them three times, (thank God the warranty covered them) I finally broke down and sent the knuckles to my local VW dealer and had them press them in for me.
Totally worth the US$170.
It was about this time that one of the technicians at the VW dealer informed me that someone actually made a tool specifically for removing that pinch bolt. (God damnit.)
Also I feel like this is an appropriate point to mention the single most unfortunate bearing company name that I have ever seen.
(whyisitsideways)
After that, it started nickel-and-dime-ing the hell out of me. Broken bolts, missing nuts...
Wound up needing a new CV Axle, too... Fun... US$90, plus like $3 for a new axle bolt, since I striped one out thinking it was an Allen bolt. (Also wtf is a "triple-square" bolt?! (I actually know... now.))
I finally got the front-end done, with the new suspension and everything.
Drove it around for a week like that, then just finished up the suspension work on it this evening.
I finally have my car back, and that drop kit looks amazing on it.
So let's see here...
Control arms: $200
Coilovers: $900
Bearings: $270
Steer Knuckles: $200
Bearing Installation: $170
Axle: $93
Nuts, Bolts, Etc.: $30(ish)
Total: $1,863
Guys. I've put almost as much money into this car as I paid for it initially.
If it were literally any other car, I'd be hauling it to the scrap yard.
All I have to say right now:
Sie lebt.
First of all, wheel bearings. Holy crap that was a nightmare.
The passenger front wheel bearing went bad, and I tried to pull the steering knuckle off of the car, and I was going to do the one bearing, and then do the other side when I had the time/money.
Well the upper control arms sure changed my mind right away.
I removed the lower control arms from the knuckle so I had room to work outside the car.
Anyone here who's ever worked on these things knows how much fun that upper pinch bolt is, right?
So naturally being new to the Volkswagen world, I tried putting an impact gun on it aaaand sheered the head right off.
So I tried a sledgehammer... yeah that didn't work either.
Since I had to replace the control arms on the one side, I found a set for US$200 for upper and lower control arms and sway arm links on both sides.
I also bought my aftermarket struts for it while I had it torn apart. Roughly US$900.
When I took the driver side apart, I couldn't get the upper control arms off of the steer knuckle... because of that damned pinch bolt.
I spent a whole weekend trying to lower the car, only to end the night with it 12 inches higher than factory.
Also, I don't have a garage.
Oh, and the city threatened to tow my car mid-project.
I ended up breaking down and buying used steer knuckles for both sides. There's another US$200
Holy mother of God those bearings were a pain... After shoving the center race out of them three times, (thank God the warranty covered them) I finally broke down and sent the knuckles to my local VW dealer and had them press them in for me.
Totally worth the US$170.
It was about this time that one of the technicians at the VW dealer informed me that someone actually made a tool specifically for removing that pinch bolt. (God damnit.)
Also I feel like this is an appropriate point to mention the single most unfortunate bearing company name that I have ever seen.
(whyisitsideways)
After that, it started nickel-and-dime-ing the hell out of me. Broken bolts, missing nuts...
Wound up needing a new CV Axle, too... Fun... US$90, plus like $3 for a new axle bolt, since I striped one out thinking it was an Allen bolt. (Also wtf is a "triple-square" bolt?! (I actually know... now.))
I finally got the front-end done, with the new suspension and everything.
Drove it around for a week like that, then just finished up the suspension work on it this evening.
I finally have my car back, and that drop kit looks amazing on it.
So let's see here...
Control arms: $200
Coilovers: $900
Bearings: $270
Steer Knuckles: $200
Bearing Installation: $170
Axle: $93
Nuts, Bolts, Etc.: $30(ish)
Total: $1,863
Guys. I've put almost as much money into this car as I paid for it initially.
If it were literally any other car, I'd be hauling it to the scrap yard.
All I have to say right now:
Sie lebt.