[planet01]

after purchasing springs for and shocks & struts for my car, I tried to install them myself. Pretty successfully, I installed the rears, however I didn't have the right tools to do the fronts, so I brought them to merlin. For $90, they were installed and that should have been the end of it.
In reality though, when I picked up the car, the merlin mechanic (if i can really call him that) told me that I was missing a spacer on both sides of the front. He told me that the spacers were missing on the old set-up (somehow they never made as much noise as they do now though?). Anyhow, I thought, I'll forget about it for now and put up with the noise for a while.
After about a month of that I figured I would bring in my car to get that and a few other small issues addressed. So, everything else is fixed and my car is running better than ever. Only thing is the spacer is still missing. I guess the mechanic can't find anywhere to buy the part by itself. VW sells it but only with the whole strut assembly for $200 a side - yeah right.
So, what the heck, where am I supposed to find this part? And does it matter that I have boge progas shocks versus anything else? Should this spacer be a universal part that applies to any shock?
Can anybody help me out here? Anybody got a couple extra spacers laying around?

 

[planet01]

Re: HELP - suspension woes continue!?! (planet01)

or at least where could I purchase what I am looking for?
does anyone know the part I am talking about?

 

[B3VR6]

Re: HELP - suspension woes continue!?! (planet01)

Hmm.. consulting the Bentley.. all I see is (From the Top down):
Strut Nut
Upper Bearing Plate
Strut Bearing
Upper Spring Retainer
Washer
Coil Spring
Bump Stop
Splash Guard
Strut
I don't see any spacer in there... But I DO remember a slotted nut that's a bitch to get out if you don't have the right tool. I wonder WHY the Bentley doesn't mention it. That's most likely what you're missing. Any competent VW Parts Counterperson should be able to get this required nut for you.

 

[tkic]

Re: HELP - suspension woes continue!?! (planet01)

you should make him show you exactly where the spacer goes, and what it does. i can't really visualize what he is referring to, unless he left out your upper spring perch or something. mechanics that don't usually work on vw's can do really goofy stuff. what is merlin?

 

[planet01]

Re: HELP - suspension woes continue!?! (B3VR6)

I don't think its the slotted nut that missing. The front suspension is in my car assembled. I don't think that would be possible if the slotted nut were missing.
It might be the washer that I am missing.
Right now my shocks are rattling around in the tube that runs to the the top where the strut bearing sits, etc...
Anybody?

 

[planet01]

Re: HELP - suspension woes continue!?! (EbraketurnGTI)

he was trying to explain (not the merlin guy, merlin is like a midas - a muffler/brakes/shocks kind of place) where the spacer goes. but without pulling it apart I don't think he would be able to show me.
I'll have to look at my Bentley to see if I can get a better idea of what he is referring to.
He said when you buy new shocks and struts a little package should come along with it that contains the necessary elements for assembly. Since I bought them used these pieces seem to be missing.