Crashy Suspension

[sushisushi 0]

Hi Gang,

 

Second ever post!

My new (to me) 1.9 GTI seems like a really hard ride. I think it's on standard suspension. It rides pretty high but it bashes over bumps hard. Is this normal? If so I want to bang some new shocks and springs on ASAP!

 

I've never driven one before I bought this so can't compare it. Any advice?

 

Cheers.

 

Stu

[rallyeash 155]

most likely knackared shocks, if its lowered atall on just springs will feel even worse.

[Vili 18]

Might be seized rear axle.

[sushisushi 0]

The front looks a touch higher than the back too. I'd be surprised diff was on lowering springs it looks on stilts to me!

 

Do shocks get stiff when they die then?

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

The front riding higher than the back is standard, however how much higher the front is, or lower the back is, could point to other issues. Usually if on the original dampers they are now well past it, but I have to say that crashy perhaps isn't the term I'd use to describe - more vague and wooly.

I see you are in Barnsley so not far away, if you are passing I am happy to take a look at the suspension to see if its the standard OE stuff or something different.

[Strictly_Derv 34]

No shocks get sloppy and make the suspension bouncy. Have you checked the suspension as it could be aftermarket?

[sushisushi 0]

Yes it's not sloppy it's hard as hell. How can I tell its aftermarket?

 

Thanks for the offer Tom ill try and fly over once its on the road? I'm not very technical (as you can tell!) but wanted a fun classic. I have a great mechanic who I want to get it on the road. It needs an mot, tax and insure before I can bringing over to sunny Rotherham in sea.

 

It'd be great to have someone who knows these things look at it to see if its worth fixing up. I think it is, but what do i know

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

Easiest way for now is to take a front wheel off and take some photos of the suspension as a start. Also get a mate to bounce the back end of the car whilst you watch for rear suspension movement, if all is healthy then you should see the wheelarch move up and down quite a bit in relation to the tyre. If all the movement appears to be the tyre wall flexing, then the rear beam is seized, unfortunately this is one of the achilles heel of the 205 and is quite common, check both sides of the car as well, as more often it only affects one side, at least to begin with anyway.

[sushisushi 0]

The steering is very heavy under fast cornering (such as ecpxiting a roundabout at speed) is this normal too?

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

Hard to say, if you are used to modern cars with light PAS then yes it will feel heavy, but it shouldn't feel excessively so.

[Strictly_Derv 34]

I just replaced the steering UJ on mine which had very heavy steering, very notchy and wouldn't center on it's own. One of the hinges was so seized it could only be moved by dashing with a hammer easy job to change though.

[sushisushi 0]

fitted ebach springs and it;s way better. Think previous owner fitted diesel springs!

[pug_ham 243 3 Cars]

fitted ebach springs and it;s way better. Think previous owner fitted diesel springs!

They are softer than GTI springs so I can't see that would make the ride crashy, as said the main suspect for a crashy ride is a ruined rear beam.

 

Have you tried bouncing on the hatch opening to see if it moves at all? Even if it does move it only shows that it isn't seized, the beam could still be in need of (or already past) being rebuilt.

 

g

[sushisushi 0]

will try that when I get it back from the garage. Starter motor gave up in the pouring rain last night. Nice.

 

Do you know any GTI specialists around Yorkshire? I'm in Barnsley. If I ever was going to get the rebuild done I'd want a pro to do it.

[pug_ham 243 3 Cars]

Tom Fenton is not far from you & offers beam rebuilds, I know who I'd use anyway if I couldn't do them myself.

 

g

[sushisushi 0]

Who's that?

[welshpug 1,646]

his name is Tom Fenton, he's on here, his user name is Tom Fenton.

[pug_ham 243 3 Cars]

Who's that?

Look 6, 8 or 10 replies further up the page from the quoted reply, that is Tom Fenton.

 

g

[sushisushi 0]

Doh!

 

Cheers. Sorry Tom

[tartanbloke 35 1 Cars]

Yep, Tom did a rebuild for me and it transformed the ride. Would highly recommend him.

[Matt205 14]

Yep, Tom did a rebuild for me and it transformed the ride. Would highly recommend him.

Can second that