Seized suspension

[Tommot]

Hello,

Recently bought a gti, started it up today and i believe the front suspension has seized. Its incredibly stiff and doesnt bounce when i push down on it. What kind of work is needed to get this fixed and how much will it dent my already dented christmas bank acount? Its a right pain in the backside, its like im driving over offrad terrain when im on tarmac

Cheers
Tom

[Tim Leech]

Does it raise up? if so its working and your spheres are shot.

[Tommot]

It rose a little, although I think it didn't go the full way. Are they easy to replace? I have to admit to having no technical knowledge at all when it comes to mechanics.

[Tim Leech]

Yes VERY easy, if you know how to do it, where are you based? raise the suspension to full height and see of it will go to its full travel.

If the front isnt at its normal ride height when driving and is sitting low it will give the feeling of being very stiff as theres no travel which could be a sticking height corrector.

I would try raising and lowering the suspension a few times and see if it levels out.

[Tommot]

Hello Tim,

Have just followed your advice and after the fourth time of it rising and falling it unstuck itself, so thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated!

Do you know what the cause would have been? And would it be wise to purchase a pair of front spheres just in case?

Cheers
Tom

[citsncycles]

Hi Tom, if the suspension is soft now it's working again you don't need the spheres. What colour is the LHM? it should be a nice green colour, but it'll collect dirt in use and after a long time it'll und up brown and sludgy, with the sludge collecting in parts like the height corrector. If the fluid is dirty it needs ideally flushing, then changing with fresh LHM. if that doesn't do the trick, the height corrector will need removing and cleaning, although you need ramps or stands to do this, and it's not nice working outside this time of year!

[MULLEY]

Probably a seized height corrector, was the suspension height lever very stiff when moving it?

[Tim Leech]

Excellent! as mentioned above it probably a siezed height corrector, I would if I were you from time to time keep raising and lowering the suspension to keep everything moving freely.

My BX's can sometimes sit for up to 6 months in storage (they live a cossetted life) and when I run them I raise and lower the suspension a few times.

As Mike says, maybe a few fresh litres of LHM would be worth while!

[Thread Bear]

Grr! Gary is now not settling to driving level after going through all the floods. He prefers tip toes. Its the height adjuster in all probability. Mine was sticky and needed cleaning up after lack of use. I expect it is sticking again or I failed to tighten the arm enough and its lost adjustment. So Citrobatics today. Oft times its the cure as the guys say. Cycling through the positions and getting the juices moving around the suspension. Front spheres sounds scary but it really is as easy as changing a spark plug, within the instructions of course. I did not believe it till I did it.

[citronut]

Probably a seized height corrector, was the suspension height lever very stiff when moving it?

not usually the height corrector its self, but more likely the linkage,

also as Tim inquired were are you located

regards malcolm

[ghaddon1701]

I changed the nearside drop link not long before you had it Tom. Maybe I should of changed both? The new one maybe a slightly different length to the other side. Thus the anti roll bar ight be sitting at a slightly different position. The LHM was changed quite recently so it shouldn't be that. One of the experts may shed more light.

Regards Graham

[MULLEY]

Probably a seized height corrector, was the suspension height lever very stiff when moving it?

not usually the height corrector its self, but more likely the linkage,

also as Tim inquired were are you located

regards malcolm

Sorry, thats what i meant.

[Tommot]

Thanks for all the replies!

It seems to be the front nearside that's a little stiff Graham, sounds like i should do some research to find out what a drop link is and looks like . Thanks for your response Graham very much appreciated.

The LHM is still looking a nice green colour so i don't need to worry about that for the time being.

I'm guessing a Haines manual would be good to explain the drop links and height adjusters?

Cheers

Edit: I'm Located in Northampton

[citronut]

i would check the sphere in the stiff side before anything else, just because they had been replaced does not mean they cant still fail,

heres a link to a drop link

http://www.aepdirect.com/droplink-front ... ory_id=638" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

i dont think odd length drop links could cause one side to be stiffer that the other,
as both drop links are connected to each en of the anti roll bar,

they fit between the roll bar and a bracket on the back of the suspension strut

regards malcolm

[citsncycles]

Odd length drop links will probably cause the car to lean to one side. It also stresses the anti roll bar assembly and can cause a part to fail.

Stiff on one front corner can either be the sphere, or the strut needing lubrication.