A boy and his 2.0: 'Bugging Me'

[AbuNigel]

(not me lol)


rears


before

lol





night drive home (it was dark by the time we finished lol.)
No spring compressors or air guns or anything used, just a vice grip, some sockets, a mallet, couple other things here and there, and good ol' car passion

[AbuNigel]

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[AbuNigel]

So they were pretty bouncy, especially when going slow for the first day but that seems to have subsided enough. The ride is good enough for me, and considering these coils were 299 bucks even I feel quite satisfied!

Only one thing, when installing them, I put in a new strut bearing and mount. I was sorta following my friend's lead as he'd put the same coils on his golf. We didn't put a nut on top of the mount, like the stock on had. We only put it in the very top (under the wiper cowl thing) He seemed to think it was fine and so i went with it.

I mean, in theory, the mount is under pressure by the frame (as the nut would be putting pressure on it if it were screwed on,) and held there by the very top nut (the one under the wiper cover,) so I don't even totally know what the nut on top of the mount but below the frame is for, but i have two extra sitting in my ECS box, and that's mildly disconcerting >_<

I want to get an alignment and to take it somewhere to get that top nut torqued to 44lbs, but is not having that first nut (directly on the strut mount, a real big deal that i should take care before getting it aligned, or should i just leave things how they are, get an alignment, and be happy...i mean, it doesn't feel like there's anything wrong. But logic is pulling me in both ways. If the stock mount had a nut directly on it, and the new ones from ECS came with nuts, it should be there. On the other hand, logically, if the mount is being held down by the force of the frame, held in by the very top nut, why would a nut on the mount itself even be necessary?

Visually speaking:

NUT
FRAME
(NO NUT)
STRUT MOUNT
STRUT BEARING
COIL COVER
COIL
WHEEL
GROUND

as opposed to

NUT
FRAME
NUT
STRUT MOUNT
STRUT BEARING
COIL COVER
COIL
WHEEL
GROUND

if i need to clarify, let me know

[AbuNigel]

no advice on this ^^^ ?

[Blugg]

NUT
FRAME
(NO NUT)
STRUT MOUNT

Wouldn't the NUT that isn't there not stop the rubbing on the frame and strut mount

[AbuNigel]

Originally Posted by Blugg

NUT
FRAME
(NO NUT)
STRUT MOUNT

Wouldn't the NUT that isn't there not stop the rubbing on the frame and strut mount

but isn't the mount supposed to but up against the frame?

Doesn't the very top nut being tightened pull the whole coilover upward, in turn bringing the strut mount against the frame?

Wouldn't this happen regardless of whether or not there was a nut on the mount itself?

if the mount wasn't up against the frame, wouldn't one be able to continue twisting the very top nut? Nothing would be keeping it from being tightened further if the mount never came in contact with the frame, at least that's my mental picture of it.

[turbug01]

Originally Posted by AbuNigel

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this brings tears to my eyes, nigel.
give me this car.
or at least let me drive it for your first year at school..........

[smartchick2009]

Sooooooo with the rear coils....
Did you take out the perches?? That stance is amazing... Now you need some spacers

[topless kitty]

Originally Posted by AbuNigel

first time i read this i thought you meant that you got exhausted before the end of prom night (ran out of gas!) While brushing my teeth i realized you meant you literally ran out of gas haha, i'm sorry to hear that, but it is pretty funny!

As long as you have a story to tell by the end of the night, right?

yeah i honestly don't remember much else from the night. some girl i hate had the same dress as i did.

just came back from BJ's, open this thread, and see a picture of BJ's. haha.

[AbuNigel]

Originally Posted by turbug01

this brings tears to my eyes, nigel.
give me this car.
or at least let me drive it for your first year at school..........

haha, well trade me those GLX rims and we can talk!

Originally Posted by smartchick2009

Sooooooo with the rear coils....
Did you take out the perches?? That stance is amazing... Now you need some spacers

the rears don't have the...helpers...i think they are? The pieces that you crank. They have the pieces that screw to the frame and are sorta the seat for the spring, and the mounts that are at the top of the spring. So as they are, they're un-adjustable, but i guess i could take out the seat and mount and be maybe another inch lower (?)

I think i'd rather just bring the front down a little more.

And yes about the spacers, big yes. I want bigger wheels, but i'll have to wait till these tires die so i have an excuse for going to 17 or 18s lol.

_______________________________________

any thoughts on my question about the nuts, anyone? :P I don't want to get and alignment whatever if i'll just have to get another one when i find out i have to take my suspension apart again lol.

and the rokkors are riding great at this point. The constant bounce only lasted about a day and except for big bumps (kinda get thrown out of the seat a little lol..it's fun!) it feels like a pretty stock ride.

With some lingering speculation about the install though i haven't tried to really "see what they can do" yet :P

but ESPECIALLY for the price, they are a go go go in my book

[swift801]

i like they way you're going. cars looking good! all you need in rear is the spring,the rubber top and sit it in. some advice. cut the rear bump stop another inch. with the perched removed the bump stop needs to be shorter. you won't notice it right away by pushing on suspension. but when you drive you will be alot happier. my rear rode pretty bad til i cut and inch off bumps. bumps i mean on the rubber piece that goes on your shock. alot of people thing its the rubber piece on top of spring.

are you rubbing your sway bar/axle? tires rub?

as far as the top strut bolt. the cup on top will not sit flush.

when you change your wheels be sure of your offsets and spacers. if you drop without helper springs, your strut will hit wheel.

if you've never owned a SLAMMED car, you will get to love it driving the bug. its perfect on smooth surfaces and most roads, and then you hit those cracks in the road and small divets that seem like nothing, but will feel like its coming through the car.

i wanna see more pics. we both got the black in there. my goal is to get rid of as much yellow in a cleanly manner as i can.

[turbug01]

Originally Posted by AbuNigel

haha, well trade me those GLX rims and we can talk!

they are currently for sale!
but I already have a looker.
if that falls through maybe we can figure something out?!

[AbuNigel]

Originally Posted by topless kitty

yeah i honestly don't remember much else from the night. some girl i hate had the same dress as i did.

just came back from BJ's, open this thread, and see a picture of BJ's. haha.

haha, yea, luckily no one else had my girl's dress, she'd have been bummed for sure :P

And i'm mad my bug didn't look like this when dubs on defrost happened, it might have actually looked decent next to yours >_<

Originally Posted by swift801

i like they way you're going. cars looking good! all you need in rear is the spring,the rubber top and sit it in. some advice. cut the rear bump stop another inch. with the perched removed the bump stop needs to be shorter. you won't notice it right away by pushing on suspension. but when you drive you will be alot happier. my rear rode pretty bad til i cut and inch off bumps. bumps i mean on the rubber piece that goes on your shock. alot of people thing its the rubber piece on top of spring.

are you rubbing your sway bar/axle? tires rub?

as far as the top strut bolt. the cup on top will not sit flush.

when you change your wheels be sure of your offsets and spacers. if you drop without helper springs, your strut will hit wheel.

if you've never owned a SLAMMED car, you will get to love it driving the bug. its perfect on smooth surfaces and most roads, and then you hit those cracks in the road and small divets that seem like nothing, but will feel like its coming through the car.

i wanna see more pics. we both got the black in there. my goal is to get rid of as much yellow in a cleanly manner as i can.

Thanks

Don't think anything is rubbing, i still have 25 threads up front left, and I haven't heard any unpleasant sounds sounds since putting in the suspension except for a clicking type things when i turn the wheel (passenger side) =\ idk what that is, any ideas?

But rubbing wise I think i'm good. I'm cutting it close with rubbing on the coil though, that'll be solved with spacers though If i go any lower though the rubbing will probably start, without spacers and...adjustable sway bar endlinks?? :P

So are you saying I should put that nut that goes on top of the strut mount in? Just give me some definite reason for why not having it is debilitating or unwise, that's all i need lol

Originally Posted by turbug01

they are currently for sale!
but I already have a looker.
if that falls through maybe we can figure something out?!

Yea let me know, i sorta have some other 17 to 18 in. aspirations (hint: OEM but not VW or Audi ), but, "if the price is right!"

[swift801]

if you go any lower. you will have to eliminate the sway bar. i've read that the aftermarkets don't have enough of a loop to go over axle. i still need to notch my frame. i'm also going to do a 2 inch motor mount spacer. get the pan off the ground and stress off the axles.

i can't believe your axles aren't rubbing. look at where the sway bar loops over axle. you have to be hitting at some point.

the strut nut has to go on right? i haven't had mine apart for a few months. but i think its a race/spacer, strut bearing,NUT, then from top, cup and nut. i didn't short on the underside nut as when you jack the car up if keeps the strut still together. leaving it out isn't going to make a difference. as its recessed in the strut bearing top.

[swift801]

if i put my key fob under my car. the bottom of my pan is as tall the top of my trunk button. not sure how low you went. i only have pics of mine with the coils down on 16"s with perches and helpers still in.

my 19"s rub in slow turns. and sometimes on a bump while turning. if i'm parking my car, it actually sits on the wheel and will stop it from rolling if turned so far. i still have a good 10 or more thread left, can't remember.i also left drivers side a thread higher to counter for my 200lbs. when i go to a show i will drop them all the way. but it won't roll that way. found out the hard way. car wouldn't even budge as wheel was against strut terribly. depending on ground level my car looks like its sitting on rim with no tire.

are you getting the clicking starting off? turning slow? my axle sometimes clicks on d/s. i also have a vibrating sometimes from d/s rolling into a corner at speed.

[AbuNigel]

I'll give a more detailed reply a little later, kinda in a rush. But i just realized, you're in Pittsburgh!
I just started my orientation at CMU yesterday! haha
sadly i don't have my car but if you ever wanna meet up and show me you're low give me a holler

[swift801]

get your car here! its possible. i will possibly be at the meeting at Quaker steak n lube this sunday. y didn't you bring it to pittsburgh? i'm about 20 minutes from cmu. i'm right up 28 north.

[AbuNigel]

well according to my parents and the ppl at CMU it would kinda just be an expensive hassle =\

maybe if you give me free long term parking at your house, though! lol. still don't think it would fly >_<

[swift801]

lol i do have 5 parking spaces. more if need be. you can get anywhere in the city walking or on the transit. oakland,squirrel hill, all of that is great. have you been on top of mt.washington yet?

[AbuNigel]

haven't been much of anywhere outside of campus except Lulu's noodles! lol
Course, i've only been here 1.5 days at this point so i'm sure that will change