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Jul 13, 2006 21:47:53 GMT
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Well, I took a deep breath and cracked open the toolbox to see if anything could be done to save my other half's beloved Golf. Here's what the damage looks like: Not pretty. Turning a blind eye to the distinctly wonky suspension for the time being, I set about stripping the bodywork... Fortunately, the structure behind the wing seems to have escaped any serious bending. There's a dent in the inner wing but it's very minor, and hasn't distorted the overall shape at all. The end of the chassis rail is also a little bit dinked, but only the very end. Here's a close-up: So, off to the scrappers to find some panels tomorrow, but visions of that negative camber that would be more at home on the back end of a Garuchan Mazda Carol are slowly but surely creeping into the front of my mind I've checked the overall structure of the car - no kinks or creases, and good panel gaps on the doors. I looked at the turrets too - everything seems to be in order there - nothing shifted as far as I can see. So, what the funk is going on?! The strut looks straight. I had thought that perhaps the mounting of the hub carrier to lower strut had shifted, but there's very little adjustment in it. Next on the list is to look at the strut top mount to see if somethings gone skew-whiff round there. Any ideas / pointers on that matter would be appreciated If only I could be this pro-active on my own cars, I'd have that V8 in the Benz by now
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Jul 13, 2006 21:51:44 GMT
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Take some triangulated measurements of the 'good' strut-top - measure from two solid points (both bottom corners of the windscreen or similar) and check those against the 'bad' one - it should show you if it's shifted.
*n
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Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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Jul 13, 2006 22:39:47 GMT
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Good thinking penski, I'll whip out the tape measure tomorrow and see what's a-miss (hopefully nothing)
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mercmad
Posted a lot
Flush Hard,it's a long way to McDonalds.
Posts: 1,740
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Jul 13, 2006 22:50:30 GMT
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Besides the fact the disc is worn out,you could cut your self on that edge...i think the stub axle is bent ,the disc looks to be on an angle whereas the strut is straight.Put a spirit level on the stut leg ,adjust the car so it's verticle and then put the level on the face of the disc ,so it sits on a flat surface,it should be the same.Do the same on the other side and see if the result is exactly the same.is the lower inner bolt straight? or it's mount point?.I just had another lookat the bottom pic,the strut leg may be bent also,it appears to have large curve in it. Or you could build one of these... ;D
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Last Edit: Jul 13, 2006 22:53:16 GMT by mercmad
Many years ago I changed my driving style to cope with rising fuel prices; I have now reached the stage where I am contemplating keeping my eyes shut in order to lower wind resistance.
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Rob
Posted a lot
You know, for kids!
Posts: 2,515
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Jul 13, 2006 23:34:03 GMT
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that disk doesnt look wel...
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If i ever find the location to that place, and get a car hauler and a dark night, those car will be gone. Damn artsy people...
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Bioshock
Posted a lot
It aint hip to be square.
Posts: 1,861
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This may sound curse word,but,seeings as its your missus car,i would be tempted to scrap the curse word,and put it down to experiance. shonky handling could lead to something worse
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Almera GTI = ugly bird who turns out to be great in the sack = Win
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From the way I read the above you're assuming the strut and disc run parallel to each other - that's not the case. By all means measure the distance from disc to strut and compare one side with the other but don't assume they're meant to be parallel - some cars including Golfs have adjustable camber using an eccentric bolt between the hub and strut.
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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Hmm, further to our conversation earlier- the lower arms look quite beefy looking at the pics, but the hubs look like they would bend if given a whack. I don't think it would cost much to get a whole strut/hub assembly from the breakers and bosh that on..... but then you've just had new wheel bearings so its a bit of a shame! Its best to compare to the other side just to see if theres anything different.
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Thanks again guys. I checked the measurements on the turrets, and it seems to be fine. I noticed the brake disc - what's worrying is that the cowboys garage where she got the wheel bearings done were asked to check the brakes to see if they needed doing I would like to save this car if possible though, because a) We can't really afford another car, and b) If it's saveable, I'd rather put in some elbow grease and fix it. I dunno though - am I just being dumb? Should I just scrap it? I hate scrapping cars, but if it's never going to be right again (and possibly dangerous) I'd rather it went
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Hmm, further to our conversation earlier- the lower arms look quite beefy looking at the pics, but the hubs look like they would bend if given a whack. I don't think it would cost much to get a whole strut/hub assembly from the breakers and bosh that on..... but then you've just had new wheel bearings so its a bit of a shame! Its best to compare to the other side just to see if theres anything different. Yeah I had a look at the lower wishbone - it's a pretty sturdy thing and looks to be straight. Could well be the hub carrier that's bent... I'm off to get the other side in the air so I can compare.
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golf bottom wishbones aren't as meaty as they seem and are prone to bending,also quite cheap iirc even from veedub main stealers.worth checking the back edge for the seams splitting.
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fugazi
Part of things
Posts: 11
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Jul 14, 2006 12:42:47 GMT
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Check the bottom wishbone and the hub carrier, as they are both prone to bending after a shunt, save the Golf if you can! I've got all the bits you need to repair it, but you're over 200 miles away from me!
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Jul 14, 2006 12:53:13 GMT
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Right, I've took the strut off but it's a bit hard to tell if it's straight or not. What I tried to do was rotate the strut "in situ" to see if it changed the camber angle at all. It seemed to, but after about half a turn the nut came loose and I didn't really fancy re-tightening it, as it has a stoopid set-up that's supposed to involve special tools - the nut (21mm : is sunk in so that you need to use a socket, which then means you can't get a hex key (7mm : in to stop the strut from turning... but anyway, I digress slightly. I took some measurements between the back of the brake disc and the hub carrier on both sides, to check if the carrier had bent. The measurements seem to be within 1mm of each other (I'm putting that down to human error / shagged discs) so hopefully the carrier has survived. I'm a bit reluctant to throw parts at it until it's fixed as it's uneconomical, but I think (hope) it'll be OK after a replacement strut! Fugazi - if you have post-able parts like wheelarch trim / lower panel grille, I'd be interested! Just let me know how much you want for them
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Last Edit: Jul 14, 2006 12:54:54 GMT by BenzBoy
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phatphord
Part of things
Scorpilow
Posts: 674
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Jul 14, 2006 13:14:30 GMT
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just a quick one for the strut issue..slip some moleys around the strut stanchion,use some timber to stop them gripping straight onto the stanchion and then try undoing the top nut,just maybe compress the spring first eh! don't want you losing eyes,arms,hands etc... Or at risk of sounding flush (which i aint') buy a strut from a breakers,I got one for my LS400 and it was only £47 delivered...or try the one from the other side?
in the bottom pic it does look as if its bent at the top of the strut body
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Last Edit: Jul 14, 2006 13:15:26 GMT by phatphord
1994 Ford Scorpio Lowrider um...and some bikes...
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Mr K
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,993
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Jul 14, 2006 14:06:51 GMT
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what about waiting for dark, wazzing the wheel back on and taking it for a quick waz round the block CAREFULLY and see if it handles like a banana? or take it to somewhere with camber device, do wheel + tyre place have that kinda stuff or do they just do tracking? possbily the worst ideas posted so far
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Jul 14, 2006 14:18:56 GMT
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Phatphord - gonna try and take the strut off the other side to see if it corrects the camber. Just having "special tools" issues at the moment but I'll try out the methods you suggest, cheers Ratlook - I'm not sure I comprendo what you speako . I drove it round the block when I took it to the back of my house to commence work, and it handled like a sailor on the town (as I expected really!). Besides, I've nicked the battery for my Volvo now! Will see if I can transplant the o/s strut and see if it makes any difference, if I can get it off - half my tools are still up north so I'm having to improvise a little
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guy
Part of things
Posts: 352
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Jul 14, 2006 14:26:02 GMT
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Sorry i don't really have any advice for you, just good luck and hope that you get it sorted!! Guy
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Mk1 Escort slowly rusting into nothing! But safely stored in a dry garage. Mk2 Golf, Low n' Loud
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Mr K
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,993
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Jul 14, 2006 14:28:40 GMT
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i mean take it sumwhere that can measure camber? but that wont tell you what is bent, only that it is bent! which we have already established, sorry, was a useless idea.
good luck with it, have you checked the bottom wishbone mounts? as the wishbone might seem strait....
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Last Edit: Jul 14, 2006 14:29:58 GMT by Mr K
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Jul 14, 2006 15:17:31 GMT
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RR - Ah, I see now. Sorry I was being slow ;D Right, took the good strut off using the method advised by phatphord, and whacked it on the bent side. Stuck the wheel back on and lowered it to the ground. Still lots of neg camber, but not quite as bad as before. However I think this is due to it still sitting high because the spring hasn't settled. I took a photo but botofuckit is down for maintenance So, bent hub it is! F*cksticks
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Last Edit: Jul 14, 2006 15:19:13 GMT by BenzBoy
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