Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 28, 2007 hi folks, am trying to fit my suspension and the early top plate i have for the front spring doesn't seem to fit into the rubber donut bit of the top mount. do i need early top mounts as well, just phoned VW and they say the early style is one piece and the bit i have (later) is two piece, a rubber bit and a bearing it will go together but turns out twice as high as the original bits i took off really need to sort this as car is in pieces and i only have today, am trying to buy the other mounts anyway to see if they right Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toad 0 Posted September 28, 2007 To fit the late type top mounts, you need a set of late top plates I'm afraid. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 28, 2007 thanks for the quick reply the late spring plates just fall through the springs (too small), i ordered early spring plates, so i guess i need early top mounts too? i've already ordered some early ones a few mins ago so hopefully they will turn up today and all will go back together Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plateletboy 0 Posted September 28, 2007 I had to buy new 'old' style larger spring plates to fit the weitec kit to mine, but the top mounts were fine... in fact when i asked, VW said they only listed one type of top mount for the corrado, let alone the VR6..... anyway, they fitted fine.... you just need the spring plate to fit nicely with bottom of the bearing, not the rubber top mount.... pb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 28, 2007 just typed an epic and it hasn't posted :( so sorry if the post is a bit short hand got it all fitted, bought both styles of plates and top mounts. here's how we assembled the front shocks once it was fitted to car, the metal bit you see under bonnet and coming through the turrent wasn't sitting on the turrent but hoovering above, we assumed that if you went over a big hump the shock would move up and down and thud???? so we took off the nut holding the spring cap on and refitted the very final top metal bit so it was sat flush and actually tight on the turrent bit of car? not sure if this is right? also was a washer shown in the exploded diagram of shock (bentley manual) that was nowhere to be found, not on the bits that came off car and not with any new stuff thanks for any help, been my first time working on a car Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Critical_Mass 10 Posted September 28, 2007 3corsameal - the bump stop needs to be under the bellows not above it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 29, 2007 thats not how the diagram looked? and i'm sure that how the old ones were arranged on car? :lol: i thought the bellows protects the strut and the bumpstop sits on top, like the pics? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 29, 2007 will this make much difference? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Critical_Mass 10 Posted September 29, 2007 Well i think it may. Ive just taken my front shockers off and the bump stop was under the bellows. The bellows covers the bumps stop. Which diagram are you referring to? Here's the ETKA diagram. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 29, 2007 am off to recheck my diagram :lol: the stop even had a rasied lip on the bottom that fitted/clicked into place on the top of the bellows? i'm not doubting you as i'm no expert at all Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Critical_Mass 10 Posted September 29, 2007 ah they clipped on to the top of the bellows. Im no expert either mate, best to check just in case. I was just going by my suspension and the ETKA diagrams. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 29, 2007 just looking at the pics i posted and they "did" clip into the bellows before we cut them down. or that could of been the rear i'm thinking of :? this is the rear fitted to car Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 29, 2007 feck it, i think your right i used this diagram as it had the same kinda spring plate as i was using :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 29, 2007 should i get it all off and refit or not? will it need tracking again? if i just leave this what will happen? will car explode? :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Critical_Mass 10 Posted September 30, 2007 The diagram does imply the bumpstop be on top of the bellows. But im pretty certain it should be under it, with the bellows covering it. Suprised no one else has been to advise you. I would refit imo, the bump stop will work better if its under the bellows. Just finished suspension last night, not sure if im happy with the result. Will post pics in existing thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 30, 2007 i'm going to leave it for now, if it only protects the bumpstop i don't mind as this suspension will be upgraded in a year or so Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swiftkid 1 Posted October 2, 2007 Hey, im experiencing the exact same problem with the front shocks. its like its not tightening properly. been considering cutting the top cap and welding it a bit shallower so it tightens up. What is the correct way of doing it? i can take pics if neccessary. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fla 9 Posted July 4, 2008 There are difference in the old and new suspesnion setups. I ahve another question. For the later setup, does teh spring plate (small) face with the taller conic section into the spring or away from it? The reason i ask is because this side has a pin sticking out perpendicular to the plate, which i assume is sited against the end of the spring to stop it rotating. Bently seems to show it otherwise. Any other pics of the late suspension in pieces? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mic_VR 3 Posted July 4, 2008 Ah pants! Having read through this thread, and looking at the pictures, I think I've fitted mine with early spring caps but late mounts. Think that could be what's giving me a knocking noise when turning the steering wheel....... Do you have a part number/price for the early top mounts mate? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted July 4, 2008 i have some early top mounts in my garage, but they aren't VW ones i don't think. i ended up buying different springs because i didn't like the look of the early stuff :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted July 4, 2008 i had the funny noise when turning at low speeds after fitting early plates with late mounts, steering didn't seem right to me, thats why i changed and it feels much better Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mic_VR 3 Posted July 4, 2008 i had the funny noise when turning at low speeds after fitting early plates with late mounts, steering didn't seem right to me, thats why i changed and it feels much better Sounds about right, I've lived with it for the last few months. Think I'd better get some early mounts! :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laughingboy 0 Posted July 15, 2008 Think I may have found the answer to your problem 3corsameal! bit late I know as I know own the springs in question! When folks mention early spring plates I thought they were meaning early as in the older 16v/g60 stlye ones like you have pictured. I found out today that there are two types of spring plate for the VR6 as seen in this picture on this thread courtesy of Yan! viewtopic.php?f=23&t=58752 Early VR6 and late VR6... :censored: vw!! Hope that helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted July 15, 2008 yeah thats why i sold the springs and got different ones that work with late VR Spring plates/caps so i now have late caps, late mounts and springs to suit :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites