Rus's Rough Ride

[Chris Taylor <chtaylo4@vt.edu>]

Mute asked me some questions the other day.  I just wanted to post my
response so you guys can correct anything that might be wrong, or add your
own opinions as well.

>no prob man... Ok here a few questions:
>How can you tell if your shocks are blown/need attention? 

Hmmm...inspection?  If you jack your car up and look at them, look to see if
anything leaked out over the edges (fluid), look to see if there were signs
of leakage;  also, with the car on all four wheels, put your weight on a
corner of the car.  See if it goes down smooth, w/ some resistance becasue
they ARE stiff performance shocks/struts, and make sure it comes up w/ that
same manner.  If there's any bounce/springyness/harmonic motion in it, then
that means you're fighting just the spring because the shock is blown.  Test
all 4.  Then again, blown shocks won't give you a rough ride, they'll make
you feel like you're on a ship, bouncing all around (springs).  You're
springs could be shot, but not likely since they're so new.  Here's another
possibility.  You said the springs you got lower the car 1.5'', right?
Neuspeed progressive rate lowering springs go down 1.25''.  Their *rough
ride* race springs go down 1.5''.  You might have them.  

>I get a rough ride (which i dont mind) but at least every other time i
drive my cd player skips
>(its a kenwood so you know... they must be big bumps)

Like I said, I get the same stuff w/ my Neuspeed progressives and Illuminas.
I got rid of the cd player and bought 50 high quality blank cassettes and
sat down one weekend and copied all of my CDs.

> anyway I am fine with my "midmarket" shocks cause i dont race.  I just
dont want to be getting an
>excessivily rought ride with out really be gaingin anything from it.  If
>thats how it is (its allways that rough) im fine with that.  I guess i just
>have to drive somone else's scirocco.  

I understand.

>Other then that just tell me how u know if ur struts/brushings are gone.

Hmmm...the best way to do this:  Open your hood.  You know where the strut
towers are, right?  The part that you can see in the engine bay, 2 big round
shiny metal strut bearings w/ rubber right beneath them.  Look at them.  If
they're not shiny, and the rubber seems old or crackling or is excessively
tough/hard, and again:  the metal looks old/rusted/oxidated/anything,
they're probably pretty old, in which case your rears are probably the same
way.  Replace all w/ oem strut bearings/shock tower bushings.  Replace your
bump stops, too.  They are just that--rubber bump stops that go ON the
struts/shocks themselves.  If any of you are getting a 'scraping' sound
around HARD cornering, I suggest you check/replace your bump stops first.

And again, if you remove/disconnect the front strut assy from the steering
knuckle, you will need an alignment.  I've got an account at Romar Tire :-)



Chris Taylor 
'87 16v Scirocco

West Ambler Johnston Hall
Virginia Tech Campus
chtaylo4@vt.edu
chtaylo4@aol.com

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