RE: Play in top of front strut.... what could it be? is it dangerous?

["Neal Tovsen" <ntovsen@piper.hamline.edu>]

Sounds like you're on the way to finding it. If it is the strut issue, then
it should be fixed with the new inserts. Hope that's it!

Neal

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul J. Dorion [mailto:pjdorion@comnet.ca]
> Sent: Saturday, July 03, 1999 11:07 AM
> To: Neal Tovsen
> Cc: Brian Honnold; Scirocco List
> Subject: Re: Play in top of front strut.... what could it be? is it
> dangerous?
>
>
> BAll joints are OK wheel bearings, OK there is just this slight
> misalignment
> and the play at the top of the strut where it is fastened to the body,
> (under the hood 7/8" nut) looked into motor mounts this spring
> and they were
> ok, the shake (bounce) has been there for quite a while and I have done
> quite a bit to have it diagnosed, and corrected but to no
> avail.(new tires,
> checked rims, balnced all tires twice in different garages,even had the
> brakes looked into,checked and lubed bearings and joints) One strut is
> leaking, to be repaired this coming monday.(replacing all 4 inserts) any
> recommendations?
>
>
>  My baby is going to spend a day at the Spa on monday, (East Motors, in
> Ottawa, Kristian is just great with the VW's) and hopefully after
> going over
> everything with a fine tooth comb we will have a solution and I
> will be able
> to push her beyond 90 MPH without worrying about the car falling apart due
> to the vibration.
>
> Maintenance schedule is as follows:
>
> Flush cooling system
> Oil Change and lube
> Replace air filter with K&N
> Check tune up and emissions (re&re necessary parts)
> Replace 4 strut inserts
> Alignment and dynamic balancing
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Neal Tovsen <ntovsen@piper.hamline.edu>
> To: Paul J. Dorion <pjdorion@comnet.ca>
> Cc: Brian Honnold <bhonnold@pac-cap.com>; Scirocco List
> <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
> Date: 2 juillet, 1999 14:41
> Subject: Re: Play in top of front strut.... what could it be? is it
> dangerous?
>
>
> >
> >Ordinarily, I might think that the bouncing steering wheel is a sign of
> >bad motor mounts, but there are two things that make me think otherwise.
> >First, does the dash bounce with the wheel, or is it *just* the wheel?
> >Also, your explanation makes it sound as though you don't get this bounce
> >when you aren't moving. If that's true, there is definitely something
> >wrong with your steering/suspension/wheels. If your wheels are balanced,
> >that leaves your steering and suspension.
> >
> >I didn't quite understand your initial explanation of the play in the
> >strut, but I would say that *any* play is probably bad! If your alignment
> >is slightly off, the periodic cycle of the bouncing could be
> attributed to
> >worn steering joints in combination with the strut play. The worn
> >steering joints may cause your car to cycle through periods of
> >alignment/misalignment at high speeds. Moving between states of
> >alignment/misalignment would cause various loads/stresses to be placed on
> >your struts. At some point in this cycle, the load on the strut may be
> >such that the strut is allowed to jiggle in that bit of play at
> the tower,
> >causing the bounce in your steering wheel.
> >
> >This is all hypothetical, of course, but from your explanation I would
> >deduce that you should get your strut issue fixed and check for worn
> >steering joints. Replacing your joints would also mean an alignment,
> >which would fix your alignment issue, too.
> >
> >Again, I can't quite picture where you say the play is in your strut, but
> >you really need to take a look at it to determine if it is still safe to
> >drive. If it's worn, you're probably OK for another week. If something is
> >*loose*, then you definitely want to tighten it up. Having a strut fall
> >off while your driving would probably be a bad thing. ;-)
> >
> >Good luck! Let me know if I was on the right track...
> >
> >Neal
> >88 16v
> >
> >On Fri, 2 Jul 1999, Paul J. Dorion wrote:
> >
> >> The shaking is like a bouncing going on in the steering wheel, it comes
> and
> >> goes in a periodic cycle at steady speeds above 70mph. the wheels have
> been
> >> balanced and checked for crookedness.
> >>
> >> The alignement is a wee bit off... but it is very negligeable... could
> that
> >> really be it?
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Brian Honnold <bhonnold@pac-cap.com>
> >> To: 'Paul J. Dorion' <pjdorion@comnet.ca>; Scirocco List
> >> <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
> >> Date: 2 juillet, 1999 12:50
> >> Subject: RE: Play in top of front strut.... what could it be? is it
> >> dangerous?
> >>
> >>
> >> >The shaking is more likely caused by the alignment being
> slightly off or
> >> >the tires not balanced correctly or unevenly worn.
> >> >
> >> >Could you describe the shake.  If you feel it in the steering wheel it
> is
> >> >probably the from suspension somwhere.  If you feel it in
> your butt it's
> >> >probably the rear tires out of balance.
> >> >
> >> >Brian Honnold
> >> >'78 Rocco Ragtop
> >> >'99 Passat GLX
> >> >
> >> >On Friday, July 02, 1999 8:54 AM, Paul J. Dorion
> [SMTP:pjdorion@comnet.ca]
> >> >wrote:
> >> >> Here's the poop, anyone that can answer this would be a great help..
> >> >>
> >> >> There is less than 1/16 of an inch play on the top of the strut
> between
> >> >the top mounting plate and the bottom of the nut that fastens it. Is
> this
> >> >dangerous, I have to drive about 400 km today and I don't have the
> >> >ressources to fix my suspension until next week.This Roc is
> Stock. Help!
> >> >>
> >> >> Could this be causing the shake I experience at 125-140 km/h (70-85
> mph)?
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> 86 8V Stock Rocco (Maroon)
> >> >>
> >> >> Paul J. Dorion
> >> >> Pro Audio Consultant
> >> >> Dexx Design
> >> >> pjdorion@comnet.ca
> >> >>
> >> >>  << File: ATT00000.html >>
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> --
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> >>
> >>
> >
> > Neal Tovsen
> >
> >
>
>


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