First Golf

[KI11Z]

not sure about the clutch, however that first pic you posted up there of that thin long piece of plastic, they're wiring harness routers; the wiring harness is taped to them and they plug into a hole in the chassis/panel....

[xpeesx]

I would also love a manual clutch adjustment as my clutch only engages/ disengages within the first two inches of travel, not enjoyable. Maybe my clutch is on its way out???
check that the while collar on your auto adjustment has been released, some non VW mechanics don't realise that its supposed to be released (and look unattached) as opposed to unrealeased position that looks like it should be that way. sorry hard to explain in text.

[Special Air Service]

not sure about the clutch, however that first pic you posted up there of that thin long piece of plastic, they're wiring harness routers; the wiring harness is taped to them and they plug into a hole in the chassis/panel....

thanks for that, nothing majorly important then....... next time I have the door panel off I'll try & find where it goes.

I would also love a manual clutch adjustment as my clutch only engages/ disengages within the first two inches of travel, not enjoyable. Maybe my clutch is on its way out???
check that the while collar on your auto adjustment has been released, some non VW mechanics don't realise that its supposed to be released (and look unattached) as opposed to unrealeased position that looks like it should be that way. sorry hard to explain in text.

white collar is released, although my first thought when I got the car was that it wasn't hooked up correctly.....

from what I have found, the high clutch release is pretty much standard, and there is discussions on the overseas forums about using a "manual adjust cable" in place of the "auto adjust cable", then you can get your pedal where you like it.
Camden GTI have said that there is no such thing as a manual adjust cable although you may be able to get away with a MK2 cable, but......... I was able to get a price for one (manual adjust) off Tooley imports. So thought I d see if anyone on here is using one.

the Overseas cables would most likely be a bit different in length due to the LHD / RHD pedal locations?????

[JET20L]

Hey there buddy nice looking little golf you got there not sure if I can be of assistance but I have 97 vr6 that im wrecking at the moment that has a bunch of interior bits still left in it if the door trim clips are the same which im sure they are you can come grab what ever I got there if there is any left ill check it out when I get home...I couldnt bring my self to charge you for a bunch of clips that probably cost 2 cents to make

[Special Air Service]

I have 97 vr6 that im wrecking at the moment that has a bunch of interior bits still left in it if the door trim clips are the same which im sure they are you can come grab what ever I got there if there is any left ill check it out when I get home...I couldnt bring my self to charge you for a bunch of clips that probably cost 2 cents to make

Thanks man, if I was closer I'd be over to see what I could salvage. I'm working on a bit of a list, so once I'm sorted with that I'll let you know & maybe could fix you up a few $$$$ for some stuff if you'll post it to me.

[Special Air Service]

Been going through the front suspension on the Golf, replacing worn bushes etc as needed, & I have run into a few issues while replacing the Strut Top Mounts / Bearings. Would really appreciate some advice from the experienced guys on here.


My golf has the earlier struts with the slotted nut that hold the top spring retainer in place. first issue was that the slotted nut was already loose on both struts when I went to dismantle them.







No real issue there ....but when I went to reassemble them I realised that they wouldn't tighten up because last time the struts where replaced (KYB struts) they had not put the spacer/washer on & so the nut would bottom out on the thread before it tightened up on the seat & bearing. No problem, just sourced a couple of suitable washers & away I went........ until.........

Once I tightened the slotted nuts I discovered that the top spring retainer was rubbing/binding on the metal part of the strut mount. Disassembled them again & found that there was already a fairly good wear ring on the spring retainers from where they had been rubbing before.



So I moved the washer from under the spring retainer & re-installed it between the spring retainer & the strut mount. As you can see the Bentley shows it under the spring retainer.




All was now good until I got to final assembly & lowered the golf back onto the ground.

Drivers side strut has pushed up much further though the strut housing than the passenger side. I would nearly say that its worse than the old worn one. Drivers side has about a 11-15mm gap, passenger side has 3-4mm gap.
I have no idea what is normal here but would consider the 3-4mm closer to the mark.

Drivers side:






Passenger side:




This is what the new strut mounts looked like as far as the height is concerned (not my photo though).



This is what the old ones are like, bearings completely fell apart when I pulled the struts out.






Both struts mounts appear to be seated roughly the into the strut housing in the body, it just looks like the drivers side strut mount has collapsed into itself already.

Yes I have taken it for a shakedown run to see if the passenger side would seat itself higher after the suspension was cycled a few times but made no difference.

Has the drivers side strut mount failed already??????????

Should I pull it off & try for warranty?

What is involved in changing over to the later style strut mounts? would I need to change the actual struts & springs or just the mounting hardware from the top of the spring onwards.

Sorry for the long post , but thought it might save a few questions going back & forth.


Hope you guys can help.......

Cheers
Brendan

[Special Air Service]

Sorted the different heights of the strut caps, one of them has been damaged previously, all bent & stretched.
Check out the difference between the two of them.



Just need to source a couple of good ones & I'm ready to roll.

Still wouldn't mind some clarification on the way I assembled the struts though, where I put the washer shouldn't matter I don't think?????

[Special Air Service]

Front suspension work complete, new control lower control arms & bushes & strut mounts, just waiting on a pair of decent strut caps / retainers so I can give everything a final tighten & then in for a wheel alignment. Have done a fairly good home alignment with spirit levels & tape measures & it drives heaps bloody better. Control arm bushes were absolutely shot.


Have noticed that the passenger side of the car is sitting 10mm higher than the drivers side (both front & rear) which niggles at me a bit although I gues this would be pretty normal on standard suspension?

[Special Air Service]

Also stripped out the front plastic inner guard splash-shields & gave the inner guard areas a good clean & checked for rust in the bottom corner.....everything chcked out OK so back together they went.

[Special Air Service]

Changed out my old cracked dummy fogs & orange indicators for some uncracked dummies & clear indicators (care of werd_103) & treated all the black plastic on the front bar.




Made up aluminium rear number plate bracket, similar to the "Lakin" plate brackets, plate was originally held on by rusty old self tappers through the middle of the plate, with the plate & the plastic surround all wedged into a space that wasn't big enough.



self tappers as per this pic





New bracket & stainless screws, just need fresh plates & probably a cover from Lakin which will hide all the screws.





Replaced rear wiper motor as well while I had the tools out. (care of mb1907953).