What do you experience when hard braking?

[PranK]

So, since I have had the car (Bora 4Mo), I've had this noise that sounds like the swaybar hitting the subframe, it got worse when my coilovers went in and today when I went for a test drive after raising my coilovers, it was the worse its been.

BUT, after a search, it could just be my ABS. Up until last week, I had broken sensor wires on my front left wheel, they've now been fixed, which could just be coincidental that its worse now with my coilovers (installed last week also).

It comes on steady, hot and strong. No, wait, thats not right.

The ABS engages, I lose the pedal momentarily (stomach sinking feel,) the pedal comes back and while this is happening I hear the swaybar against the subframe noise. The thing is, they seem to be *very* aggressive. It doesn't take much at all for this to happen, a fairly solid stamping (not emergency stomping) at ~40kph can easily set them off.

I have Falken Ziex on the front, not the worlds greatest, but definitely not some cheap Chinese rubber. They are at around 38psi (225/45/17.)

Anyway, it was quite disconcerting, this last drive and I want to at least be partially sure that it was normal.

For the record, I get intermittent errors with my lateral sensor, if this is iffy, I can understand the overly aggressive ABS, but the ABS light is not on when I was testing.

I appreciate any info, thanks in advance.

Christian

[dylan8]

have you checked the driveshaft for a contact point? there will be a clear rub mark.
I was under the impression the 4mo bars dont rub with even more lowering then what you have. are you sure its not the driveshaft hitting the chassis? i know mine only clears by 1cm on flat ground

[PranK]

Hey dylan,

Thanks for the reply, theres a good 3 or 4 inches between the shaft and the wishbone.it doesnt look like itd be rubbing anywhere.

[dylan8]

nar itll be above the driveshaft...

is it both passenger and drivers side? in AUS, drive shaft rub is more common on the drivers side do to gear box placement (im guessing the box is on the passenger side in the 4mo also...?)

[PranK]

Nah the knocking is more audible on the passenger side. I'll Get under it tomorrow and have a look.

[audi-tone]

Mine rubs on the drivers side but it's the connection point from the end link to the sway bar that actually hits the shaft. Mine is fwd though.
Hope you find the solution. I believe the only way around mine is a different sway bar. Or shorter end links.
Good luck!

[PranK]

So, no rubbing anywhere. Heaps of clearance around the driveshaft.

The main issue is that the ABS engages early (in my opinion) and when it engages, it makes a sound like something bumping against the subframe - 'doing' / 'springgg' / 'brrrump' - heh, hard to type sounds.

[JustCruisn]

The sound is likely the ABS sound it sounds horrid, it is like that to let you know you are in trouble.
I've had the early ABS engagement problem in my golf and I found a wheel speed sensor was not bolted in correctly. This was right after getting some work done on the suspension.

Take the wheels off and have a good look to see if the sensor it loose.



It is held in with a single hex bolt and sits really close to the wheel speed rotor. It is the funny looking disk with all the holes in it, it sits just behing the wheel hub.



The sensor counts the holes it 'sees' and the ABS system works out if that wheel is about to lockup or not.

[PranK]

Thats a great suggestion JC, I personally replaced all the sensors over the past 12 months, it could very much be that I have not lined it up properly.

I tell you what, slightly OT I know, but I own a really good jack for the first time in my life at the moment, lifting the car to check these things is just not even remotely chore-like anymore and makes working on the car so much nicer!

Anyway, back on topic, I'll check those sensors during the week and see if I have stuffed one up. Also, if the douches at Ultra Tune took my passenger one out to fix the broken wire, they may not have put it back in properly.

Thanks !

[kapowww]

Did you accidentally install a Rheem instead of brakes again?

It comes on steady, hot and strong. No, wait, thats not right.

[trickysimon]

Did you accidentally install a Rheem instead of brakes again?

Thanks, now I've got that song stuck in my head haha.

No noise when I stamp on the brakes. Just the occasional tyre scrub if I'm turning at the same time. (To be expected since I'm tucking tyre)

[PranK]

So, European Autotech said that the G-Sensor needed recalibrating, which they've done. This was causing the early ABS engagement.

Woo Hoo!

[PranK]

Just picked up the car, the sensor had been nudged forward when something was done behind the dash. Was probably me when putting the stereo in, doh! The sensor thought the car was on a lean to the front, so it was applying brakes early.

For the first time since owning the car, the only yellow light i have on the dash is my washer bottle being empty (and VW, seriously, do we need a sensor and an alert for this? Surely a non-action when pulling the lever would suffice as an alert.)

Its so nice having everything working.

[RolfGolf]

Just picked up the car, the sensor had been nudged forward when something was done behind the dash. Was probably me when putting the stereo in, doh! The sensor thought the car was on a lean to the front, so it was applying brakes early.

For the first time since owning the car, the only yellow light i have on the dash is my washer bottle being empty (and VW, seriously, do we need a sensor and an alert for this? Surely a non-action when pulling the lever would suffice as an alert.)

Its so nice having everything working.

Glad it's sorted - can imagine it would have been a pain to drive like that.

re. the warning light - I prefer that than thinking something has broken

[dylan8]

my 2lt doesnt have a washer bottle alarm from memory.
prob a good idea while as its a defect worthy item

Good so see its fixed!