My Broken Bora

[blake_]

After getting some lowered springs installed not too long ago, they have decided to give up on me...

...In the form of my front left strut snapping in half.
The drop was only 30mm, coupled with a decent Bilstein shock.





So rather than simply replacing that single shock (and run the risk of similar occurrence in the other strut), I have decided to go the route of Coilovers. I am looking at purchasing Ta Technix coilovers for my 4mo, as well some new strut mounts and bearings.

So my question is, are there any other components that should be swapped over besides the strut mounts and bearings? Any point upgrading to poly mounts?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VW-Bora-1-9-TDI-1-9-TDI-4motion-Front-Suspension-Strut-Top-Mounts-Bearings-x2-/230933278742

Cheers!

[stotto]

Shouldn't they still be under warranty if there not that old ?. I have not seen that happen before.

[Golf-Sam]

look into doing control arm bushings and tie rod ends .. they get shagged with stiffer suspension .. im doing that on mine .. also .. adjustable rear control arms . . or prepare for some tyre chewage on the rear

[blake_]

Will need to look into that, I like having plenty of tread

look into doing control arm bushings and tie rod ends .. they get shagged with stiffer suspension .. im doing that on mine .. also .. adjustable rear control arms . . or prepare for some tyre chewage on the rear

Update:

Ta Technix have nothing in stock, so I'm looking at over a month for them to ship to Australia. Also, almost every online UK store requires shipping from Germany as they don't carry components for the 4motion

All in all, the Bora will be off the road for a few weeks

[Lito]

Try Damien at dpm performance. Got my kw's from him, top bloke and good prices. Fast turnaround too

Also I'd get in touch with bilstein about that strut, they really shouldn't break like that

[dylan8]

wow. that shouldnt be happening!

[gerhard]

On a Cape York trip some years ago, the most common shock breakage was Bilsteins....

Are you sure you had your shock travel calculated properly for your spring height and bump stops?

Shocks will usually only break like this from using them as the bump stop.

[blake_]

**Little up date and some questions**

I have decided to order the Ta Technix, which will hopefully arrive before the end of August for an install.
After having a look at the strut, I noticed that some parts may be missing.

Originally, I was going to purchase new strut mounts and bearings. However, I have noticed that it is possible that the spring disc/top hat/spring retainer may be missing.

This is a picture looking up into it.



I can tell that the mount is still there, but it seems the bearing AND the metal disc has fallen out.

(That is, I am going off the components seen in this photo)



Can anyone confirm that there should be a spring disc/top hat/spring retainer on the bottom of the mount, and if so, where to order one? Please excuse my suspension-noobness.

Cheers!

[MCiN7]

Confirming that there should be - ignore the black crosses, it's the only reference picture I could find quickly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/Sundown1989/VWVortex/mk4front.jpg

Edit: PN: 1j9412341

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=1j0412341&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=iDD2UZKNKMyWkQWapIHYDQ&biw=1920&bih=955&sei=ijD2UcqSAeS0iQKv-YGYCg

[blake_]

Awesome thanks for that, exactly what I was chasing!

Confirming that there should be - ignore the black crosses, it's the only reference picture I could find quickly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/Sundown1989/VWVortex/mk4front.jpg

Edit: PN: 1j9412341
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=1...AeS0iQKv-YGYCg

[dylan8]

yes it should be there as per the diagram.
if a shop installed them id be asking questions. does the other side have all the pieces in?

[blake_]

Checked it out and its definitely missing, as well as the strut bearing. The diagram says that if its a coil over kit it doesn't need the spring hat, just the one that comes with the kit? Is this correct?

And, thankfully, the other side is intact... but I'm buying a set rather than replacing one (in case it happens to the others)

yes it should be there as per the diagram.
if a shop installed them id be asking questions. does the other side have all the pieces in?

[dylan8]

if yours is just a spring set up you need it. everything should be the same as that diagram except part 7, no idea what that is?
coilovers usually replace the flat cap (part 8 on that diagram) with their own, you then use 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 from the existing setup.

Wonder if the spring hat and bearing fell out when the strut snapped?

[blake_]

Just spoke to Robert from BKS Tuning and they definitely come with the flat cap (part 8 ).
Will just need to order the mount and bearing.

if yours is just a spring set up you need it. everything should be the same as that diagram except part 7, no idea what that is?
coilovers usually replace the flat cap (part 8 on that diagram) with their own, you then use 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 from the existing setup.

Wonder if the spring hat and bearing fell out when the strut snapped?

And thats definitely a question I have been wondering... whether they were in there initially at all...looking forward to going coilovers anyway, needed more lows