four year old (50,000kms) Tig with worn suspension - my "new" 2nd hand Tiguan.

[pistoncranky]

Hi, have spent a few years lurking about here learning stuff but not joined in.
Late last year I bought my third VW and the only one that I haven't owned from new. It's a four year old 2012 (2013 delivery) Tiguan 2.0 TSI 132 KW Pacific 4Motion with just under 50K kms on the clock at the time. Its the Tiptronic Transmission version with a few upgrades including leather.

I had my long time VW mechanic look over it and give me post-purchase assessment for things that need attention and any warranty issues that might exist and I would like some thoughts from others with experience of the beast..

There were three things that came up.

i) Inspection shows leaking rear shocks. But VW says "they're damp from very minor weeping at the seal but its okay and they all do that". I can feel a small amount of rear-wheel bounce over small bumps (and a slight step off line (bump steer) with cornering load) and would say there isn't good damping control in some instances.
Changing them is a job I can do myself but getting a suitable replacement isn't as clear. I see sparesbox.com.au offering Sachs which look like the OE part. Does anyone have a better alternative replacement suggestion or supplier? (Obviously I could go crazy and get Koni or Bilstein high performance units but I want to keep it real unless its just a couple of fiftie$ diff.)

ii) Inspection shows front sway-bar links worn. This is another job I can do, and again, sparesbox have Whiteline Heavy Duty KLC167 links.
Is this kind of parts-wear something I could notice improvement in steering / ride by changing the links?
Its surprising that a part like this could have enough wear after 50K kms to need replacement.. any ideas / better suggestions?

iii) The last item noted with wear was the lower control arm castor bushes. I can feel a small amount of softness (or indirectness / lack of tightness) through the steering and ride so I expect that could be the cause and there's also a small amount of lash (noise from the front) when braking in reverse after forward travel.
Again, I'm surprised that castor bushes could be worn after 50K.
Have any other Tiguan owners needed to replace this part? Its also something I hesitate doing myself and will require wheel alignment afterward.

In general, it seems like a sound car (touch wood) and I'm happy enough but I'd like to make it drive a bit better but I'm also wondering if I'm expecting a bit too much to get it feeling tighter when its sitting on the standard 16" 65% aspect tyres but I can't justify new wheels and major suspension upgrade.

Chris

[REGS12]

Hi pistoncranky
I think you are worrying too much!
I've had 3 Golfs [2 GTI's] and now have a 2012 Tiguan like yours as well as a 2017.

In my experience the Tiguan, though superior in its class does handle, softer, ie sloppier than the Golf. Even with the new one you get the occasional rattle and bang from the suspension. With the 2012 there is occasionally feedback mid- corner that I find a bit funny. In my humble opinion, enjoy the excellent build quality, panel fit, solid doors, quietness and performance of your car.
After having 27 different cars, 26 motorcycles and one wife, I have discovered that perfection is unattainable.

I'm not that flash either!

[ope126]

Hi pistoncranky
I think you are worrying too much!
I've had 3 Golfs [2 GTI's] and now have a 2012 Tiguan like yours as well as a 2017.

In my experience the Tiguan, though superior in its class does handle, softer, ie sloppier than the Golf. Even with the new one you get the occasional rattle and bang from the suspension. With the 2012 there is occasionally feedback mid- corner that I find a bit funny. In my humble opinion, enjoy the excellent build quality, panel fit, solid doors, quietness and performance of your car.
After having 27 different cars, 26 motorcycles and one wife, I have discovered that perfection is unattainable.

I'm not that flash either!

True words mate!!!

[pistoncranky]

Rear shock replacement - or not?

Hi pistoncranky
I think you are worrying too much!
I've had 3 Golfs [2 GTI's] and now have a 2012 Tiguan like yours as well as a 2017.

In my experience the Tiguan, though superior in its class does handle, softer, ie sloppier than the Golf. Even with the new one you get the occasional rattle and bang from the suspension. With the 2012 there is occasionally feedback mid- corner that I find a bit funny. In my humble opinion, enjoy the excellent build quality, panel fit, solid doors, quietness and performance of your car.
After having 27 different cars, 26 motorcycles and one wife, I have discovered that perfection is unattainable.

I'm not that flash either!

Thanks for the reply. I take your point(s) and I'm happy with how nimble it is for an all-roader.. and all the other nice things which dragged me away from another Subaru (have had four of them).


My mechanic tells me that there's noticeable (to him) wear on the rear tyres (described as not truly round - he said "imagine a 50 cent piece, but not that exagerated," which he attributes to the leaking shocks. The tyres are 60% worn but I can't see the irregular shape.

I'm debating changing the shocks on the strength of his assessment because I can do it myself and any improvement in the handling / ride would justify it.



Has anybody updated their rear shocks to a better quality unit and noticed any gains?


Cheers,


Chris
(PS: Regs12, none of us are that flash!)

[Lucas_R]

Get the solid rubber caster bushes from the Audi TT and you will never have to worry about them again. Cost is about $50 delivered form the UK. Febi Bilstein Wishbone Bushing 33973

The OEM shocks are made by Sachs, so get ones on sparesbox should be correct as a OEM replacement.

[arcadelt]

Maybe I'm not a driver's driver and perhaps it's best when you don't look, but my 2010 Tig with over 100K on the clock doesn't obviously exhibit any of these problems and seems to drive fine, even when pushed and through twisty bends. That said, I have the optional 18" wheels, which does firm it up somewhat.

[Aztech]

Has anybody updated their rear shocks to a better quality unit and noticed any gains?


Cheers,


Chris
(PS: Regs12, none of us are that flash!)

I have changed mine all round to H&R coilovers and upgraded the rear sway bar to a 26mm superpro and yes it's noticeably better. I first did the swaybar which was the biggest improvement, its a 20 minute DIY and removes about 80% of the bodyroll around corners. Then I did the coilovers, now it drives like a much small car, the nose stays down under acceleration, gets a bit crashy if you hit a large pothole or go over a speed bump to fast, but other than that I prefer the way it goes over rough roads. You feel the bumps but settles much faster for a more satisfying driving experience.

However if you like the clearance and lazy comfortable ride but just want to get rid of the boat-like qualities around corners get a rear swaybar.

[pistoncranky]

Thanks Lucas_R,

I'm guessing that installing those Audi bushes in the alloy shells would require a decent press to press old ones out & new ones in. Without a press I might be better off with the complete alloy shell and bush.. I do like the idea of a more solid rubber tho'.. could they be pressed out with a bench vice and a close fitting collar and metal slug and back in with the vice?

Chris


>>"Get the solid rubber caster bushes from the Audi TT and you will never have to worry about them again. Cost is about $50 delivered form the UK. Febi Bilstein Wishbone Bushing 33973

The OEM shocks are made by Sachs, so get ones on sparesbox should be correct as a OEM replacement."

[pistoncranky]

Maybe I'm not a driver's driver and perhaps it's best when you don't look, but my 2010 Tig with over 100K on the clock doesn't obviously exhibit any of these problems and seems to drive fine, even when pushed and through twisty bends. That said, I have the optional 18" wheels, which does firm it up somewhat.

Thanks.. I reckon the 18" wheels and 45 or 50 aspect tyres would make a very big difference over the stock 16" / 65% on mine.

The previous owner might have been a bit of a pothole smasher and the bushes are a bit sloppier than yours even after only 50Kkm. Its interesting to watch how many drivers do drive straight through all kinds of holes etc.. I guess growing up on dirt roads and also riding motorcycles has given me increased pothole awareness and avoidance.

[Lucas_R]

Thanks Lucas_R,

I'm guessing that installing those Audi bushes in the alloy shells would require a decent press to press old ones out & new ones in. Without a press I might be better off with the complete alloy shell and bush.. I do like the idea of a more solid rubber tho'.. could they be pressed out with a bench vice and a close fitting collar and metal slug and back in with the vice?

Chris

Yes i had the old bushes pressed out and new bushes pressed in by a mechanic workshop while i was having my brake disks machined. Only took them 5 mins to remove the bushes and install the new ones.

[pistoncranky]

DIY - New LCA bushes, sway bar links and rear shocks..

Hi Guys,
updating my post about a few worn suspension parts.

I have replaced both trailing lower control arm bushes, both front sway bar end links and the rear shocks.

I have achieved a reasonable improvement all-around which is pleasing. None of the jobs were particularly hard but there are fiddly things.

I used new bolts on the LCA mount (3 per side) and used a sub-frame alignment tool which I bought especially for the job.. I don't think it was entirely necessary because there's more slop around the alignment pin than the two inboard (sub-frame) bolts would permit but it does give you a guide to where you need to be when fitting the LCA mount and something to position the alloy mount over to start the two bolts (it was $33.00 for a kit of 4 but I only used 1 and will have them if I ever mess around with the sub-frame). Will still get a wheel alignment when I go in for a couple of new tires in a fortnight or so.

I didn't think the bushes looked too bad when I took them out and inspected them but I got a better than expected improvement in the drive so they must be bad enough.

Sway bar links also looked okay, but again, I don't feel/hear as much going on over small/medium road cracks and gaps or driveway lips.

Chime in if anyone wants any details.

Cheers,
Chris

[ethosguy]

Bilstein B6 for better control, no argument with SWMBO about too stiff ride and full travel stock springs for fast dirt road use pulling a box trailer with 1 or 2 dirt bikes.

So much better in every respect. Grip, stability & especially when fully loaded with roof boot, family, rotting/doberman & trailer.

Took, say, 2000km to settle...bit jiggly at first.

Fitted at 130000km. Around $1000 ebay landed from Germany. Installed at home.

No comparison. Never looked back.

[Sydneykid]

Personally I'd swap the OE rear inner front lower control arm bushes for one with more static caster, less movement (so retains dynamic caster) and some anti lift. That'll improve the turn in and decrease the tendency to lift the nose under acceleration. I used the Whiteline KCA316 kit in my son's Mk6 Golf (same kit fits the Tiguan) and the difference is amazing. It's a bolt on replacement, so no need to press bushes in and out. Can be DIY'd, and I checked the wheel alignment after fitting. The bonus was it also removed the excessive toe in, so unless something else is out of alignment, no need to do wheel alignment.


The rear swaybar is also a worthwhile upgrade, if I remember rightly Whiteline don't make one, but I've seen a H&R rear Tiguan swaybar and it looked a nice fit, 26 mm OD, so a decent upgrade.

Rear shock wise, in dampers you really do get what you pay for, personally I never scrip on shocks, they are a very integral part of any car's suspension. My recommendation would be to do yourself a favour and get a pair of Bilsteins if you intend to keep the Tig for any length of time. The only problem is once you have a set in the rear you'll want a set in the front.

Hope that helps
Cheers
Gary