Mk4 2002 GT TDi 150 - suspension arms replacement.

[Jonny88]

Hi all,

Recently took my Golf into Protyre (first mistake!) to have my shock absorbers looked at as I thought they were giving a slightly stiffer ride than usual but turns out they're absolutely fine

But of course as with any big franchise type chain of garages, they'll always try to find something wrong with your car to get some money out of you. Especially as I'm a student so some may see me as an easy target.

Anyway they found the bushes on my front suspension arms to be slightly worn. He told me that when he took it for a test drive he noticed it straight away once you start braking. Having since taken the car for a drive it is necessary to absolutely slam on the brakes as if you're emergency stopping to feeling any sort of movement of the arms through the steering wheel. Even then it is only very slight.

In September this year I replaced the VW standard wheels I had on there (205mm/60mm) with some Audi RS4 old style 18" alloys (225mm/40mm 18"). You can see from the tyre spec that they're exactly the same size just the new tyres are slightly lower profile and 20mm wider.

Since fitting I've done 2200 miles and had no problems so far (to my knowledge). The garage technician said on one hand that this is due to the poor quality new tyres fitted so when I brake round corners, the tyres aren't taking as much of the force as they should but instead the suspension arm bushes are suffering. But on the other hand he also said that they've been on there since new and have done well to last 7 years!! He suggested replacing the suspension arms but not replacing the tyres until they need replacing. If I just replace the suspension arms, won't the same problem occur somewhere later on down the line???

Is this a major problem and what do people think is to blame??? The wheels/poor tyres or is it just coincidence that I fitted these wheels just before the suspension arms were coming to the end of their life anyway??? If not replaced is this going to end in an RTA sometime?!?!

What is an acceptable rate for this job? The guys at Protyre were very reluctant to tell me the price of the parts alone but were preferring to only quote me the fitted price. In the end I managed to establish that they were £50 + VAT for the pair I think. Or maybe that was just one. I hate big franchises like this who try to rip punters off especially as I'm a student I really can't afford to be ripped off.

Any help/advice much appreciated. Driving down to the Alpes at New Year and don't want to find myself on the side of the road somewhere on the Autoroute trying to explain the problem in French!!

Cheers in advance.

Jonny.

[Crasher]

The bushes are very prone to failure, they are referred to as wishbone rear bushes usually but the correct term is “track control arm bonded rubber rear mountings”, VW part number 1J0 407 181 and only cost about £12 each even from VW. You can replace the bushes with standard, fit new arms (which is easier), fit uprated bushes from companies like Powerflex (when they are available again after the fire) or fit Audi TT type bushes which is a nice simple modification. Remember that when removed, all the bolts released removing the wishbones must be replaced and that the bolts must only be tightened up with the wheels in the loaded position, not dropped.

[Jonny88]

Thanks Crasher.

Is this a major issue then? Can I live without them being replaced for a while?? Or should I get it done sooner rather than later?

And do you think the wheels are to blame or simply the length of time they've been on there??

Any help, much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jonny.

[Crasher]

When the wishbone rear bushes fail it makes the car feel very poor, turn in is reduced and the tyres can suffer, if they are split I suggest you have them replaced. I don’t like leaving things as by the time you have them done, there will be something else and you will leave that and then there will be more and it is a slippery slope from there to owning a shed. The PD 150 is a powerful car and needs to have its running gear in good condition. Some of these RS4 replica wheels are unbelievably heavy and this may contribute to suspension wear. Sometimes when I take wheels off these days the expression “light alloy wheels” goes through my head followed by a profanity. I took the steel wheels off a Fox today and no joke they must weigh half what an alloy of the same (15”) size weighs.