Bryan K. Walton wrote:
> On 2006-04-03, none2u > wrote:
> > breakage due to fatigue. There is a plate between the spring and the upper
> > bearing, called the upper spring mount. If you use the older spring, you
> > must use the older spring mount to seat the spring. If you use the newer
> > spring, then you get a new upper spring mount to match the new spring. The
>
> OK. This makes sense. If I'm using the newer spring (and the spring
> I'm replacing is also the newer spring) can I reuse the upper spring
> mount from that which I'm replacing?

That's my understanding, yes, but I can't give you a 100% on that.

> More simply put, do I need to
> use brand new upper spring mounts every time I replace springs/struts?
>

No, I think you just need to use the ones appropriate to the springs
that you are using.

> > are not different and will work, on either spring style. Also Rabbits
> > ,Sciroccos, Jettas 75-84 have external threads on the strut casing. Internal
> > threads are used on USA Rabbits 79-83. But many have been converted. If you
>
> I'm a little confused here. So a USA '84 would be EXTERNAL?
>

I believe so, that seems to be my recollection from doing the front end
on my '84 Wabbit GTI. Doesn't make any difference to the spring seat
or strut bearing though, only what kind of struts you need to order.
Boge sucks BTW.

> > do change the struts. You must get the ones for internal, or external
> > threads, which ever you have. Remember to put gear lube or engine oil in the
> > casing, so the strut will be removable next time and not rusted in. I use
> > old engine or gear lube for this. Make sure it squeezes out when you insert
> > the new strut so it fills the whole space. I once disassembled the front
>
> Thanks for this tip. I think I'm probably going to buy new housings,
> mine are rusted pretty thoroughly. I can't be sure, as I don't know
> the full history of this rabbit, but my hunch is that the
> struts/springs, have never been replaced. They are in bad shape.

Good luck with the replacement then, I had to cut the caps off the
struts on my GTI; there was no way to non-destructively remove them.
Fortunately the replacement struts came with new caps (I think this was
the Boge set) but I had to replace them with Konis in only a couple
years because they wore out amazingly fast.

nate