This weekend I disassembled the whole of the rear suspension, all went surprisingly well with only two badly corroded bolts to cut out.
The rust is only surface to both suspension and underboot floor area so nothing too nasty, but unsightly none the less, a few bushes look due for changing so I believe I have caught this at just the right time.
I am now in a dilemma as how to tackle the next stages, which I have broken down into three possible options.
1 - Replace all parts (other than subframe - that will be shot blasted and painted/powder coated) with new V.A.G parts - that's bolts, bushes, arms, shocks etc estimated cost?? Would be around £1000 plus
The reality of this is that it's not cost effective and so will probably not happen
2 - Replace all parts (other than subframe - that will be shot blasted and painted/powder coated) with new after market parts - that's bolts, bushes, arms, shocks etc I have been trawling eBay/buycarparts etc and it seems the parts could be around
£500 ish including the cost of the sub frame refurb (estimate about £100)
This seems a good option, but I am concerned about using pattern parts, although after some initial research amongst friends and online it seems that the standard of parts from sone manufacturers is to a very high O.E.M standard, it's just getting used to the names...Febi, Lemforder, Mapco amongst many.
Funnily enough, from my initial fears I have discovered that one of the above mention brands are O.E.M suppliers to ahigh end German car maker!
Another good thing about using this option is that it will cut my physical input down allowing me to get on with the boot floor.
3 - Renovate all metal parts - Subframe, arms and metal components at a local shot/sand blasting company and replace bolts/bushes/shocks with new. I am unsure of price but would probably end up costing more than option 2 in terms of time and money.
The big advantage would be that the suspension arm pressings would all be original, but does this really matter? Some parts after all would be pitted from the rust even after blast cleaning and recoating.
I would need to drop the metal work off without any bushes, that's fine as I intend to replace them anyway, but it's a 40 mike trip to a garage I use to remove and then replace once the metal work has been cleaned and coated.
So my questions are:-
Is using original/genuine V.A.G parts important?
Anyone have any aftermarket horror stories regards suspension components?
What brands to avoid?
Should I consider using updated bushes like Powerflex?
Any input will be greatfully received.
For a laugh/gasp of horror, a picture of the task ahead....
The rust is only surface to both suspension and underboot floor area so nothing too nasty, but unsightly none the less, a few bushes look due for changing so I believe I have caught this at just the right time.
I am now in a dilemma as how to tackle the next stages, which I have broken down into three possible options.
1 - Replace all parts (other than subframe - that will be shot blasted and painted/powder coated) with new V.A.G parts - that's bolts, bushes, arms, shocks etc estimated cost?? Would be around £1000 plus
The reality of this is that it's not cost effective and so will probably not happen
2 - Replace all parts (other than subframe - that will be shot blasted and painted/powder coated) with new after market parts - that's bolts, bushes, arms, shocks etc I have been trawling eBay/buycarparts etc and it seems the parts could be around
£500 ish including the cost of the sub frame refurb (estimate about £100)
This seems a good option, but I am concerned about using pattern parts, although after some initial research amongst friends and online it seems that the standard of parts from sone manufacturers is to a very high O.E.M standard, it's just getting used to the names...Febi, Lemforder, Mapco amongst many.
Funnily enough, from my initial fears I have discovered that one of the above mention brands are O.E.M suppliers to ahigh end German car maker!
Another good thing about using this option is that it will cut my physical input down allowing me to get on with the boot floor.
3 - Renovate all metal parts - Subframe, arms and metal components at a local shot/sand blasting company and replace bolts/bushes/shocks with new. I am unsure of price but would probably end up costing more than option 2 in terms of time and money.
The big advantage would be that the suspension arm pressings would all be original, but does this really matter? Some parts after all would be pitted from the rust even after blast cleaning and recoating.
I would need to drop the metal work off without any bushes, that's fine as I intend to replace them anyway, but it's a 40 mike trip to a garage I use to remove and then replace once the metal work has been cleaned and coated.
So my questions are:-
Is using original/genuine V.A.G parts important?
Anyone have any aftermarket horror stories regards suspension components?
What brands to avoid?
Should I consider using updated bushes like Powerflex?
Any input will be greatfully received.
For a laugh/gasp of horror, a picture of the task ahead....
