Ride height puzzler

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Owyn

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So I have a 3.0 TDI Avant SE 58 reg. The ride height is markedly different across the rear 2 wheels, about 30mm.

I jacked it up today expecting to find a broken spring but they looked fine, as did the rubber mounts.

Can anyone help with what else I should look at? Can the dampers do that? I didn't think so but am happy to be told otherwise.

Thanks.
 
Owyn said:
So I have a 3.0 TDI Avant SE 58 reg. The ride height is markedly different across the rear 2 wheels, about 30mm.

I jacked it up today expecting to find a broken spring but they looked fine, as did the rubber mounts.

Can anyone help with what else I should look at? Can the dampers do that? I didn't think so but am happy to be told otherwise.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

One of the dampers could be on it's way out, this would cause the height difference.

This may sound silly, but, have you checked both rear wheels are the same size, also tyre size. Mate of mine years ago bought a car that had two different size wheels on the rear of a Focus. :blush:

JG
 
Yep, both the same size tyres, I just swapped back onto my summer set today hence being able to have a look. The springs and mounts looked in fine fettle as it goes, the shocks could probably do with changing, the bump stops in particular didn't look too well. I guess the top mounts would be worth doing at the same time?
 
Owyn said:
Yep, both the same size tyres, I just swapped back onto my summer set today hence being able to have a look. The springs and mounts looked in fine fettle as it goes, the shocks could probably do with changing, the bump stops in particular didn't look too well. I guess the top mounts would be worth doing at the same time?
Click to expand...

Oh well it was worth ruling them out. :yes:
Could end up being a case of changing stuff to see what the issue is, shocks would be my starting place, but may as well do the bump stops while they're off.

JG
 
Only the springs should affect the ride height, you have an SE which should be standard height sounds like someone has fitted a spring off an Sline/Sport model which are 25/30 mm shorter, hence your difference in height , that's my guess anyway
 
666markyboy said:
Only the springs should affect the ride height, you have an SE which should be standard height sounds like someone has fitted a spring off an Sline/Sport model which are 25/30 mm shorter, hence your difference in height , that's my guess anyway
Click to expand...

This.

On my old B7 previous owner/s had fitted one non S Line spring on the rear and it was higher then the other 3 corners.
 
Do the paint marks on the springs have any significance? They are the same on both sides, grey and blue.
 
That's interesting because yes they do, don't ask me what though.. there was a key somewhere online that you could decode the colours with, I think there's spose to be 3 dots of colour though
 
The collection of coloured marks on the springs on any/all VW Group car defines the "weight range" for these springs, so the springs at one end of a car must always have the same collection/selection of coloured marks and the same numbers of each colour.

Having had some experience of VW Group products, that is one of the many "points" that I record as soon as I buy a new or used VW Group car as with time these marks can become discoloured/rusted.
 
Owyn said:
Do the paint marks on the springs have any significance? They are the same on both sides, grey and blue.
Click to expand...

Well that has messed up one idea, so maybe closely examine the top and bottom ends to make sure that a short section has not broken off - tip, check where the top and bottom of these springs end, as typically these points should be at the same point around the spring, also check for the ends not being "flat" and painted.
I always examine springs before an MOT and I've been caught out at least once by missing that a very short section was missing, even not enough to affect the ride height, but at that point in time an MOT failure.

Edit:- also check the other end of the car as generally speaking, a car is a stiff bit of metal, so one end can affect/influence how the other end "sits".
 
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Just for info and I know it doesn't help your cause, but I did my Rear brakes today and taking rum4mo's advice decided to check and record the colours on the springs of mine 2.0 Tdi Avant quattro Sline Special Edition, so these will be sport springs.


20190217 124427
 
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