2000alhVW
Veteran Member
2003 Jetta wagon, 57k miles. All original. Old lady owned, dealer maintained.
Woman died, car was sitting for a while. And I cold-approached the house where it was sitting in the driveway, unmoved, for weeks.
I buy it and negotiate under the "factors unknown" scenario.
Drive it away, it immediately makes a 'dungeon door' type of sound. "Hmm. Sounds like a coil on the spring popping around!"
I jack it up, immediately find the issue.
The top link of the coil spring on the front passenger strut broke off!
The retainer cup that the coil spring fits against does not fit anymore as the diameter of the spring is too large. The spring is now pressing against the shock tower of the unibody.
What is the best course of action here?
When considering replacing the spring itself, I was told that dis-assembling a strut is dangerous due to the spring force.
Additionally, the strut is likely 15 y/o w/60k miles. Do I really want to spend $ on a new spring and shop labor for a spring press?
Then I considered replacing the whole strut assembly, but then do I really want one new strut and then an old one on the other side?
Does this mean I have to shell out for 2 brand new strut assemblies even though they seems to be in fine condition (leak-wise and ride quality) other than a broken spring?
Woman died, car was sitting for a while. And I cold-approached the house where it was sitting in the driveway, unmoved, for weeks.
I buy it and negotiate under the "factors unknown" scenario.
Drive it away, it immediately makes a 'dungeon door' type of sound. "Hmm. Sounds like a coil on the spring popping around!"
I jack it up, immediately find the issue.
The top link of the coil spring on the front passenger strut broke off!
The retainer cup that the coil spring fits against does not fit anymore as the diameter of the spring is too large. The spring is now pressing against the shock tower of the unibody.
What is the best course of action here?
When considering replacing the spring itself, I was told that dis-assembling a strut is dangerous due to the spring force.
Additionally, the strut is likely 15 y/o w/60k miles. Do I really want to spend $ on a new spring and shop labor for a spring press?
Then I considered replacing the whole strut assembly, but then do I really want one new strut and then an old one on the other side?
Does this mean I have to shell out for 2 brand new strut assemblies even though they seems to be in fine condition (leak-wise and ride quality) other than a broken spring?