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Top Mounts Episode IV - A New Hope

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  • Top Mounts Episode IV - A New Hope

    What the title really should say is:
    Top Mounts Episode IV - A New Hope (As long as you have coilovers!)
    Unfortunately this will not work on standard S2 struts!


    So the preamble is this: I've so far been through 3 types of top mounts and none have been to my liking

    OEM mounts - trashed every few hundred miles
    Meyle HD mounts - trashed every few hundred miles
    Solid mounts - too harsh with no tangible reward

    Most recently I've been running a set of Albert's AKMotorsport offset solid topmounts and whilst I can't fault the mounts themselves, the solid mount is not too my liking, there is a lot of noise & low frequency vibration transmitted into the cabin. There is a slight performance benefit to the solid mounts, but on a road car they are not worth the noise and unpleasant ride IMHO.

    So I've been looking at other current options of which there only seems to be Pro-Mounts which are no longer available.

    So I thought I'd make something of my own

    A couple of years back I got hold of a Leon Cupra R mount which looked similar and I was able to trim the diameter down slightly to make it fit the turret, but the metal skeleton inside was revealed and would have contacted the turrent and rubbed or transmitted the NVH I'm trying to get rid of.


    I spotted these online and punted £40 for a pair - Polybush MKIV / A3 / Leon platform lowering topmounts. (Bearings shown not included - approx £25 a pair).
    I did have some pictures of them but I dropped my phone in a diesel tank at work so this picture shamelessly stolen from the internet



    Compared to an OEM S2 mount they have a slightly different shape to the taper and few mm larger OD at the bottom of the taper. Easily trimmed to size with a Stanley knife. Again pictures missing here unfortunately, but you will see in the pics below the bottom of the taper has been trimmed down. This is the only mod required.

    Here is the underside of the poly mount with OEM VAG bearings and top nuts.
    You can see the bearing is inverted compared to the S2 one. This is because the bearing is seated on the shock shaft shoulder and the races rides on the upper spring perch, and the spring perch is free to float on the shock shaft.



    This is a different arrangement to the S2 setup, where the spring perch is seated on the shock shaft shoulder and the bearing is torqued down on top to make a sandwich.

    S2 upper spring perch with ~ 14.5mm hole




    KW upper spring perch with 22.5mm hole allowing it to float on the shock shaft:




    With helper spring removed. you can see the bearing ID fitting over the shock shaft.




    KW spring perch on bearing




    Bearing sits inside the poly mount, plenty of clearance all round.




    Bearing & nut assembled on shock shaft




    Poly mount pops on the top and up into the turret




    Pretty good fit




    The hex nut is shorter than the OEM S2 slotted nut, so just needed a 3mm spacer to give the retainer cup some clearance to the turret top.



    First impressions are good, they feel tight but importantly smooth and quiet. I obviously need to get my alignment done before I can really test them., and get some miles onto them and see how they perform. Only mileage will tell if this set-up stands the test of time. People seem to get on well with them with S3 / R32s which are similar axle weight, so the signs are promising. I will report back on how they hold up.

    Just a quick note to warn that even by drilling out some S2 spring perches this won't work on standard B3/B4 suspension, because the shock shaft diameter is too big for the bearing ID. However, fear not I am brewing something slightly different that will bolt on.
    Panthero Coupé quattro 20vt
    Indigo ABY coupé
    Imola B6 S4 Avant

  • #2
    It's good to see you finally got round to doing this Alex. I'll be getting the parts together to do mine now as I'm sick of the rattling too. Annoyingly I did buy some power flex black ones but sold them to a mate for his r32. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

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    • #3
      Impressive!

      I'll admit I've been a bit concerned about the top mounts on my set up and hope the Mance MountSavers do their job.

      If not, I know exactly what I'll do! (Pending results of your road testing of course)
      Find me on Instagram @pry4sno
      2010 Golf Sportwagen TDI /// #farmenwagen
      2002 Dodge Ram 2500 24v Cummins 4x4
      1992 80q 20v /// Eventual AAN'd Winter Sled
      1990 Cq /// Project: Because Racecar

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Error404 View Post
        Just a quick note to warn that even by drilling out some S2 spring perches this won't work on standard B3/B4 suspension, because the shock shaft diameter is too big for the bearing ID. However, fear not I am brewing something slightly different that will bolt on.
        Praise indeed is due here for your fantastic efforts Alex. The "However, fear not i am brewing something slightly different that will bolt on" sounds very interesting indeed!
        96 URS6 plus speck saloon
        96 URS6 plus speck estate
        94 2.6 80 Avant
        99 2.8 final edition Cabriolet

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        • #5
          Good efforts. I have a set of HD mounts and they are goosed. I will buy the old solid ones from you if you haven't already got shot of them. My car is mainly aimed at track fun so not to bothered with road noise. I looked at mk4 golf mounts and also newer Corsa ones but didn't spend any real time on it. I was also considering just cutting my towers out and welding in mk2 escort items which are easily sourced!

          Im very much looking forward to seeing how these last.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by martinws View Post
            ..... I was also considering just cutting my towers out and welding in ..... items which are easily sourced!....
            This was what I was thinking but using but I was thinking along the lines of using C4 parts. Those seem to be well sorted out compared to the B4. Still tossing it around in my head.

            Good work "Error"

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Error404 View Post
              Just a quick note to warn that even by drilling out some S2 spring perches this won't work on standard B3/B4 suspension, because the shock shaft diameter is too big for the bearing ID.
              Are you completely sure about that? On the picture you can see the same bearing (mk4) with a modified stock B4 spring perch (a mk4 perch welded to the B4 one).

              Those are 50mm struts with Koni Adjustables in them and the picture is mine.

              P.S. Maybe there's something S2 specific that I'm not aware of?
              Attached Files

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              • #8
                My ABY has OEM shocks on it, the shaft is ~ 27mm
                Panthero Coupé quattro 20vt
                Indigo ABY coupé
                Imola B6 S4 Avant

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Error404 View Post
                  My ABY has OEM shocks on it, the shaft is ~ 27mm
                  Hmm, I'm going to the garage to check the spare Koni shock, be right back

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                  • #10
                    Nice work Alex, this looks like a promising solution to a real weak point of B chassis running gear.
                    Here's hoping it stands up to the relentless punishment you will exact upon the mounts when road testing these babies.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Don't forget, Koni are not OEM
                      I think they will be 22.5mm Shock shaft like the KWs

                      I will give the a good thrashing mate don't worry
                      Panthero Coupé quattro 20vt
                      Indigo ABY coupé
                      Imola B6 S4 Avant

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                      • #12
                        Yep, Koni were smaller - 21.7mm. Couldn't find my old OEM B4 50mm shocks. When I find them I will report

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                        • #13
                          So this might work with koni shocks?

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                          • #14
                            If the shock shaft it 22.5mm give or take a mm or so, yes it should work if you drill out the top spring perch to the same diameter so it can float on the shock shaft
                            Panthero Coupé quattro 20vt
                            Indigo ABY coupé
                            Imola B6 S4 Avant

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Best of luck old chap.

                              Got to be a better bearing solution than those stupid roller bearings, as they offer no rotation of the shaft angle, so put the rubber under undue stress when at higher steering angles. Get some Fluro motorsport bearings in there like I have and you'll be laughing.
                              Cheers'en, AndyC
                              1994 ABY Coupe - Projekt Alpinweiss

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