NCT - Suspension Test/Imbalance?

donal7

Hi,

My car recently failed on the following:

Front Axle 27mm (Nearside) 40mm (Offside) 33% Imbalance
Rear Axle 29mm (Nearside) 28mm (Offisde) 3% Imbalance

What does the above mean and how can it be rectified for retest?

Cheers in advance.

SCOOP 64

My fail rear suspension on imbalance 2 weeks ago, just 2 new shocks, fixed, passed.

donal7

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

My fail rear suspension on imbalance 2 weeks ago, just 2 new shocks, fixed, passed.

Thanks for the replies. Did that cost you much to get resolved?

SCOOP 64

donal7 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Did that cost you much to get resolved?

Well my was just rearshocks, yours is front also, rear shocks from mickgarage on line €65 delivered, easy to fit rears, if you have axle stands and jack lift, just 2 bolts.
or just phone around for quotes, but if you can buy them cheap, then pay someone for labour, maybe a cheaper option.

Just reading your imbalance figures, whats the imbalance fail % above ,should be to right on sheet.

donal7

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

Well my was just rearshocks, yours is front also, rear shocks from mickgarage on line €65 delivered, easy to fit rears, if you have axle stands and jack lift, just 2 bolts.
or just phone around for quotes, but if you can buy them cheap, then pay someone for labour, maybe a cheaper option.

Just reading your imbalance figures, whats the imbalance fail % above ,should be to right on sheet.

Great - thanks for that.

donal7

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

Well my was just rearshocks, yours is front also, rear shocks from mickgarage on line €65 delivered, easy to fit rears, if you have axle stands and jack lift, just 2 bolts.
or just phone around for quotes, but if you can buy them cheap, then pay someone for labour, maybe a cheaper option.

Just reading your imbalance figures, whats the imbalance fail % above ,should be to right on sheet.

Thanks. Imbalance above is 30%?

SCOOP 64

donal7 wrote: »

Thanks. Imbalance above is 30%?

So is this a pass for rear axle 3% ?

Gaillimh1976

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

So is this a pass for rear axle 3% ?

Yes & No

Its a pass, but they will retest both front & back when you bring it in for retest

Unless damaged in the meantime it should pass again though

donal7

Gaillimh1976 wrote: »

Yes & No

Its a pass, but they will retest both front & back when you bring it in for retest

Unless damaged in the meantime it should pass again though

It's all double dutch to me!!!

Anyway I'm getting the car checked out tomorrow. I'm hoping it's nothing serious and have re-test booked for next week.

Cheers

donal7

Ok so got this checked out this morning. Front shocks need replacing.

Price quoted was €190 including fitting. €95 per shock.

What do people think of this quote? I thought I'd check around before proceeding.

Cheers

sean1141

Depends on how good of a part is fitted and the type of car

BillJ

Make and model and year of car will help pricing the part

donal7

Sorry - should have stated 2005 Volkswagen Golf (Standard 1.6 litre)

Also made some further enquiries and got 2 more quotes of €180 and €250

I am just looking to get it through the NCT and I'm then selling up.

Cheers for all the help.

sean1141

Should be a straight forward enough job on the golf. You might want to consider changing top mounts and bearings when your at it.

BillJ

Just had a look on micksgarage and you could get 2 Meyle( who I believe are good) front shocks for 120 delivered.

Going by that your first quote seems reasonable, unless they are inferior parts.

sean1141 wrote: »

Should be a straight forward enough job on the golf. You might want to consider changing top mounts and bearings when your at it.

If he was holding onto the car I would also suggest this but he's looking to move it on after NCT so keeping costs low is probably priority.

donal7

BillJ wrote: »

Just had a look on micksgarage and you could get 2 Meyle( who I believe are good) front shocks for 120 delivered.

Going by that your first quote seems reasonable, unless they are inferior parts.



If he was holding onto the car I would also suggest this but he's looking to move it on after NCT so keeping costs low is probably priority.

Thanks BillJ for that. I guess €180 is pretty reasonable including fitting.

sean1141

BillJ wrote: »

Just had a look on micksgarage and you could get 2 Meyle( who I believe are good) front shocks for 120 delivered.

Going by that your first quote seems reasonable, unless they are inferior parts.



If he was holding onto the car I would also suggest this but he's looking to move it on after NCT so keeping costs low is probably priority.

He put that in as a sneaky edit :pac::pac:
If your selling any ones will do just to get it passed the test

donal7

sean1141 wrote: »

He put that in as a sneaky edit :pac::pac:
If your selling any ones will do just to get it passed the test

Thanks Sean. Made a last minute Edit

The quote for €180 was with Atlas so I'm going to go with them as they are closeby to me.

donal7

Sorry guys one last question. The car is currently running coilover suspension - sorry should have also stated that earlier on.

I had been thinking of going back to standard suspension which I have still have all the parts intact for. Got a price of €120 to put the standard suspension back in. Would it be standard suspension shocks going back in if I were to do this and could it pass the NCT with this setup? Should I just go with the replacement shocks, get it through the NCT, leave as is and then sell up or would it be better/cheaper going back to standard suspension given that I am looking to spend as little as possible as I am soon selling up?

Cheers

sean1141

Id say the price you got off atlas was for standard shocks. Doubt they would have coilovers. I would think tou would have to get a complete new coilover setup as not many sell individual coils.

BillJ

If you have all of the old suspension, front and rear shocks and springs you could put that back in and hope it passes the NCT alright.

donal7

Thanks Sean/Bill for the reply. I have the old suspension intact so I'm going to go ahead and get the standard suspension put back in. Have to say I'd never go with coilover suspension again.

Thanks for all the advice with this

rufio777

the coilovers may not be setup properly either, some will having dampening settings and one side could be set different to the other if you get me, What car is it?