Is it a bird.. is it a plane..

[DigitalSushi]

Nope its stupid me on an empty country road and going a bit airborne on a bump, followed by a tremendous heavy landing.

I think I might have broken/bent something as I now have a rather odd little knock when manoeuvring at low speeds. Car steers, brakes and tracks fine and I am hearing nothing when going at a bit more speed.

But after 80k+ miles (and now this dumbassery from myself) I think its probably best to replace some stuff on the frontend. I haven't got under the car yet with a crowbar to see if anything is loose but my plan is to do the tie rods, drop links, roll bar bushes etc and sort the creaky top mounts anyway. basically a full rebuild barring the shocks/springs.

Watched a couple of videos that are the jobs on a mk7 Golf so I presume the process is very similar, in which they use a couple of what looks like specialist tools.

First one is for undoing the inner tie rod, looks a bit like an oil filter tool, second one was a small socket that they used to loosen the mount where the bottom of the shock sits.

Has anyone done this job, are these specialist tools absolutely required or is there a feasible workaround?

Also are there are any pitfalls I should be aware of before taking the thing to bits as it is my only car so don't want to be stuck needing a tool and have no way to get it barring a next day delivery?

Cheers for any advice

 

[H Rafiq]

I did this about a year ago in my Cupra 280. Luckily, no knocks etc after landing. Shat myself though while I was airborn… I didn’t even see the jump. It was a bridge on a country lane. It was a new road to me, and a dark winters evening, after work.

 

[Mr Pig]

I've seen a few people do it, thankfully not done it myself.

Saw a guy leave the ground in his Toyota Coupe driving over a mini-roundabout. He wasn't even going all that fast. The landing did not sound healthy at all.

 

[SuperV8]

You could have brindled your top mount bearing? I don't think they are very robust.
To change it is quite involved for DIY - you obviously need to take the strut out - and compress the spring!
You'll need a few special tools over and above the usual garage tools;
Spring compressor
M14 triple square
M18 deep socket
triple square set - small size needed for drop links - something like 5 or 6mm
knuckle spreader tool (I managed with a 1/4" drive - but next side I brought the tool and much easier - it's not expensive)
cranked 21/22mm ring spanner for the strut top nut.

The 'official' way is to undo the large driveshaft bolt - and the three ball joint nuts and drop the wishbone/pull the driveshaft out the way.
There is an 'unofficial' way called the '2x4 method' - lots of youtube videos' - this avoids having to drop the wishbone or remove the driveshaft - but it is tricky/dangerous! if the wood is not restrained! When I did mine I clamped the wood to my strut so it couldn't spring out!

Inner tie rods can be done with big pliers 'in theory' - if there is access (have not done these on any MQB car so don't know)? but is easier with an inner tie rod tool.

 

[G.P]

Now that's taken me back to my younger years, been airborne in cars..