THIS Was the Source of The Suspension Noise, and The R32 was CHEAP!

One of the main reasons I got this car so cheap was the issues the front suspension was having. Noises, creaking, grinding from the suspension were all issues on the R32. Before tearing down the car to rebuild the engine, I wanted to diagnose the suspension noises. Today we take the suspension apart to figure out exactly what was causing the suspension noises. #R32 #Humblemechanic
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disclaimer:
The content of this video is available for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for the professional advice of a mechanic who has personally inspected your vehicle, nor does it create a relationship of any kind between the Humble Mechanic and you. Every situation may be different, and the Humble Mechanic does not make any warranties, whether express or implied, as to the accuracy, fitness, or applicability of the information or automotive parts portrayed in this video to any project and makes no guarantee of results. The Humble Mechanic and any sponsors of this video will not be liable for any damages related to personal injury, property damage or loss of any kind that may result from the use or reliance on this video and/or any automotive parts represented in this video. You are using the information and automotive parts portrayed in this video solely at your own risk.

[@Uncle-Duncan-Shack]

I love the way you work, very professional in the technical department. And the commentary/ narration: Plenty of opportunities to have bad mouthed other peoples work, and you don't do it. That is a huge plus, I thank you for it. Thanks for a good show today. Best regards, Duncan

[@HumbleMechanic]

THANK YOU

[@TheStevedie]

@@HumbleMechanic %100 agree, It's nice to not hear complete bad mouthing.

[@ajfurnari2448]

That's why he's called @HumbleMechanic, not @CompleteAssholeMechanic ;) Also, I've always just used bungee cords, no fancy reusable zip ties here!

[@Uncle-Duncan-Shack]

@@ajfurnari2448 That's also good advice.

[@ClaudiuB]

Preventive maintenance? owner: I`ll skip that

[@bunsoft2]

Preventive maintenance? Owner: neah, this car goes with petrol, not maintenance :-)

[@labradormcgraw]

Unrivalled picture quality! I think this is down to the lighting properties in the shop. HM just gets better by the week. Gotta love The Humble Mechanic.

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thank you!!!!

[@miketeeveedub5779]

"Ow my balls!" Absolutely! 🤣🤣🤣 BTW - looks identical to a headset bearing on a bicycle. It's one thing to have it on a pedal bike, it's another when they're on a car that may see +1000lbs of cornering load. Should be interesting to see the replacement! Keep on truckin' Charles!

[@s0mbracarr3ra]

It's nice to watch someone take a procedural approach taking care of their car, the way I do a users computer. You just can't learn anything unless you get into the nitty gritty and find out how it happened. It can save you in the future and may cause you to look in other places for similar problems. I'm just glad I have you to watch to teach me about my gti, when most others don't delve deep enough into issues, or explain the failure to help me prevent it in the future.

[@TrueBlueEG8]

There is nothing more comforting, as a mechanic, than nailing the problem, and being dead certain that you have rectified it. Tonight we sleep :)

[@Starter61]

I love your explorative but also humoristic attitude ! I wish you were my mechanic !

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thanks :)

[@middlecovemotors2474]

I know exactly what you are doing there is nothing new to me here....yet I can't look away...Hypnotoad of the automotive world

[@HumbleMechanic]

Hahahhahaha

[@ts31966]

Keep up making videos on how to fix Volkswagens. These videos are what people want and you have the knowledge to share.

[@petemo94]

Well done sir. Only essential information and no extra verbiage. Love it when you find the source of the problem instead of treating a symptom 👍

[@dicknodnfs]

When you said "Don't do it this way" reminded me of a person I worked with at AZ, and he would say "I know the hillbilly way to fix it". All I could say is as his manager was to not say this to customers but I know that even the most trained technicians will go outside the "official" way to fix something. In Kentucky so that phrase is normal for some folks.

[@JayJayPolo]

I also experienced the same problem with strut bearings and top mounts literally exploding on my VW Polo 6R with Bilstein B12 suspension kit. In the end, after replacing the bearings and the top mounts multiple times, I figured out the problem was caused by a missing metal ring spacer between the strut bearing and the top spring plate. These ring spacers can be found on OEM suspensions of many VAG models, but NOT on my Polo 6R. So I had to buy them separetely. Their function is not only to increase a bit the pre-load of the spring, but especially to make the top spring plate sit lower, so it doesn't make contact with the top part of the strut, avoiding the risk of damaging it. After I installed the ringspacers, I NEVER destroyed strut bearings and top mounts anymore. I also contacted Bilstein and they explicitly said that Bilstein B8 front struts need these ring spacers, otherwise they can be damaged by the top spring plate. Here you can see a picture I took when I installed ring spacers on my struts: drive.google.com/file/d/1lcCSU8DY_MxoQ4ps1_B0OYpmypQQhPkN/view?usp=sharing

[@AndrewG2.0]

Holy rust! Thankful I live in TX.

[@JoelCaseyJonesMusic]

It would have been great to hear the noise the strut bearing was making so us heathens that do maintenance by feel/sound can diagnose stuff before it shits the bed. I’ve caught a number of problems before they turn messy that way in my beloved mk4

[@RileyNA]

Them doggone sandwiches'll getcha everytime

[@SeanBZA]

Probably lost by the squirrel that was thinking of taking up residence there while it was parked.

[@SolidSativa1]

Charles you are my mk4 Hero, keep up the good work!

[@user-pc2oo6jz6i]

Dude you could be talking about anything for hours and still be entertaining

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thanks!!

[@BillKinsman]

Car looks like a real lemon for the front end

[@gplusgplus2286]

That bearing was probably f%&ked up on installation, improper tools, torques, everything.

[@AP9311]

Charles, that is so cool in depth and detailed Suspension work and diagnosis on what's wrong! Love love love this video!!! I rate this 200 out of 200!! Ya da man!! Many thumbs up

[@franktamborello8012]

Thanks for saving an R32, Charles!

[@TonyDiazNYC]

I can't wait to see your new build

[@FullSendPrecision]

I had a 2008 R32 that I absolutely loved. Really enjoying the vids!

[@Masso1973]

An amateur tried to change the struts with simple compressors, without a third compressor or cage compressor, springs tend to hit the damper rod (spring tapers to one side when you compress it). Then they tried to force/push the spring to the center with a screwdriver, breaking the rubber and plastic bearing housing and with the forces involved probably snapping everything onto the or two one threads of the top nut which barely fits because without proper compressing tools you cannot turn the spring into it’s seat properly, which is also the case in this video. Furthermore, fitting a damper into the knuckle is notorious for foul language, there is invariably too little space and the angle in which the surfaces meet, especially with aluminium on steel corrosion, nearly ensures that you will not seat the damper in the knuckle properly, which is dangerous. Two weeks ago I had to scotch brite the knuckle tube 4x before the damper seated all the way. It’s good practice to put a small layer of anti seize grease like never seez or something like that. Regarding the bolts instead of pressed pins, my cheapo brother in law also does this because he doesn’t have a press, I do, but I don’t waste my time and change the whole wishbone. I don’t like refurb kits, you really have to know what you’re doing + aluminium wishbones are a no no for re-pressing as far as I’m concerned. Interesting vid, thanks for posting it 😊

[@Gold63Beast]

0:06 definitely speed limit. 👌🏼

[@HumbleMechanic]

LOL It was actually the speed limit. It looked faster than it was. HA

[@ianatkinson8464]

I love finding out what has failed and what may have caused it. More more more please😊

[@HumbleMechanic]

:) AWESOME!

[@DevineDigital]

As always Charles it's great to see these videos. Also getting updates through facebook and instagram is cool too. I can't wait to see this project come to fruition.

[@michaelblacktree]

Wow, your suspension literally had a soup sandwich in it!

[@Rickie-37]

that's just a dorman hub, when the wheel bearings wear out badly the race spins and damages the hub. Doesn't mean the bearing isn't oem tho. I always take the Philips screws off one by one and put red or green thread locker as they have minimal thread engagement and impacting the wheel nuts on-off can rattle them loose.

[@WillMahler]

Geezus, did that car live in Illinois? Great vid, as always. Nice work on that hot mess.

[@tjcben1]

Never seen strut bearing damaged like that. I like fixes like this.

[@RandomGuyDan]

Jeez, who looks at that elevated mount and thinks, eh, close enough? I would be terrified about what other half assed 'upgrades' the PO made.

[@jco3872]

Loving this R32 Series, I've missed it for O so long

[@HumbleMechanic]

This is going to be a great series! Tons of fun and tons of go fast

[@jco3872]

@@HumbleMechanic 🙏

[@zomaardan]

Awesome video once again. Watching every video to see if we can fix our car.

[@randomron67]

Love it! It gave me relief to watch you discover that mess

[@bobsanders9500]

Just spent most of the day wrangling springs off a pair of front struts and onto a pair of new KYBs for my Mazda Lantis Type R. My aching muscles really wish I had your spring compressor. BTW the vd Veer Engineering Haldex Controller I installed in my Mk4 2.8L 4Mo rally car worked a treat in the Catlins Rally (NZ). Set it to 60:40 power split and hello 4WD!

[@ZukosTruckRepair]

Always awesome video... So interesting to see the bearing in that shape. I am a Diesel Tech and belive me I have seen alot of similar things. Cheers Charles.

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thank you very much!

[@mikesvirtualgarage9917]

Love this! Silver lining is we didnt have people who did shotty work then some of the content wouldnt be as fun :)

[@TheUberdude14]

Hey Charles the balljoints with bolts are common in aftermarket on the cheaper sides of the scale, I've mounted the alot on tiguans and tourans here in Europe.

[@SeanBZA]

Bearing was definitely done in by the shock installer. Those are cheap parts to replace with the strut, but of course most places will rather keep the extra $5 as profit instead, and recycle the old ones back so long as they are not in a million pieces when removed. Million pieces internally, but so long as the bits stay together until the vehicle leaves no problem. Just did mine beginning of the year, and while they were not as bad, steering was definitely better, plus I actually had working shocks. Did nothing for roll in cornering, but I nearly lost fillings the first time I went over a speed bump at what I was used to, and the suspension moved the vehicle up sharply, then down again as sharp.

[@George-zq2sk]

Awesome work Charles! Love your content and the root cause thinking! I hope you post a video when you take the fenders and skirts off, I want to come there and do it for you, being a Mk4 fanatic, stresses me out to see the fenders like that! lol!

[@pfsantos007]

When I put on springs and shocks on my old '86 RX-7, I just went and replaced all the hats, mounts and strut bearings. If you're going through the work and already spent $$$ on shocks and springs, don't cheap out and avoid having to go back and replace parts that you shouldn't have reused. Besides, everything new looks so good.

[@donbrashsux]

Listen to that sound as the R32 goes through the corner..pure music

[@HumbleMechanic]

WOOOOKKKKIEEEEEE

[@Bobs-Wrigles5555]

Just before you said it, I was thinking, this assembly is toast, throw it away and get a new one.

[@SDKwarrior]

that spring compressor is so cool. i love these videos and im not even a vw guy lol

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thank you

[@peterk4134]

I will return to this when I do mine. My two cars are suffering the uneven DC roads even after resurfacing and potholes gone; we are still driving over uneven manhole covers. What third world systems coordination

[@skythelimiteme1271]

Very clean work and detailed

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thanks

[@dinakarsoul]

Nice video and always good to see as a repair enthusiast to find the source of the issue. This vehicle may be classic case of vehicle not maintained properly 👍🏻😀. Like your gloves mate😎...pretty useful to keep your fingers clean 👌

[@albertagibinik8883]

He could do a Matt frewer impression easy

[@petar443]

Can you make series on how to check on worn suspension and steering parts. I think none of famous auto repair youtubers have such thing.

[@originalswolfsburg9889]

Seems like previous owner was trying to make the R: great again but failed miserably in every aspect. Now, with your knowledge, experience and real passion for this car, we can be sure the R: is going to be better than it’s ever been.

[@HumbleMechanic]

Luckily there are some really good points on the car. So its going to be awesome!

[@MathewMaher]

Wheel bearing / hub looks like a Duralast part. I’ve used them in the past on my Mk4s. Actually have one on my GTI now. Haven’t had any issues with them in the past. 👍

[@HumbleMechanic]

I did some digging and it could be a number of different branded parts. I really don't think the WB was an issue.

[@RFM-]

Nice video and very professional.

[@JiKimbo]

Nice original from new strut bearing! 😂😂

[@larsborjesson9021]

This is a heck of a good video! Thanks for educating an “office rat” like me! 🙌🏼

[@HaloInR3v3rs3]

That's why you don't send it with an impact gun and ugga duggas, guaranteed to crack the strut bearing.

[@jamesmerkel9442]

reuseable zip ties, big love cool hve not seen those ck

[@hacks5093]

I heard from a little bird you were going to go with Tubular Control arms 🤔🤔 and if you said you were going to get them in the video, I commented this before I finished the video 🤣

[@landhayward5749]

“Holy Snackers!!” ...LOL

[@opalrandum2716]

“A little jiggleing and wiggling” *pull out mallet*

[@HumbleMechanic]

It was being a pain

[@1989Chewbaka]

Excellent work!! Keep it up!!

[@pkonneker]

Dang. Looks like the wheel took a big hit to jankify the cap like that. You can see the imprint of the bearing in it. That may have been what cracked it. Certainly didn't help anyway.

[@michaelgehrmann5331]

I watch your video and now I’m hearing my Skoda have a front suspension bush noise on bumps or low speed steering. At least now I kinda know where to look.

[@laalaa99stl]

Waaaow! A sandwich bearing. That's a new one. 😂 And the only Philips screws I've seen on a VW are for the MAP sensor on a MKV.

[@georgecurtis6463]

Ha ha ! Like a kid seeing his first buggerd bearing !

[@ivanlopez4995]

That ball joint is eather from autozone or advance, I install some of those in my 00 jetta😅, and it come with bolts not studs like you said👍

[@BitcoinHashing]

I have seen this often were impact guns are used to assemble suspension components, i bet that bearing was smashed when a impact gun was used to assemble it.

[@HumbleMechanic]

That is VERY possible.

[@VarkaTheDragon]

2:35 - What the hell is that tool? Is that an *IMPACT VERSION* of the Milwaukee electric ratchets? Oh god I want it

[@nicpstg]

Oh my... having flashbacks to my strut bearings now. They looked just like that and the whole mount was smashed down like 1/2”

[@tenderblender945]

Lift kit ftw!

[@rockervdrive]

Nice find!

[@dominiqueeybers9186]

My mk4 jetta got a bang in the suspension. Few years back i replaced the struts and bearings, not to long after that i replaced my control arm bushes with powerflex, recently i replaced my balljoints and subframe bushes. I think my struts might be bad again. Dirt road driving. How can i know without opening, want to trace the suspension knocking

[@210gtech]

Awesome spring compressor, can we get a manufacturer and part number? I’m done with cheep unreliable strut spring compressors..! 🥺🤙🏽👍🏽

[@HumbleMechanic]

it's this bad boy sonictoolsusa.com/spring-compressor-1500-kg/

[@210gtech]

HumbleMechanic Aloha and mahalo from Honolulu Charles. I can’t tell you how many times those cheep branded strut spring compressors have failed or let go on me while doing a swap of springs or struts! When I worked at the dealership we had the fancy Branick 7600 or OTC clamshell compressors. But when you’re at home, and being far from mainland suppliers one has to work with in ones home box, lol 😂! Maybe Santa could send me a proper spring compressor next year since we all been living the locked down life out here longer than most states 🥺😭🤙🏽 Again thanks for the info!

[@HaloInR3v3rs3]

@@HumbleMechanic talk about holy markup...you can get the same thing from Scangrip for $340 cheaper. www.scangrip.com/en-gb/shop/non-lighting/coil-spring-compressors/canvik-basic

[@nickolastiguan]

1:56 LOL wtf 🤣🤣🤣 funniest Shiet I have seen in awhile.

[@olegknowsbest4971]

Now that was a high quality hack-job....

[@simon9548]

Source of the suspension noice? Do you have video of how it sounded? My mk4 also has some weird noice

[@rhkips]

In before new "JAGGED EDGES!!!" Humble Mechanic shirt! Mmm, sandwich damper~

[@FillUpFiZzle11]

What would suggest if I stripped the 7mm hex Allen key from the threaded rod of the strut assembly(bilstein pss9)? How would you suggest I counter hold the threaded rod while installing the strut assembly back on my R32? Please advise

[@JohnBrinkPhoto]

Hi. I enjoy your channel. What is the make (brand) of that spring compressor that you mounted in your vise?

[@theclutch19]

I love your videos...well, most of them, at least!

[@HumbleMechanic]

Hey I’ll take it. Hahah thank you

[@williambrightwell7325]

I have a creaking sound when turning once everything has warmed up. Could this be top mount bearing? I have powerflex top mounts.

[@dondrap513]

Have you ever gotten that magnificent beard caught in a spring, etc?

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thankfully no

[@Elmer_RedEagle]

Thats a neat looking strut compressor, whats the brand?

[@shadowpuck99]

just curious - what spring compressor is that? looks like a canvik/scangrip....

[@tullyaddison-dean1500]

" this outer piece, is now several outer pieces"

[@HumbleMechanic]

lol

[@UNDERWARE2464]

YES to the lifted R32!!!!!

[@nwedrick]

Do you have a link to the spreader tool and will it work for the pinch style ball joints to spread it open instead of trying to use a chisel and not getting it open enough?

[@6pistons]

It's best to take your VW to a technician that know what they are doing

[@HumbleMechanic]

Sometimes paying someone is WAY cheaper than not.

[@tomwhit1982]

Id probably still clip the reusable zip ties when im finished 🙈

[@HumbleMechanic]

Hahahah I’ve come close

[@KamilJan95s]

Whats the reason for not recommending using an impact gun on the top bolt of the shock absorber?

[@HumbleMechanic]

It spins the center shaft and can damage the seals

[@panzerveps]

I'm guessing someone gave it a few too many ugga duggas when assembling the struts.. and reused the old bearings because they forgot to order it.

[@panzerveps]

(I wrote this before Charles said it lol)

[@JesusHF37]

@humblemechanic I have a B7 Passat. 2015 Wolfsburg 1.8 to be exact. The car handles horribly on snow, and even on the rain. How could I fix this. Would coil overs, and a front and sway bar be enough? Or what else would you change?

[@spikeshostagetv5935]

Someone got hungry working on that car last.

[@jhalodwala]

Hey question, what is the Milwaukee ratchet that you are using at 10:48 ??

[@Cellomaster1234]

Can I get “Ahhh my balls!” As a ringtone/text tone?

[@HumbleMechanic]

Hahahaha

[@MoparGuy1625]

Is that a right angle impact wrench???

[@nilolee2426]

Did you made that spring compressor that’s in your vise?

[@johnmoser2689]

Strut bearings are a famous VW wear out item At least it's a cheap and easy fix... sorta

[@fordebloke]

Hi, Charles, I was wondering if there was enough meat still on the toasty rotors, rather than replace them, could they be vapor blasted and then reskimmed? Or would this take off too much material for the vent slots to still function properly?

[@DonryuRaiden]

Beside the absolute awesome format and total cool Mr Humble Mechanic, I always get a laugh flash, when I hear how american ppl try to get around swear words. Holy smackers...🤣😂