My 2007 MK5 Golf R32

Crow555

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5,780
Location
Ballyclare
Drives
Integra DC5R
I've been meaning to do something similar to the Integra's wiper arms, but never got around to it. I'll refer to that vid in the future.
 

Ian A

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5,749
Location
Ballyclare
Drives
VW Golf GTI
Seen this out and about, didn’t realise it was yours. Lovely motor in red, and seems a great example.

Enjoy following your threads too, all the details.
 

Neil_M

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Neil_M
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Seen this out and about, didn’t realise it was yours. Lovely motor in red, and seems a great example.

Enjoy following your threads too, all the details.

Cheers Ian, she certainly is different in red. I think it suits the car.

She is a good example and only improving. Plenty more to do when time and the weather permits!
 

Neil_M

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Neil_M
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The venerable R32 is plugging away as a great all-rounder. It's serving daily and weekend duties now and doing a great job of it.

Loaded up with some paint and tools for some DIY over the last month, it's managed to cart quite a few parts about... This was the only photo I managed, prior to that the seats were folded back and well packed, with more paint, brushes, ladders etc etc.

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Due to the warmer weather, I've been rolling down the windows to cool down the car a little quicker. I've been reminded of the awesome noise coming out of the back of the car, and all from a Golf too! Epic! You just don't hear it that much from inside the car. A wee clip is below.



Time is against me this weather, but I have started into a few more pending maintenance tasks on the R32. This time the drop-links were on the cards.



As mentioned on the video, they couldn't be fitted as is, so they were painted up. Very happy with the finish achieved.

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So the fun begins. The rear drop links were pretty much rotten (I believe they were the original items). So out with the Plus Gas, wire brushes etc, it was time to cut them out. The lower nuts and studs were all corroded into one piece of metal!

This is the driver side rear item. The lower stud was cut. The upper nut came off with a bit of effort. A BFH managed to loosen it from the trailing arm.

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Here is a side by side shot of the old and new drop links. You can see even the standard Meyle replacement links are much thicker than the OE rods. Whether the bushes / joints last as long, remains to be seen.

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It was a job that was straight forward to do. Just made complicated due to rusty parts.

As per usual I tried to make a quick video of the process.



The rear of the car feels much much tighter. No knocking from the rear, just the front.

Moving onto the fronts..

I had to paint these prior to fitting too...

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That’s the front passenger side fitted.

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It even came out easily! Though this one seems much fresher than the others...

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The front driver side was another matter...

It had to come out in bits (not fun). Both nuts were cut off and the link bar itself was cut down the middle to give me a little more room.

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That's the last one fitted! Ye ha!

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And as per usual a video of the process...



I'm delighted to say that the knocking noises are completely gone. The car now drives significantly better, much more weight to the steering and much sharper turn in.

It's encouraged me to get even more done to the car, possibly a thicker rear anti-roll bar, and maybe re-bush the car. I may also remove the H&R springs and replace the shocks...
 

greyfloppyhat

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Messages
1,548
Location
Tassagh
The long May weekend was a busy one.

I'd the M3 to prep for sale so that was off the list.

My dad arrived to give me a hand taking a few things to the dump. I looked at his car querying it's ride height.

The front spring was snapped, leaving it with a ride height the stance guys would die for.

Audi Belfast were utterly unhelpful, not surprising, however I ultimately expected them to be simply incredibly expensive.

So my recommendation was to get a set of Sachs (OE) springs and get them fitted by an independent saving a fortune.

I was recommended Darrell Connor just outside of Ballyclare (VW Audi Repair Centre). He luckily was able to accommodate us as short notice and seems to have done a great job. I may well end up taking the R32 to him for some VW quirky / specific stuff.

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In between rain storms I was able to get the R32 washed and cleaned up.

However one major area of concern was a previous owner deciding to touch up the brake calipers with Hammerite. As you can see it's not nearly a match. That couldn't do, so the fronts were painted up. Note the rears will have new calipers fitted soon.

Very happy with how they came out.

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What paint would you recommend for callipers and the other wee bits droplink etc.? I used to be fond of the halfords stuff but it doesn't seem to hold up at all (maybe I just didn't prep it enough last time)
 
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Neil_M

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Neil_M
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What paint would you recommend for callipers and the other wee bits droplink etc.? I used to be fond of the halfords stuff but it doesn't seem to hold up at all (maybe I just didn't prep it enough last time)

I must be the prep king as I commonly used Hammerite and had no issues, even with track temperatures .

However "Rustoleum Hard Hat" aerosols are now the running favorite. Pretty much dry in thirty minutes and a better range of colours and a much better spray pattern too.

You may have good fun with postage to NI of course :grinning:.

The R32 calipers are a very smooth finish to the paint looks even better. It's still holding up well and very easy cleaned.

The rear drop links did get a few knocks during fitment and there are no marks on the paint at all.
 

Neil_M

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Neil_M
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Time to start clearing out the garage of car parts.

Several large boxes were the calipers and carriers I mentioned in a previous update.

So lets get them fitted... Starting with the rears, thats where I failed miserably.

The rear caliper carriers bolts were definately not interested in coming off at all, even with the impact gun. I believe this is a common issue and I don't have access to heat to remove them....

Anyway, I cheated and went to a local mechanic to get them fitted.

All in that is a good front brake overhaul complete including:
Front Brembo discs
Front Brembo pads
Rear Brembo discs
Rear Brembo pads
Rear calipers
Rear carriers
Braided lines all round

I also managed to create a little video of me bleeding the brakes if it's of use to someone... Basically bleed the clutch then closest caliper to the master cylinder and work back, the opposite to the traditional way.



A few quick shots of the fairly large R32 front discs, 345mm in diameter! This is also the new Brembo PVT design of discs. They really are calling out to be a two piece design to save some weight.

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Also very importantly, the calipers are now all the same colour and very shiny all round!

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Time to bed in the brakes and see how things improve.

Also note I will be rebuilding and selling the rear calipers and carriers. Shout if you are interested.
 

Neil_M

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Neil_M
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Winter is coming, so time to get the R32 cleaned up and protected.

Snow foam pics are essential!

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In typical NI weather, it started to rain half way through.

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While the R32 really needs a machine polish (I will wait until she gets some paint work)... Auto Finesse Tripple and Collinite 915 brought up the paint work very well. A definite depth of gloss and smooth paint work. Much deeper than some of the quick waxes I have been trying out.

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Then this weekend it was time to seal up the glass and improve the water repellancy using some Carlack (well worth a buy).

I made a little video of me applying it if useful...



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Thats the R32 pretty much ready for the winter / wet season!

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For anyone not into my endless car cleaning photos, it was time to install a short shift kit and solid cable bracket bushings.

As usual I recorded a little video of the installation...



Below are the parts laid out. The adjustable shifter arm, cable bolt pins to cover a range of applications and the solid cable bracket bushings.

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The shifter arm now in place, along with the shifter bracket bushings. Time to attach the cables and adjust.

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All installed.

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Then tonight I decided to tweak the shifter assembly a little. I found first gear was a little difficult to engage it was also a little too short... I already have a very short throw in the EP3, so time to smooth out the shifts a little, adjust the assembly and lengthen the throw, nearly halfway on the shifter arm. It's still a very solid positive feel, but that bit smoother to engage, perfect. I also done the adjustment without removing the airbox, it's tight and there are some hot water pipes in the way! Some red arms :worried:.

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Neil_M

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Neil_M
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A massive update on the R32...

It was MOT time, so the car was of course minted top side and underside.

Queued up at the MOT centre, just before the hail stones stared.

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I'm glad to say the MOT tester was loving the warble of the R32. I'll politely say it echoed all round the centre lol!

Oh and more importantly, no issues reported, so that's the MOT passed for another year.

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Neil_M

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Neil_M
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Time for a simple tweak to the R32's interior. The chrome tipped internal switches (Mk6 style) are a common upgrade over the all black switches in the Mk5 Golf.

These match the R32's silver / chequer plate style dash trim rather well and give it a little lift.

Before photos...

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The new switches laid out ready for installation.

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The new switches installed.

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A little video of the process is below, if helpful to someone.




All is working fine now I'm glad to say, a nice tweak for very little outlay.

Next it's time to get the tyres sorted...
 

Neil_M

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Neil_M
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Been watching your YouTube vids buddy, enjoying them. I’ve love an r32 at some point.

Thanks for the comments mate, very much appreciated. Plenty more videos to come, one on the M3 and another hands dirty video :grinning:.

It's genuinely a great all rounder, it just does everything well and sounds great.

New tyres going on this weekend, so it should be driving that bit sweeter too.
 

Neil_M

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Neil_M
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Time to get some new boots on the R32. The tyres I was using were used from one of the many sets of wheels I'd bought for the R32.

Unfortunately whatever car they came off needed an alignment, badly wearing out the outside edge of the tyres.

Time for some Michelin Pilot Sport 4s.

These were fitted by Kerrs Tyres in Antrim. I have to say the service was fantastic, especially for first thing on a Saturday morning! I was asked if I wanted to keep the old rears, so they were placed in the boot after it was covered in plastic sheets. The tyre pressures were pretty much bang on, nor was there even a mark on the wheels. Top class!

Checking the pressures for good measure

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Centre caps fitted again and tyres slicked up.

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Naturally the car had a bucket of water thrown over it.

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Fingers crossed the front end grip has been restored.

I'll be selling the rear tyres, which didn't suffer from bad alignment if anyone is interested.

Kumho Ecsta XT 225/40 ZR18 92W, an even 6mm across the width of both tyres.

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