Are the topmounts on a mk3 polo prone to failure as my car is getting a bit wayward suspension wise and wearing tyres alot on the outer edges (and inner edges) as if the camber is being pushed positive around corners, any tips as to what it could be I'm suspecting the topmounts? don't know shit about polo suspension and how its setup tho.

I believe they are the same setup as my mk2... and the answer is YES

my topmounts go every 6 months or less. modified the top caps and seems to have done the job but need to run it for a while before I know its ok.

topmounts suck

Arrr lovely, ahh well it's an excuse to have a poke around I suppose check over the bj's and rod ends. That's 30 quid gone then, so what are these modded top caps all about then mate?

well I modded my own top caps.

they are usually dome shaped like a bell, but I worked the top of the bell flat and down to take up the 10mm+ gap I had due to the topmount compressing.

Thats tracking, not top mounts.

Sounds like a mix tbh, start by checking tyre pressusres and go from there.

Thats tracking, not top mounts.

I had uneven wear and the steering wooly through corners. It was completely to do with my topmounts being compressed. Could well be tracking but can't just say 'not top mounts' as if its a matter of fact lol?

Tracking been done, tyres just fitted and pressured as of sunday so no problems there, I've had it tracked multiple times to no avail.

is this picture working?

is this picture working?

yes, did this lower the car a touch?

Yes it is but to my untrained eyes it dosnt do alot, I havnt had a polo suspension apart ever. So not sure what goes where.

is this picture working?

yes, did this lower the car a touch?

Nope, just closes the gap that appears after lowering. Stops the banging too.

thanks for the info :)

I'll have an investigation when I take mine apart mines 80 down on the front so it's a lil low but not extreme.

It does lower it, but only because the top mounts (rubber bit) is compressed so about 10mm extra. Wasn't out to achieve that though!

also it stops the banging as mentioned and the movement round corners.

no need to modify your old top cap- buy audi ones from A80 A90, A4 A6 etc as they are shorter to start with. and come with a rubber lip not hard plastic like the polo ones.

no need to modify your old top cap- buy audi ones from A80 A90, A4 A6 etc as they are shorter to start with. and come with a rubber lip not hard plastic like the polo ones.

didn't know this! mines the freebie way but will be looking into those

That really is rather stupid. If a bush is worn - replace the bush, all you're doing is masking the signs.

How's it stupid if the topmounts compress every 6 months? Who wants a car that you have to take the front end apart minimum twice a year? Topmount won't compress much lower now so makes sense to compensate the gap

How's it stupid if the topmounts compress every 6 months? Who wants a car that you have to take the front end apart minimum twice a year? Topmount won't compress much lower now so makes sense to compensate the gap

If you buy OEM top mounts from VW then you will find that they last longer :)

If you buy OEM top mounts from VW then you will find that they last longer

I've bought one set from phil J on here and the rest have been straight from VW.

Had to change them 3 times in just over a year which is pretty ridiculous costing about £150 in total delivered. It's a fair amount to be paying out before any tax/insurance/tyres/brakes/mot/petrol are even thought about per year.

Making my top caps more shallow is safe (as discussed with the local MOT garage in detail) and can get a lot longer out of the poorly designed topmounts. When new ones are eventually fitted, there won't be a problem with the topcaps fitting.

£150? They're a tenner each from Gsf! I have never changed top mounts, and that goes for the 20 year old ones I had on the polo we had from new.

Personally I think a lot of the issues come from the shock thread not being long enough on after Market parts, especially lowering kits. When I offered mine up against each other, the thread was shorter on the pattern part

well as I said got them from phil J and VW hoping that the extra cash would mean better quality. Never tried the cheaper ones but theory would say they'd compress quicker?

Ye it's definitely the lowering/local potholes that does it, theres only so many you can dodge. My cars light without back seats in, I don't go any faster than 55mph in my car and drive very steady everywhere I go so it's not because I'm hammering the setup.

It's not realistic to be changing them so often. Just worked out I've paid £49 average for the 3 pairs delivered, add onto that tracking (£19 a time) because the whole suspension comes out and needs realigning. Thats £204 on two rubber bushes this past year. The cars worth £250/£300. The time and effort alone is a ball ache.

Thats why I modded the top cap for free and will hopefully save me more money along the way.

no need to modify your old top cap- buy audi ones from A80 A90, A4 A6 etc as they are shorter to start with. and come with a rubber lip not hard plastic like the polo ones.

hi do you have a part number for these? I need to replace my caps at some point.