Hi All,

I want to replace the suspension arms on my daughter's FII from 2009.

The VIN is TMBDC65J493165977.

I have 2 questions.

1) I have found the correct shape arm, but looking on Autodoc they use the VIN in a way that I had issues with before.

Their description for one of the arms is:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from: 5J-83172 974, 5J-8A502 657, 5J-8B503 032, 5J-8K450 961

does my FII qualify for this part? How do I read the VIN?

2) I also looked on buycarparts.

They use another descriptor for the arms.

They give a length: Length [mm]:  302

This length varies from 302 to 362.3 for the part number I need - 6R0407151.

What does the length refer to? I guess it is short arm and long but what is the relevance for the FII?

Edited 26 May, 20251 yr by 26DIPP

To get from your full VIN to one of those abbreviated forms, discard the first 6 characters and replace the character after 5J with a dash '-'.

For your VIN that gives

5J-93165977.

That falls into the category of 'from 5J-83172974'; since 9>8.

The other strings mentioned, with A, B and K in them are from other factories than where your was built.

Wouldn't worry about any other forms of identification.

Perhaps the two lengths refer to arms supplied with and without ballpoint prefitted?

Edited 26 May, 20251 yr by Breezy_Pete

Be careful with autodoc. A lot of the parts are RHD although I assume arms are ok. It may depend on engine and gearbox fitted to your MK2

Alasdair

This is advice to people changing the suspension arms. Not sure if this cover on here.

I was told that I am fitting size for size and would not need to check the tracking..... YOU DO NEED TO CHECK TRACKING.

About 2000 miles later one of the front tyres is rubbed down on the inner edge enough that it has to be replaced. It would have been good for more than the 2000 miles.

The car was toeing in very slightly on one side even though it was pulling straight.