Quote Originally Posted by Pickles View Post
If i remember correctly the suspension is supposed to float like that. I read about it in quite a few other threads on here

EDIT: clicking on the suspension forum on the first page yielded this result http://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f85/t...pension-14247/
Thank you for posting this reference. I had read other references to it here, but not this particular one. However, the idea that this condition is 'normal' is merely an opinion, and anecdotal. I haven't been able to locate a more official source, just the opinion in this forum that it is normal. I'd appreciate seeing other references to this 'floating' suspension in print, from a more official source to verify the claim.

Today my car passed state inspection only because I had added the rubber block material to both strut mounts to remove that 1/2" vertical play completely. Bear in mind that in my state, inspection carries the weight of law with a violation attached - and the inspection agent would not accept the idea that a suspension was supposed to 'float'. I showed him a similar reference to it in a printout from this forum citing it, but he remained unconvinced.

No compliance = no inspection sticker = violation.