Drag strut..

[trunt]

I went under the car to replace the lower steering shaft, (A royal PITA ) and as always had a look around and saw this...

Nice crack in the drag strut.. Surprisingly the one and only spare I have is the correct one.. Phew!

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[MandM]

This is on my list of jobs to do

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It on page 34 of the "Technical reprints"


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[STypeR]

That's a nice crack Trunt. Lucky you had to change the steering shaft. Not sure if a crack in that area is that common?

[Goldstar]

That's a nice crack Trunt. Lucky you had to change the steering shaft. Not sure if a crack in that area is that common?

I’ve seen a few (probably less than 10) in the last 10-12 years. So I don’t think it’s that common but it is obviously one to look out for on your regular checks of the car.

[trunt]

So Apparently this is known, I wasn’t aware of that.. thanks M&M I’ll look into that mod.

I just need to finish the steering shaft replacement first. The issue there was that although the splines started OK they didn’t slide all the way down the shafts enough to give the leeway to install both ends. Add to that on the LHD you can only move the rack forward as far as the exhaust down pipe. I spent ages levering and pounding the ends open enough to get them on fully.

Terry

[022Dave]

So Apparently this is known, I wasn’t aware of that.. thanks M&M I’ll look into

Hello Terry,

The cracking problem has been known for many years. I had Clive Tate modify both of mine (as in M&M’s pictures) when he fitted my ZF ‘box, rather than wait for an unpleasant surprise.

Dave

[DJT]

I have not had one crack there, but I have had a drop link bracket snap off the same part.

[trunt]

I have not had one crack there, but I have had a drop link bracket snap off the same part.

Yes, Just media blasted my spare and that bracket has some iffy welds, I guess I’ll do that as well.. just hope I have enough gas left..

[MandM]

I was going to make an ambidextrous spare with a anti roll bar connection top and bottom, seen that on here I think?

As I understand it the trick is not to make the reinforcement to thick or you will not get the extra long bolt in from the top, so a bit of planning needed

[trunt]

As I understand it the trick is not to make the reinforcement to thick or you will not get the extra long bolt in from the top, so a bit of planning needed

Maybe cut the hole in the top reinforcing plate bigger than the original bolt hole? Then you can angle the bolt a bit as you drop it in. It doesn’t seem to be the bolt hole that is the failure point.

[MandM]

Maybe cut the hole in the top reinforcing plate bigger than the original bolt hole? Then you can angle the bolt a bit as you drop it in. It doesn’t seem to be the bolt hole that is the failure point.

Think it simpler than that don't make it to thick!

[trunt]

If I remember the bolt was damn tight fit in the first place and my picture shows there’s not much thread left for 2 thick strengthening plates. Checking the parts list I should not have the plain washer at the bottom so that gives a little more thread. Therefore I'm considering opening up the top fillet enough to maybe drop the lock washer in, as well as keeping an eye on the thickness as you suggest.

[MandM]

Terry have a look at this link

Chris Witor Triumph Specialist

[trunt]

Unfortunately they want a core so with double shipping that’s out for me.

I have just been playing with this and its amazing how accurate the bolt length is, The issue seems to be the bolt length for the extra thickness, not just feeding it in as I assumed. I found "perfect" bolts just 1/4" longer and they just will not drop in from the top even without any mods. I even ground down a third a bit and still it just will not fit. Therefore I assume that the Witor modified one comes with bolts because they need to be longer.. and you will need to feed them in from the bottom, the picture even shows it fed from the bottom.

I made strengtheners from 1/8" stock and temporarily added them to the strut on the car and the nylock nut just starts to grip, maybe by one full turn.. not happy with that.


I will try again with the longer bolts once I have removed the strut.. who knows!

**EDIT maybe if I can compress the suspension a bit more the longer bolt would drop in..

Terry

[sujitroy]

I think with Witor's reinforced strut, you will have to put the bolt in from the bottom. After many years of sitting in my shed, I just threw a broken one away. (new ones are available) I still have a spare pair.
Sujit