Front Struts

[Dave M]

Need to fit my lowered front strut springs before Sunday, anyone know how long a job this is to do?

Ive got a spare set of the strut bottoms and inserts painted up and ready to go, bought new washers, bearings etc only things I need off the old struts are the top mounts and upper seat pans, was tempted to buy new and just build up the replacement struts and swop em over, trouble is the mounts and pans are £100 +

Dave

[milothedog]

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Dave assuming you have some spring compressors, you should be able to do both sides in a couple of hours or so. I undid the calipers and tied them up out the way and put the jack under the wishbone to support it, the awkward bit was starting the bolts in the bottom of the legs when refitting.

Ian.

[stustag]

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Hi Dave

I have done this job twice now and as long as you use the original top mounts (must be in good con'd) and only want to swap the spring and mounts then about 6 hours all in.

If you was going for the new top mounts etc you may or may not have had problems with the bushes being the wrong length!:shock:

Stuart

[whereufromnosecity]

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I would say an afternoons work if all goes to plan

Stu E

[Dave M]

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stustag wrote:

If you was going for the new top mounts etc you may or may not have had problems with the bushes being the wrong length!:shock:

Stuart

Thanks for the info guys, whats the issues with the bushes being the wrong length and how is this issue resolved as Im still tempted to build my new struts up completly and then swop em over on Saturday. Anyone used the top mounts from Rimmers?

Dave

[Andy Rundell]

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Dave M wrote:

stustag wrote:

If you was going for the new top mounts etc you may or may not have had problems with the bushes being the wrong length!:shock:

Stuart

Thanks for the info guys, whats the issues with the bushes being the wrong length and how is this issue resolved as Im still tempted to build my new struts up completly and then swop em over on Saturday. Anyone used the top mounts from Rimmers?

Dave

I bought complete struts with the roller bearingtop mounts from Chris Wittor, it took me an hour and a half per side on a very cold/wet January day.

.......Andy

[Dave M]

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Andy Rundell wrote:

I bought complete struts with the roller bearingtop mounts from Chris Wittor, it took me an hour and a half per side on a very cold/wet January day.

.......Andy

Andy

I spoke to Chris but he said he had a lot of work on so couldnt say when he would have a pair built up, what difference does the roller bearing make?

Dave

[Andy Rundell]

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Dave M wrote:

Andy Rundell wrote:

I bought complete struts with the roller bearingtop mounts from Chris Wittor, it took me an hour and a half per side on a very cold/wet January day.

.......Andy

Andy

I spoke to Chris but he said he had a lot of work on so couldnt say when he would have a pair built up, what difference does the roller bearing make?

Dave

Hi Dave - i seem to remember that mine did take a while before they were ready - i think he may prefer to work in batches rather than one-offs.

According to Chris' Website the Roller bearings eliminate sticktion that occurs with the original thrust washersand bush design. The results in greater ease and control in holding the car in a straight line, especially in motorway driving. There is a subtle difference in reduced steering effort with manual steering cars.

In my case, i found more play than i was happy with within the bushes ofboth mynewly rebuilt top-mounts so decided to go the roller bearing route - they were not cheap, but, IMO, they are 10x better than the original design.

........Andy

[Guest]

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Dave, I've used Rimmers top mounts, fitted fine. Stustag scared me because the top mounts he tried to fit to Ian F's car had too much play!!

Jason

[mad cyclist]

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its Witor btw when you google it

[stustag]

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stagstan wrote:

Dave, I've used Rimmers top mounts, fitted fine. Stustag scared me because the top mounts he tried to fit to Ian F's car had too much play!!

Jason

The top mounts I tried to fit were from the other main supplierand a full refund was given but it still did not overcome the issue that the inner bush was the wrong length allowing the top mount to lift up and down by a few mm when fully tightened:shock:

Stuart

[Andy Rundell]

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mad cyclist wrote:

its Witor btw when you google it

i never was too good at speeeeling

[Dave M]

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stustag wrote:

stagstan wrote:

Dave, I've used Rimmers top mounts, fitted fine. Stustag scared me because the top mounts he tried to fit to Ian F's car had too much play!!

Jason

The top mounts I tried to fit were from the other main supplierand a full refund was given but it still did not overcome the issue that the inner bush was the wrong length allowing the top mount to lift up and down by a few mm when fully tightened:shock:

Stuart

Hmmn not sure which way to go now, bought some bits from Rimmers already but they only had one bearing in stock so was looking at ordering top mounts from Paddocks along with another bearing. Alternative is to strip old struts and use the top mounts and bearings from those.

Dave