Fitting ASTs

[Martin.]

Fitted my ASTs this weekend at last.

But a couple of questions. The main one being about the rear top mount rubber.

Do I need the little gold washer still? If I leave this fitted then there's a gap between the chassis and the top of the damper shown below.

If I remove it, the damper touches the car. But then it's hard to judge how tight to do the top nut. doesn't feel tight at all but can see the rubber compressing a fair bit.

My thoughts are that the gold washer needs to stay fitted to protect the bush? But then why is there a gap, or is this normal.... See pics below.

With gold washer fitted:

The washer removed. Gap in the arch is completely closed up now..

 

[Martin.]

Will touching the chassis damage the top of the damper at all? Do I not need some kind of a washer in there too?

Cheers.

 

[Paprika123]

There should be a rubber one the same as the top on the bottom too.

Is is it still attached to your old damper?

 

[Martin.]

There should be a rubber one the same as the top on the bottom too.

Is is it still attached to your old damper?

Oh really, that would make sense..... It could well be, I'll have to check now

 

[scotiamr2t]

as Paprika123 has suggested the rubber bush is a 2 piece item. one half goes inside the wheel well, the other in the boot. The metal sleeve joins the 2 halves of the bush together

 

[Martin.]

as Paprika123 has suggested the rubber bush is a 2 piece item. one half goes inside the wheel well, the other in the boot. The metal sleeve joins the 2 halves of the bush together

Makes sense to me. I must have just missed it when removing the old shocks. Silly mistake but I'm learning lol.

So I keep the metal sleeves in then yeah?

Cheers.

 

[scotiamr2t]

Yes keep the metal sleeve in, easy mistake to make if its the first time you've had the rear suspension in bits.

 

[Ph1 Tom]

Put sleeve on. Then it goes washer, rubber, car strut turret, rubber, washer, nut.

 

[Martin.]

Put sleeve on. Then it goes washer, rubber, car strut turret, rubber, washer, nut.

What washer mate the gold sleeve thing? Confused me a little. Or is it something which I've probably left on top of the old shocks.

 

[Martin.]

Front stutt to hub bolts. I've done these up to 180nm odd, as the workshop manual says. However just seen a post from @Fred@BTM which says they're 140nm? How can there be so much difference. I know I'm massively over thinking this, but would rather get it right first time round.

 

[Martin.]

So chaps. Just checked the rear shocks. There's no rubber bush like the one on the inside of the car.

The only thing there is, is a 10 inch long plastic cover which slides over the piston.

This won't fit over the coilover. So what do I do about the missing rubber bush thingy? Paprika123

 

[Paprika123]

It has probably stuck to the body and fallen out after you've taken the damper out. Are both sides the same?

 

[Martin.]

It has probably stuck to the body and fallen out after you've taken the damper out. Are both sides the same?

Both sides the same yeah. Nothing stopping the top of the coilover bashing into the metal of the bodywork at the moment.

If they had fallen out I'm sure I would have seen them at a later date on the floor. The car hasn't moved for ages.

 

[Kelv]

Martin, you must have had them previously mate.

 

[Kelv]

You need to order a pair of rear mounts then, they are far from expensive so get them sorted ASAP.

 

[Ph1 Tom]

I replaced my standard Renault bushes with some harder rubber ones from Gaz. Weeksy helped me out with them

 

[NorthloopCup]

This was why I had some custom made nylon rear bushes made for me and BIGASH. I didn't have any originals and needed some asap. I've got 2 originals you can have Martin.

 

[JonC219]

Powerflex make rear top mount rubbers now Martin

 

[bozothenutter]

do harder rear bushes have an advantage?

 

[Martin.]

Thanks chaps. Ordered some this morning.

More surprised that I had been running for so long without them in the first place. The car came this way when I bought it!

 

[NorthloopCup]

do harder rear bushes have an advantage?

Not really mate, but it removes any compliance that you might get from the standard bushes. I was in a position where I could have some sets made up, so I did.

 

[bozothenutter]

would this compliance affect geometry?

same question for the rear beam bushes.

when i put on your kit the whole front will be better than new....so might aswell do the rearend

 

[sonny172cup]

Surprised they don't come with uprated rubber bushes. I have some spare from my Spax kit that I will use.

 

[NorthloopCup]

would this compliance affect geometry?

same question for the rear beam bushes.

when i put on your kit the whole front will be better than new....so might aswell do the rearend

No it won't effect geometry mate, but fitting new rear beam bushes is a good idea. I'm yet to see a set that are knackered tbh, but uprating them is always worth doing for less compliant items.
Regards the solid rear top bushes, I'd say they possibly make the damper do around 2-5% more of the work. Dependant on your spring choice of course. If the damper piston moves, the dampers working. If the entire damper assembly moves the suspension/damper is the area of compliance.

Honestly though mate, don't worry about it. Like I said previously, I did them because I could.