lowering problem help please!!

[cup1983]

hey ive just lowered my 172 cup with apex 40 mm springs, when fitting the springs i tightened the top nut as much as i cud without the shaft of the shock turning, refitted the shocks and put the top mounts on as tight as i cud ,today i lifted the bonnet to find that there is now a gap between the bottom of the top mounts and where they should lie flush on the bodywork of over 1 cm . is this normal as i cant get them any tighter? i also have a lot of vibration coming through the steering wheel??can anyone help please, thanks

 

[Fred@BTM]

they DO NOT touch the bodywork, hand tight is fine (MAKE SURE YOU HAVEN'T ROTATED THE SPRINGS OUT OF THE SHOCKS)

get a mate to turn the steering while you look at them, you'll soon discover why they don't touch the body

 

[cup1983]

i have checked the springs and they are sitting fine , any ideas why im getting so much vibration , could the tracking need done since lowering??

 

[Firas]

after lowering the camber and tracking usually need redone mate

 

[Fred@BTM]

vibration sounds wrong, on the 100+ clios i've done none of them have ever vibrated, you've gone wrong somewhere

just the alignment with just springs, but leave it a month or to to bed in

 

[cup1983]

i have just had the car jacked up and the passenger side wheel bearing is on its way cud this cause the vibration???

 

[Fred@BTM]

one cause, yup

 

[st3ve]

The top mounts on mine sit flush with the bodywork....

 

[Fred@BTM]

there should be a gap (1mm upto 10mm), your's isn't an RS either

 

[st3ve]

Does that make a difference?

 

[Fred@BTM]

different castor angle, narrower track

 

[st3ve]

I guess it's normal for there to be a bit of play in the top mounts then?

 

[Fred@BTM]

how are you meant to turn the steering if the top caps are tight against the body?

 

[st3ve]

That's what I thought but I swear I've seen some uprated mounts which screw into the strut?

 

[Fred@BTM]

yeah with an internal bearing that allows rotation

 

[cup1983]

i have found the problem i think , i removed the tom mount to find thet the bearing has cracked and is allowing the shock to move, could this make the steering wonky and cause vibrating, also can i buy a bearing on its own or do i need to buy a whole topmount???

 

[Firas]

isnt the bearing part of the top mount?

 

[cup1983]

it fits under the rubber part it was seperate when i took it appart, anyone know where i can a replacement top mount cheap for a 172 cup?