another DIY suspension

[UweM3]

motivated by Handpapers recent project I decided (after on failed trial 2 years back) to give it another go and converted my struts to height adjustable.

Bought a threaded sleeve and platforms of GAZ and springs from KW Germany.

I hope it drives as good as it looks. (...went round a few bends this morning and can't really tell but so far )

sleeve welded on strut


finished struts


old vers new




made a solid top mount as well. (this is only a first prototype)


mount with loads of neg camber


in the car



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[Gunni]

Looks like KW springs and retainer shim.

But that is exactly the way to go about making a fixed in strut threads.

[Jhonno]

Nice... I likey

[shorty73]

And will those top mounts be going into production? I'd be very interested..........

[hoshy]

very

Like lots of people - I'm up for some top-mounts

[Ozstar]

Wow, good work fella. Do you mind me asking how much its cost you?

[UweM3]

Cost:

a set of used Bilstein Grp N shocks £100
Threaded sleeve from GAZ £45
set of springs,joiner,top hat from KW £300 (with a huge discount)
set of used M3 legs bought ages ago £120 (try buying some now...)
wheelbearings, nuts, studs etc £180
topmounts have been expensive so far, just the nut holding the strut in the bearing was £40 each! (stainless 316)

don't know if I am going to make some of theese mounts. there a penty available already and they are not cheap to make.

[handpaper]

set of springs,joiner,top hat from KW £300 (with a huge discount)

Bloody hell, Uwe! The same from Gaz/Faulkner would be under £150!

[UweM3]

set of springs,joiner,top hat from KW £300 (with a huge discount)

Bloody hell, Uwe! The same from Gaz/Faulkner would be under £150!

BUT (and there is always a but ) the KW springs are wider wound and allow for more suspension travel compared to a Faulknersprings of same length. Another reason was the larger ID to gain some clearance for the spring joiner.
Same from Faulkner would have been £200 plus shipping

[UweM3]

And will those top mounts be going into production? I'd be very interested..........

first they need to proove for a few trackdays if they are up to the job. I may need an independent test driver for some field testing.....

[handpaper]

Faulkner can do them as specials. About £150 for the mains & tenders.

I'm just cheap

Field tester available at a well-known test track July 20th - August 3rd

[stratos]

Just about to do this on my car. What spring rates / lengths are you guys using ?
And what are you going to do at the rear?


Wanted 4.45 diff.

[UweM3]

Faulkner can do them as specials. About £150 for the mains & tenders.

I'm just cheap

Field tester available at a well-known test track July 20th - August 3rd

you must get better prices of Faulkner than I do. I had TWO specials made and they came to more than £100. All prices on Faulkners website are plus VAT and shipping.

My spring rates are 680front and 1080 rear
fronts are 140mm long + 80mm helper, rear 100mm long + 80mm helper.

[OBs]

Nice neat work Uwe

OBs

[shorty73]

Can "test" at Rockingham and Brands soon if you like.........What amount of Neg Camber are you getting with these Uwe?

Picked up a Dunlop camber gauge of ebay for £30. Look's like it should be on antiques roadshow but it work's a treat!!

[handpaper]

Are those inverted Bilstein shocks, Uwe? I hope they've been revalved to match the spring rate........

[UweM3]

Are those inverted Bilstein shocks, Uwe? I hope they've been revalved to match the spring rate........

These are Group N Bilsteins, not B8's They are a lot stiffer and a perfect match for the spring rates I want to run. I have looked up the spring rates of Grp N before I started this conversion and ordered parts accordingly

[Silverfang]

Uwe, looks cracking! What effect with the increased camber at the front has occured?

It'd be interesting to know, since I may consider doing the same to some 51mm struts when i upgrade the suspension here

[handpaper]

Should have known you'd get it right, Uwe. Top work, much prettier than mine. Get some grease on them now, while they're still shiny

Silverfang, if my (very similar) setup is anything to go by, understeer is gone. Mind you, so are the insides of your front tyres if you run this much camber on the road for long

[UweM3]

Should have known you'd get it right, Uwe. Top work, much prettier than mine. Get some grease on them now, while they're still shiny

Silverfang, if my (very similar) setup is anything to go by, understeer is gone. Mind you, so are the insides of your front tyres if you run this much camber on the road for long

I had the tubes zinc plated before I welded them on. Let hope that keeps them shiny for a while. I will brush something on as well.
The mounts I have made are adjustable to get rid of the camber for road use. They can be set back to centre without going on the laser alignment.

[UweM3]

Back from the Ring. Awesome weekend, weather was good but track was too busy. Suspension and top mounts performed good, I am very happy. Shame there was not enough time to meet more zoners, I think I met a few guys on the way home on the petrol station. Also saw a few guys in the carpark Sunday evening, but was too busy getting laps in and had to negotiate a repair fee with a guy from NZ who reversed in my left side with one off these Alfa75 thingies!!