Strut top bearings

[Bobbieslandy]

Hi,

I've now fitted these bearings to both struts and they're both stiffer to turn than they were without them. I'm not happy about torquing the main 19mm nut down onto the bearing, it seems that using the factories 73lb/ft torque setting is crushing the bearing and the only way round it is to either machine a recess in the metal cone to fit a taper bearing (and lower the torque) or just ditch the bearings. Now, i'll be honest and admit that the struts, although are on the car, are not actually connected to anything (i'm turning them by holding onto the disc brake). Not a fair test for them but i need to know if i've done something wrong before i carry on bolting things to them.

Rob.

[Wayne S]

Well the only thing that strikes me as wrong already is that you shouldnt be tightening the strut top onto the nearing in the first place. The strut top tightens onto the shoulder on the shocker leaving plenty of room for the bearing to be free.

<b>Red 4.0 Litre V8 DHC Grinnall (with huuuuuge arches...!)</b>

[willywonka]

Bobbieslandy

You have a PM

All the Gear, no idea

[Bobbieslandy]

hi,

i've fitted the bearing as per the instructions, removing the original metal washer and rubber gasket and replacing with the bearing and new smaller metal washer. if i remember right (instructions are in the garage) i fitted the metal dish over the top of the spring, then the bearing, new washer, metal cone, metal strut top, dished metal cup with two notches cut out and then the bolt on the top of that.

Rob.

[Beans]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Bobbieslandy</i>

... torquing the main 19mm nut down onto the bearing, it seems that using the factories 73lb/ft torque setting ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
that's the torque setting for the damper units closure nut.
The torque setting for the strut to the upper mount is 60 Nm(or 44 lb/ft).
Which is still pretty much for something that's mounted to a rubber thingy ...

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[Bobbieslandy]

Ahhhhhh i see, i did think that 73lb/ft was a lot, Doh! Ok, so we're happy with the way i've assembled it, i just need to get some new nyloc nuts and do them up a fraction less[:I]

[Bobbieslandy]

I tried doing the nuts up to the 43lb/f instead and it was still a bit too stiff to turn, i machined the base of the cones and it has made a huge difference. I'm not 100% sure the machining is the reason it's a lot easier to turn but if anything it has lowered the front end a bit!