104 replies to this topic

[foster]

As the top of the coilover put all of the stress into a 1" area at the top ot the wheel arch, it can push the coilover through the arch, on a steel car you can spread the load further arond the wheel arch with a plate welded on either side of the arch. on a glass car this causes some trouble sometimes. It is not something that you 'have to do' on a steel car, but if you want it to last and be proper then its the best thing to do

[PhoenixSimon]

ok sweat over
spoke to the guys at min-its and there taking back the coilovers and im getting some Koni supersport adjustables, hi-lows, new knuckle joints and some new nylon radius arm cups.
Hopefully this should sort me out without ripping the top mounts away from the rest of the car!!!!!
Goodbye little coilovers it just wasnt meant to be!
Tommorow is rear backplates and full drum assembly time so hopefully with the new supsension arriving tuesday the rear frame can be bolted back up.
Simon

[Mini Mad James]

Just one more thing
Will these stop coilovers from going through the arch?

Shocker mounts

And are coilovers better than normal suspension?
anyone?

[camp freddy]

James those mounts are for the front suspension, They are on about the rear ,where the shock
bolts through the top of the wheel arch itself.

[Mini Mad James]

oh....

i knew that

[camp freddy]

Ok mate, I believe you LOL.

[Mini Mad James]

So what is the best setup??

1. Coilovers on front normal on back
2. Coilovers all round
3. Or adjustable suspension all round

[PhoenixSimon]

from what ive been led to believe teh coilover set up is best suited to race/rally set up where comfort isnt important but a fully adjustable set up for road use is more comfortable and unless your driving like a total loon is very good handling. Thats what im hopeing anyway.
Simon
right im off to build up the rear frame!

[Mini Mad James]

So if you install rear coilovers can you just take out the trumpets and donuts?

or do you have to leave them in?

[PhoenixSimon]

yeah the coilovers replace the shock and rubber donut and trumpet, the spring is instead of the rubber donut and trumpet. Really good idea if my car wasnt made of fibreglass!! DOH
Simon

[camp freddy]

If you were to fabricate a frame to carry the radius arms which bolts
to the 4 mounting points that locate the front of the subframe, you
could the do away withthe standard sub frame therefore losing a
lot of uneccesary weight

or you could fit a beam axle.

Added a rough scetch of an alternative radius arm mounting

Attached Files

•  subframe.bmp   605.69K   31 downloads

[PhoenixSimon]

Ok progress update:
ive now got the radius arms all sorted and the back plates built up. There all attached to the rear frame and its poly bushed up. Brake lines and braided hoses are on and the new hi-lows, rubber donuts and konis are bolted on.
Shes now ready to be mounted back on the car. It almost looks to nice and shiney to put back on!!
heres a pic
Simon

Attached Files

•  Built_Rear.JPG   373.2K   19 downloads

[steveobennet]

sorry to hijack your post! heres a pic of my set up.


(it will be lower than this when i've finished restoring it!)

i plan on coilovers all round because i want to feel every bump in the road! i also plan on back problems by the age of 27! fiberglass shells are good because you loose alot of weight but are limited on certian things you can fit, like coilovers. hijack over! nice project will be nice to see what you do with this

[Jammy]

Why do you expect to have back problems? Admittedly if your going to run a very low ride height then you'll have to set your suspension to be quite hard, but a harsh ride shouldn't be the characteristic of a well set up coil over kit.

[camp freddy]

steve where did you get the radius arm mounting from? how much?


I like!!!!!!!!!!!!

May be easier to buy than make !




p.s is there much clearence between the shock and the arch?