steering and suspension Why You Need To Keep The Drain In The Spring Perchs Clear

[xferboy]

When I first went through my tii, I knew the spring perches were a little compromised because of rust, but didn't really know how bad.  There was a small rock in the one drain (right side).  A tap with a hammer got it out easily enough.  Not many miles were put on, and it was monitored and never moved (slightly surprised)

 

Fast forward to today, when I'm pulling them off to install a Ground Control kit.  Not much force was used with the little hammer in the picture (used the pointy end) to work my way around.  Did find that one of the previous owners had put Bilstein Sports (P30-025) in the front.   That hammer was found in the trunk when I got the car so it seemed fitting to use on the struts.

 

 

Go check the drains in your lower spring perches.

 

 

[mikebontoft]

Time to break out the welder!

[TobyB]

loos like coilover sleeve time to me.

 

t

[xferboy]

all queued up

[mikebontoft]

E30 coilovers?

[xferboy]

GC w VW inserts.  Found some degradation on the tube, so it has to be cut out. 

[Mike Self]

The perches on my '69 were kinda rusty--but not fatally so--when I took 'em apart to rebuild the front end--full of dirt but not too rusty to clean up and repaint.  I think the problem is the drain holes are (1) too small and (2) to high up.  I took my trusty Dremel tool and opened out the drain hole towards the bottom of the cup, thus allowing those last few mm to drain properly, and to keep small stones from clogging the drains. Be sure and touch up the paint around your enlarged hole so it won't rust.  You don't need to remove the struts to do this; a few minutes work may save your struts.

 

mike

[joysterm]

Just an additional question pertaining  to the enlarged drain holes, IYO how large an opening is acceptable without affecting the integrity of the strut?

 

TIA ....Mike

[xferboy]

After looking at how much material was left in the bad perch <.5 mm thickness, and it didn't deform, even with a little spirited driving, I would say there is lots of material.  Possibly over engineered for regular duty.

 

Knowing what I know now, I'd run the opening right down to just above the weld.

[xferboy]

and/or a second one on the other side.

[jgerock]

The perches on my '69 were kinda rusty--but not fatally so--when I took 'em apart to rebuild the front end--full of dirt but not too rusty to clean up and repaint.  I think the problem is the drain holes are (1) too small and (2) to high up.  I took my trusty Dremel tool and opened out the drain hole towards the bottom of the cup, thus allowing those last few mm to drain properly, and to keep small stones from clogging the drains. Be sure and touch up the paint around your enlarged hole so it won't rust.  You don't need to remove the struts to do this; a few minutes work may save your struts.

 

mike

Funny you mention this Mike.  I did the same thing to my outdoor lamp post fixture.  The bugs had clogged the drain hole and water was collecting in the housing almost up to the bulbs.