sloppy coilovers and a bit of pollock?

[canadamatt]

Whats the deal with my sloppy coilovers? On a stock strut with the insert, there is that 'cap' at the top that threads into the top of the strut. (sorry, can't remember the name). It has a seal on it, so it keeps dirt, water and small animals out of the strut tube, but it also keeps the insert centered and tight.

Well, with coilovers, there is no such 'cap'. But because the inserts are not an exact fit inside the strut tube (as you'd never get them out otherwise), the insert is now a bit sloppy. If I grab the top of the insert, I can move it side to side a bit. Not much, but enough to raise an eyebrow. Mine is probably more exaggerated as I didn't shorten the struts. So the 2 questions of the moment are

- what can I use to keep dirt and small animals out of there?

- what can I do to get rid of the slop?

- did I just totally miss the fishing boat and am actually eating pollock?

thanks

Matt

[Lee]

Hi Matt. What centers the strut is not the threaded cap with a rubber seal. This caps only tightens the strut and keeps dirt from entering the cartridge. But right under this cap, there is a nylon centering ring, which is pressed in position by the threaded cap.

[canadamatt]

So in a coilover install, you just push the nylon ring down past the coilover sleeve? I knew I was missing something.. I don't remember ever putting in a nylon centering ring, but I did my suspension 4 years ago, my memory isn't that good :0. I am guessing both rings must be stuck in the bottom of the caps that I took off. They definitely didn't fall out, and they weren't stuck on the insert side.

Unless you mean the BIG tube, that is shown here, part #16. If thats it, hopefully its stuck in the strut tube somewhere... otherwise I don't have that.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=ST12&mospid=47140&btnr=31_0439&hg=31&fg=05

thanks Lee!

Matt

[peteinjp]

But right under this cap, there is a nylon centering ring, which is pressed in position by the threaded cap.

It may sound ghetto but I have used electrical tape wrapped around the strut to take up the slop- I didn't have the nylon part. It worked fine. The seal gets screwed up pretty easily. If you find a good solution to that I'm all ears.

[canadamatt]

Can someone verify that its part#16 as referenced above? Realoem says $22...so guaranteed my dealer will be charging $50cdn each.. thats their usual pricing structure..just double the US list and add a bit..

Matt

[JohnN]

I thought that because the shock itself stands a little proud of the threads on the strut tower, screwing the glan nut (with the rubber seal) onto the strut tower captures the shock and keeps it from moving. -- at least that is the way I set mine up and I have absolutely no movement ---

Cheers!

John N

[canadamatt]

I thought that because the shock itself stands a little proud of the threads on the strut tower, screwing the glan nut (with the rubber seal) onto the strut tower captures the shock and keeps it from moving. -- at least that is the way I set mine up and I have absolutely no movement ---

Cheers!

John N

This is with coilovers or normal struts? With coilovers, the coilover sleeve doesn't fit over the nut. Or mine don't at least..

Matt

[steve k.]

Matt, if you do not have that nut, ther eis nothing that prevents the insert from oulling out of the strut. There has to be a way for the nut to be installed. Either prior to the threaded sleave or after.

steve k.

[canadamatt]

Matt, if you do not have that nut, ther eis nothing that prevents the insert from oulling out of the strut. There has to be a way for the nut to be installed. Either prior to the threaded sleave or after.

steve k.

Well....I MAY have had a beer or 2 due to thirst... I'll take another look tommorow. Although I may not get to it...for some reason I just wasn't 'feelin' the front...so decided to move to the back, and dropped the entire rear subframe.

No front suspension, no rear, no engine...needless to say, the shop is a mess

[-=Charley]

This is with coilovers or normal struts? With coilovers, the coilover sleeve doesn't fit over the nut. Or mine don't at least..

Matt

matt, im not sure which co you're using, but on my ground control units. the strut goes in, then the sleeve over the outside of the housing (coming to rest on the g.c.-supplied weld-on perch), THEN the 'gland nut (or strut cap or whatever you wanna call it). the 'cap's outer diameter fits inside (only) one end of the coilover sleeve which sorta locks the sleeve in place (or at least from movin upwards). this is why the supplied perch must be welded on a pretty precise distance from the top of the tube. i hope this helps

maybe this link will help

http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/suspension/coil_overs/

[canadamatt]

Matt, if you do not have that nut, ther eis nothing that prevents the insert from oulling out of the strut. There has to be a way for the nut to be installed. Either prior to the threaded sleave or after.

steve k.

What a minute, Steve, I thought you were running shortened struts? If they are shortened (top couple inches cut off) ..there is no longer a threaded portion of the strut tube left..and therefore you have nothing left to thread the nut on to. Or are we talking about 2 different things?

[-=Charley]

Matt, if you do not have that nut, ther eis nothing that prevents the insert from oulling out of the strut. There has to be a way for the nut to be installed. Either prior to the threaded sleave or after.

steve k.

What a minute, Steve, I thought you were running shortened struts? If they are shortened (top couple inches cut off) ..there is no longer a threaded portion of the strut tube left..and therefore you have nothing left to thread the nut on to. Or are we talking about 2 different things?

actually, when you shorten a strut, you take out a couple inches from the center and weld the two pieces back together.