Steve Cargill Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 Originally posted by John Packham Steve That's the spacer I need. I'm going to make some up. Have you got the spacer on upside down? Could you do me a favour and tell the length overall of that spacer? Hi John, here is a better picture. The spacer is already on it - it's a brand new unit from Toyota and I assume it's ready to drop on. It also comes with a big bolt, a washer and two nuts. One for the bolt and the other for the top I guess. http://www.cargills.demon.co.uk/supra/BBSImages/Shock-top3.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted January 19, 2003 Author Share Posted January 19, 2003 The issue of the boot rubber is that the diameter of the strut body doesn't match the diameter of the boot. I suspect it's from a standard strut which has a different diameter? (see diagram) The question of compressing the strut; I did use my entire body weight to do it, and not all dampers expand by themselves. In 17 years of racing I've dealt mainly with 2.25" coil-over units, and usually they stay where you put them. If the returning characteristics of my Bilsteins is OK then I'm relatively happy. They both return at the same rate. The key issue now is that I've found a bodge job and so asume everything is wrong. I'm considering replacing the whole lot just so I know where I am. My view is that the Supra is a serious car and everything should be 100%. ps The rattle is still there despite swapping the struts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted January 19, 2003 Author Share Posted January 19, 2003 Thanks Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 The spacer on the stock ones is not REALLY a spacer, it's an extension piece, threaded and Loctited onto the stem of the shock. Your example looks wrong, what holds this top hat shaped spacer onto the piston stem? As it's part way down the chroming i can't see how it could be threaded on? Is it just an interference fit? if so, that does NOT sound correct!! At the least I'd want to TIG it onto the stem. As a by the by I have never seen these grey shocks on a from the factory car. Can't say about the springs from a photo, but the coil number and wire diameter suggest these are stiffer and perhpas lower than the springs hat are factory fitted with the yellow Toyota Bilstein dampers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Pilot Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 Hey bud just trying to help you here, I know there are shocks that will stay in a given position, but we are not talking about these are we, the bilstein are not that type, as I said if you fully compress them and they do not return slowly...dead! cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 Final thought. Get Matt to measure the fully extended length of his shock, and do the same with yours, if the shock isn't long enough, extended, it will certainly knock over bumps. Does it try to pick up inside rear wheels coming out of tight bends? Are you sure these grey shocks are meant for the car, or some others modded to fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 Originally posted by Chris Wilson Final thought. Get Matt to measure the fully extended length Sorry, meant to say Steve... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Cargill Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 http://www.cargills.demon.co.uk/supra/BBSImages/Shock-top4.jpg A=52mm B=157mm C=98mm D=295mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted January 19, 2003 Author Share Posted January 19, 2003 Chris/Steve I'll measure when I take them out again in the week. The damper rod is long enough that the spring is not preloaded though. There's definitely over 50mm of compression when the car is stationary, so there's plenty of droop. Traction out of tight corners is not a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted January 19, 2003 Author Share Posted January 19, 2003 Look very similar to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted January 30, 2003 Author Share Posted January 30, 2003 After a fair bit more investigation and testing it seems the struts are in need of replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Cargill Posted January 30, 2003 Share Posted January 30, 2003 Originally posted by John Packham After a fair bit more investigation and testing it seems the struts are in need of replacement. John, by strut do you mean the shock absorbers, or something else has gone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted January 31, 2003 Author Share Posted January 31, 2003 Sorry Steve, they're the same thing. The knock migrated to the other side of the car when I swapped them over. Where did you get your new Bilsteins and how much? email me if you like [email protected] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Cargill Posted January 31, 2003 Share Posted January 31, 2003 John, you've got mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ad500 Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 One last thing to try to solve the knocking sound. I had exactly the same thing, knocking sound on one side and not the other with after market suspension mods fitted by someone else. The car made a noise going over bumps or into potholes mostly at ordinary speeds, worse slower. Turned out that on one side they fitted the bump stop up side down so that the plastic ring end of the bump stop was at the top going into the mount. It looks like you've taken the whole thing to bits so i guess you would have seen this, but as in my 4 visits to get this put right people always put things on the way they came off so you never know. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted February 1, 2003 Author Share Posted February 1, 2003 Bump stops are correctly fitted. I'm now acquiring some new TRD bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardharmon Posted February 4, 2003 Share Posted February 4, 2003 John/Steve, I would be interested in finding out where you got your rear shocks from and how much they cost you as I will be needing to replace mine very soon, one has just started leaking! Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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