front shocks too long

[tiddy1]

I have just bought some bilstein dampers for my 1995 narrow track car but they are too long. the ones I have taken off are 31cm eye to eye (max extend) and the new ones are 35 cm eye to eye. on the old ones the top eye does not unscrew from the rod and the damper body is several cm shorter than the new ones, also has lots of grooves for the spring cap mounting on the damper body. The new ones have a screw on rod eye and only two grooves for the spring plate. I'm pretty sure the new ones are not from a wide track car.

 

Did the mounting points or the lower wishbones change at some point?

 

any suggestions?

[Rob Walker]

If there is a hex spacer nut on the new dampers between the top cap and the screw on eye then the dampers have been extended for widetrack use, you will have to remove this hex spacer.

[caterhamnut]

Having beeen playing around in this area recently, and owning a '95 car, I can tell you that certainly the top mounting point for the dampers has changed since. Ours are bolted to the chassis with the same bolt that holds the top wishbone to the car. The later car next to it (Peter C's) has the top damper mounting seperate from this, slightly forward and above onthe chassis. I assume this was to help with the altered geometry associated with wide track.

 

teeth.gif20,000 miles in less than a year! cool.gifthumbsup.gif

[Peter Carmichael]

You will not be able to use those dampers. If you got them from Caterham, send them back. Redline may be the best bet for getting hold of replacements.

 

Peterid=teal>

253 BHP K-seriesteeth.gif, no gearboxbum.gifid=red>

[CHRIS CLARK]

Peter is correct. These shocks are for the later chassis design (they don't fit my '93 either!!!).

 

AVO shocks do one to fit this shorter design & are about 65ukp each (+ vat).

These will give you adjustable platforms & variable damping too for less than the Bilsteins!!!!!!!

 

Tel 01604 708101

[caterhamnut]

Peter, would these AVO shocks of been useful for me, or have we established that we should not need to change the dampers, therefore no point. For possible future changes, do Caterham sell the stiffer (250-300 lb) springs in the smaller diameter/length that I would probably need.

Do you think that your comments above re: rear stiffness apply to our car, if maybe to a slightly lesser extent?

 

teeth.gif20,000 miles in less than a year! cool.gifthumbsup.gif

[Peter Carmichael]

Sorry, I'm not going to answer you until you use a proper form of English... eek.gif

 

Peterid=teal>

253 BHP K-seriesteeth.gif, no gearboxbum.gifid=red>

[caterhamnut]

yeah ok teach, re-reading that it is a bit cr*p. Point taken. Will never post again through fear of telling off...bye everyone. sad.gif

 

 

teeth.gif20,000 miles in less than a year! cool.gifthumbsup.gif

[tiddy1]

and did you know that the rear shocks are too long as well!,

 

Have ordered some AVOs for the front, and will see how good they are, then may go for the same on the rear

 

Thanks for the comments

[CHRIS CLARK]

Err, yes I did.

 

I have fitted Avo's on the rear too.

I use 180 lb springs in 1.9" diameter for the rear & 250lb for the front.