How do you fit adjustable platforms on Bilsteins?

[SLR No.77]

Ok, I've received an adjustable platform kit from Caterham - now how do I fit it, non-wide track, shocks usual way up? Any help would be really appreciated bearing in mind I've never acually removed the existing shocks from the car!

 

Which way up does the new type adjusting ring go?

Which way up does the sleeve go?

Do I need to remove one of the shocker eyes to fit the sleeve, and will I need spring compressors?

Do I use the old spring platform at all with the new (single) adjusting ring?

What stops the threaded sleeve from sliding down the shock body to sit on the bottom eye?

Is this too many questions for me to cope with?

 

Stu.

 

[Peter Carmichael]

Answering your questions in sequence:

 

The adjusting rings are supplied in two sizes to cope with two different sizes of spring. You use the spare ones as lock rings, so they go onto the sleeves back to back.

 

Sleeve goes on the damper body so that the recess sits on the circlip - you can move the circlip to the other groove to get a different range of adjustment.

 

You need to remove the shocker eye and this is tricky to do without scarring the piston. If you must clamp the piston in hard jaws, do it right up underneath the eye. Someone will come along and tell us all how this should be done soon. Do not rely on the locking nut as this iwll probably strip its thread before the eye moves. When you reassemble, you need to use loctite. Spring compressors can help,but it is quite rare to find any small enough for the job. You can use "string". While the car's weight is still on the spring you can tie a bit of string (I use 550lb kite string, but not the Spectra stuff that tends to cut through itself) onto the topmost coil and wrap it in loops down to the bottommost coil, tying off with as little slack as is feasible. Repeat on the opposite side of the spring coil. when you jack up the car, the spring will stay compressed, held by the string. DO NOT CUT THE STRING OR ATTEMPT TO UNTIE IT. BE VERY CAREFUL. ASSEMBLE THE SPRING ONTO THE ADJUSTABLE PLATFORMS AND ADJUST UNTIL THE PLATFORMS TOUCH THE SPRING. THEN YOU CAN UNTIE IT.

 

The old platform is removed from the body. The same platform is used at the piston end.

 

oh and ...

 

... don't jack up the car on the de dion tube.

 

A circlip

 

Peterid=teal>

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

[SLR No.77]

Thanks for all the info Peter - string sounds like an easy option, I was wondering about that. Small diameter climbers' braided cord / rope is probably ideal.

 

The new type adjustable platforms are supplied with only one ring (with the holes instead of slots) which the parts department told me is fitted either way up to suit different spring diameters - looking at the ring this makes no sense at all. I large diameter spring will wander all over it. Quite honestly so will the normal diameter spring!

I assume therefore that I need to use my original non adjustable platform as a "spring locator" combined on top of the new adjustable item. Some experimentation needed me thinks!

 

Cheers Peter.

 

[CHRIS CLARK]

Nuthin' t' do with the original question.gif, but 'Spectra'? Must be for use with a 10' Flexifoil/SkyTiger or something of this type.

 

Don't tell me you have a Super Light buggy too PC?

[caterhamnut]

No Chris - the buggy is mine! smile.gif

 

Stu, I have also just got the adjustable kit from Caterham, and I have 8 rings, for use as Peter suggests. One set has a central boss suitable for a smaller diameter spring, the other set a larger boss for use with a 2 1/4" spring. Maybe check what you have been sent?

 

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

[Tonycaterham]

Suart,

 

I fitted adjustable platforems to my bilsteins some months ago.

 

Firstly the platforms are reversable so will take both 1.9 or 2.25 diameter springs. On my car I had 1.9 front and 2.25 rear(Live axle car).

I concur with Peter, getting the top eye off the shocker was hard work. Clamp the rod really tight and put large bar through the eye and wind off. I really thought it was not going come off, but they do eventually.

 

You should not need to use original platform.

 

You will need spring compressors or a least I did. I had to cut down and modify the hooked part as spring diameter is much smaller than when last used on a Ford Escort. Suggest you purchase proper compressors for your springs.

 

Tony

 

 

 

[Peter Carmichael]

Stack of four ten foot flexis. Longest jump 40' along and 15 feet up.

 

Peterid=teal>

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

[SLR No.77]

I hadn't actually bothered unwrapping ALL the parts that Caterham sent me - you know - sods law is you unwrap everything then damage something. I've now discovered that I have not 4 but 8 rings. Ground swallow me up in embarrassment! With 4 rings it suddenly becomes much clearer......

 

The string / rope system works a treat on the rear, but struggling a bit with the front. Going to try again with some Kevlar thread.

 

Stu.

[Paul Richards.]

Stuart

I have used welding wire in the past to undertake the spring compression. If you are struggling with compressing front springs let me know. I have a method of compressing using 2 tyre levers, a porta power, 2 bricks and the walls of the garage. It works well on the small diameter (1.9) springs. In my limited experience it is difficult to obtain spring compressors which will fit the small springs.

 

Paul R.

C7PPR

[SLR No.77]

Used climbing rope (5mm prusic loop), then compressed the whole assembly in a bearing press, re-tightening the ropes. Jobs a goodun!

 

Stu.

 

[Charlie7]

Recently done the same job - to take the springs off when the dampers were off the car I my father and I used two pieces of angle iron and a stationary horse box - our mechanic saw us and was sure that we were breaking some Health and Saftey rules, but not sure which ones!!!!!

[tiddy1]

Just one point the older Bilsteins fitted to the pre 96 cars ( the short ones) do not have removable eyes on the dampers, this can cause problems.

 

The only way to fit the sleeve is so slide it over the bush on the damper body. not an easy task but acheivable with a little trimming of the rubber bush.

 

Simon

[SLR No.77]

Simon, my car is 1995 and I managed to remove the top eye! Needed alot of force though when clamped up tightly between aluminium blocks.

 

Stu.

[Chelspeed]

Mine were 1993 narrow track road billies and ditto.

[SLR No.77]

Will you all stop replying to this thread! It's embarrasing enough that I didn't count all the "bits" before I posted, let alone it continually appearing at the top of "TechTalk".

 

Stu.

 

ps. car lowered enough to enable hiding & possible swallowing up by earth....