Adjustable Platforms on Bilsteins

[AndreK]

Not long completed fitting a set of these. Lessons learned as follows:

 

1. Following visit to local motorcyle showroom and workshop, made up a copy spring compressor from aluminium channel section and M12 threaded rod. This was designed and made so that the top eye can protrude through and the lower part of the shocker can just fit through a circular hole during compression to enable the circlip to be removed.

 

2. Used, as someone has said, a block of aluminium drilled at 11mm and then hacksawed in half to clamp the front shock piston rod in a large vice. This enabled top eye to be unscrewed and then re locktited afterwards. Essential that rod was solvent cleaned for this to work and clamp well.

 

3. Removal and re-insertion of the front shock top bolt to the chassis seems needlessly fiddly, should be re-designed by Caterham!

 

4. Rear shocks are easier to remove in the first place, (live) axle to be well supported. Removal of springs with the compressor was easy, then the alloy 'bell' can be clipped off the piston rod, after bottom circlip removed.

 

5. Rear shocks have to have a lower groove machined on each, about 8mm from the end (thankyou to Blakey's Place in Taffs Well, Cardiff, £10 for 2 on CNC lathe). When springs were re-compressed had to use strong twine/rope to hold them, in order to remove home made spring compressor top channel and fit the alloy 'bell' back onto the piston rod.

 

PHEW! Anyway the ride height is now 20mm higher so the sump should last a bit longer BOTH THE SPRING COMPRESSOR AND THE ALLOY BLOCK ARE AVAILABLE FOR POST COST AND A DONATION TO LRF, PROVIDED THAT I WOULD GET THEM BACK. Contact me if required

[Mark H]

What a nice man , well done