CtrMint Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Evening All,I've just been looking at Caterham videos online and spotted a couple where the front Bilstein suspension assembly is the other way around to the way I've installed it. I've installed it with the adjustable collar at the bottom, but others seem to be at the top.There seems to be a mix.Is either option OK?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted March 10, 2019 Leadership Team Share Posted March 10, 2019 Either way up is fine. Your description suggests yours are "the right way up", the alternative is "upside down" which puts the spring at the bottom and the main sleeve of the shock at the top ... no I'm not kidding!Racers have often run them upside down because it's easier to change springs by removing only the bottom wishbone eye bolt but leaving the shock in place at the top.Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 On my R400D I’ve run mine “upside down” for 25,000km or so without any issues. Main advantages are easier access to adjust the platforms, dirt doesn’t accumulate as much on the body surface near the piston and slightly lower unsprung weight (assuming the piston side is slightly lighter than the body side). The only disadvantage seems to be that it looks unusual, if one cares about that sort of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 thanks for clearing it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 With my R400D, you can see the platforms are a bit more accessible with the coil overs upside down, not as close to the track rod or brake hose. You can also see the difference in height of the platforms from side-to-side due to the suspension being flat-floored: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 That’s quite interesting. Is that a RH drive car? I wouldn’t have expected such a large difference; and I’d have expected it to be the other way if anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 LHD car, preload of platforms is about 20mm more on driver side to take into account my 77kgf weight with helmet. Diagonal cross weights are within 1 kgf with me in the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted March 12, 2019 Leadership Team Share Posted March 12, 2019 kgf? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 I was being a bit pedantic, kilograms (kg) are a measure of mass, kilogram force (kgf) is a measure of weight, I would use Newtons for weight, but that would confuse people more :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 Ah that explains it. I wondered if it was LHD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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