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Post by Jerry & Di on Sept 18, 2008 22:11:17 GMT
Nightmare job When I did the new front wishbones, I took the lower damper bolt out to see what it was like, and put it back in with some Locktite. It wouldn't come out Rounded off the flats on the bolt, stillsons no good I had to resort to micro surgery with the oxy/acet torch to cut away sections of the bottom damper ball joint without bursting the fluid/gas filled part , to get to the remains of the bolt. Then I had to work the bolt out with stillsons thread by thread until it was off. I coudn't heat the cast suspension arm, so had 2 water feeds on the arm and the damper reservoir to keep it under control The a trip to Newport where they amazingly had a new bolt in stock , back home and then put the Billies on. Standard ride height, and it already feels a different car. Tomorrow I'm starting on the rear dampers and new rose joints.
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Post by Fast Jan on Sept 18, 2008 22:31:53 GMT
Sounds great, let me know when you're finished on yours Jerry and I'll get mine booked in with you for the same
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Post by Jerry & Di on Sept 19, 2008 12:26:08 GMT
I'll get mine booked in with you for the same No way ;D - ever I'm starting on the rears today. My old outer joint has about 1 mm of play, and should have failed the MoT in April , but luckily he didn't spot it Went for a little drive round some bumpy roads in the village to settle the front down, and I can feel a definite improvement in comfort already. A bit more like a Eurobox, not the jolty 2002 TF ride . Might be some pics later. Wayne at VHS is laughing himself silly at my Loctite boob
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Post by SWMG Admin on Sept 19, 2008 12:56:50 GMT
I know you love your locktight Jerry BUT ;D The Billies are great one of the best upgrades i've done to my F ride and comfort so much better www.bilstein.com/tech.php
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Post by sharky on Sept 19, 2008 13:12:35 GMT
What type of Loctite was it? Most types will 'melt' if you apply a bit of heat.
Been considering changing my dampers for a while, but still feel more inclined to go for Spax rather then the Billies, as I think the adjustable damping will be more useful feature then adjustable height. Chances are I would never adjust the height once they were fitted.
At least with adjustable dampening you can tailor the comfort/spottiness to your own liking a bit more, and if fitted together with my existing X-power springs will give me same slightly lower ride height that I have now.
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Post by Jerry & Di on Sept 19, 2008 14:44:09 GMT
Yes, I know, but you're on hydrogas which is already damped, so they are only lightly damped with the Billies. The early TFs had a choppy ride built in, so say to give a more "sporty" feel Going to a more "engineered" solution gives a more controlled ride, more suited to OAPs on long journeys ;D Might well end up like your ride Dave
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Post by Jerry & Di on Sept 19, 2008 14:46:57 GMT
What type of Loctite was it? Most types will 'melt' if you apply a bit of heat. Been considering changing my dampers for a while, but still feel more inclined to go for Spax rather then the Billies, as I think the adjustable damping will be more useful feature then adjustable height. Chances are I would never adjust the height once they were fitted. At least with adjustable dampening you can tailor the comfort/spottiness to your own liking a bit more, and if fitted together with my existing X-power springs will give me same slightly lower ride height that I have now. Yes, I know that You can see how much heat was needed ;D It was Loctite "Studlock 270", large quantities of which found its way into my garage before leaving work I have other grades as well, but this was to hand and was just a dab
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Post by SWMG Admin on Sept 19, 2008 15:55:46 GMT
I had Spax as well Sharky and the buggers settings knobs seized in no time every one of the buggers, that's why changed to Bilstiens and had mine done at Techspeed ;D
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Post by mitchell1964 on Sept 19, 2008 16:55:59 GMT
i have the gaz coilovers which are adjustable for height and stiffness but i found i didn't like the ride soft in the tf so i have it set at pretty much what it was as standard. iirc bilsteins were to be standard fit on the TF until cost issues took over and they went for the monroe cheap option. tf could have been a great car if the engineers and not the accountants had the final say.
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Post by Jerry & Di on Sept 19, 2008 21:37:02 GMT
Not a good day today either Rose joints and damper on one side, but took hours to get the top nut off the damper stem. Had to use a nut splitter to get it off in the end as the allen key hole was chewing up Just the other side to do, then off to 4 wheel tracking again ;D
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Post by mitchell1964 on Sept 20, 2008 8:13:06 GMT
jerry what i did with mine and jans is use an airline gun to shock them, those nyloc nuts don't half grip on the stem when it's a little rusty can't wait to get your full report when all is finished i bet it will be like a different car.
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Post by Jerry & Di on Sept 20, 2008 19:13:05 GMT
jerry what i did with mine and jans is use an airline gun to shock them, those nyloc nuts don't half grip on the stem when it's a little rusty can't wait to get your full report when all is finished i bet it will be like a different car. Good tip Grant, but it didn't work Nut splitter was difficult to operate, and in the end I had to drill down the side of the nut and finish off with a chisel blow - 1.5 hours wasted getting the last nut off Most of the stuff back on within half an hour One of the new outer rose joints already on and painted up. Just got to try and re-connect all the plugs and wires around the ECU and hope it starts again
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Post by Jerry & Di on Sept 21, 2008 19:36:06 GMT
Had a litttle jog around the village today, feels very different Until I can get to the 4 wheel tracking place tomorrow, I'll have to wait to see what it handles like at speed. It's far more suitable for long distance touring, the 2.5k miles we did around Scotland this year was a bit bone shakey Just 2 more big bushes to go, and they look like swines to get to. I need those brackets Grant for the final chapter ;D
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Post by mitchell1964 on Sept 21, 2008 23:20:49 GMT
no probs mate, will get them ready for you, will pub meet do or i can run them down earlier if needed.
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Post by Jerry & Di on Sept 22, 2008 6:52:59 GMT
no probs mate, will get them ready for you, will pub meet do or i can run them down earlier if needed. Pub meet will do, but I'd really like to get my hands on them ;D ;D
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