Alfa Pages

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

I can only blame myself for what follows and would like to offer some advice to others.

If something squeaks when it shouldn’t, fix it a.s.a.p

On my yellow 33 i had a squeak coming from the rear of the car, it took ages to source and it was too late.
The squeak was coming from the rear top mount rubbers being kaput and the shock rubbing on the hole in the turret.
I have been suffering with this in my current 16v and finally got round to getting some replacement rubbers, again f kin hard to source.
I went to replace them yesterday and what I thought would be a 30 min job ended up taking 2 hours.
There is a part of the bodywork that is spot welded to the inside of the top of the turret that keeps the rubber centralised. This had broken off and caused the shock to rub up against the hole, making it slightly larger.
I had to drill 3 small holes in the turret, after dismantling most of the rear interior, the parcel shelf holder, the seat belt fixing point, the rear quarter plastic covering, the rear bench outer side thingy ect ect, which by the way has a screw at the bottom.

I got the welds in, but when I removed the shock, the thread got caught on the inner turret rubber mount receptacle and pulled it off!!
This time we used epoxy and glued it up in there and then spot welded it in the middle. I then had to use an air drill and smooth off the 3 spot welds, the centre of the hole and finally paint with anti rust stuff.

The only thing I couldn’t do was smooth off the inside top of the turret, but as soon as I hear any squeaking I will investigate it a.s.a.p as I now hope u guys will.

old mullered top mount rubbers

good topmount rubber

loose top mount rubber receptacle

3 holes for the spot weld, you can see the shock being held in place with 1 nut, ready for me to pushup.

finished job

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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

frenchy · Alfa Arna Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 23

doh!

well at least you had the skills to fix it there and then.
not on a 33, but i have fixed duff rubbers that were no longer mnaufactured by using a diy mould of the part and a polyurethane kit.

you measure your parts and make a mould out of wood or metal and then wax it. stick in the liquid poly' and wait till it sets. you can then drill it like any other hard plastc for the holes needed and it wont burn out like rubber parts.

however it does take away the damping effect of the rubber bits.
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on the hunt for a perm 4

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

I spoke to a "Koni" specialist, one recommended by Koni, who were supposed to be supplying me an uprated replacement for my top adjustable, as they got fed up of the rubber ones getting hammered. Waste of time, seems as only 1 person can take an order and if there not in nothing can be done, i got rather annoyed and have not heard from them.
I'm not worried about rubber damping, as even a "Koni" specialist went in that direction. Your solution sounds grand anymore info?
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

john 33_16v · Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 1:16 pm Post subject:

Good job al'.

Your photo below photo resembles my wife's atempts at making cakes Laughing

John
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If it aint broke, fiddle with it until it is!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
93 33 16v Mirtle Met
08 Fiat Grande Punto Exotica Red
90 Yamaha FZR600 Genesis- Silky white/red/blue

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

frenchy · Alfa Arna Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 23

i've got all the details of suppliers of the kit on the other computer, i'll dig them out over the weekend for you.
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on the hunt for a perm 4

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

thanks, i still have 2 fairly good bushes left over from the N/S, which i could have re-used but didnt.
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

LDA · Alfa 33 Joined: 28 Nov 2004 Posts: 276 Location: France

right i've had a dig just now and the company seem to have closed down. they were based in milton keynes and were called 'mk industrial compounds ltd'

maybe they have moved??

failing that i did a little digging and found a friend of mine has used an american site that can supply the same sort of stuff but they have 3 grades of stiffness. i'm told that the mounts (eninge in my friends case) have done 2 years worth of track days and are still fine.

the site is http://www.mcmaster.com
their site isnt well designed so its easier to find the products with the part numbers...

8644K24 Flexible Urethane Shore 60A
8644K11 Flexible Urethane Shore 80A
8644K18 Flexible Urethane Shore 94A

60 being the softest and 94 being the hardest.

for road use i'd use the 60 or 80 but for track use you could get some very solid results from the 94.

here's the whole range (on catalog page 3571)
http://www.mcmaster.com/#8644k11/=2jza6q

... ok just been on the phone to him and found this..

Atlas Polymers Ltd in Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan, UK
Units 13-15,
Cambrian Industrial Estate,
Coedcae Lane,
Llantrisant,
Pontyclun,
Mid Glamorgan,
CF72 9EW

http://www.atlaspolymers.co.uk

tom thinks i'd be able to get whatever i needed from them if i contacted them with my needs.

hpoe that helps
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A good workman allways blames his sh*t tools.

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

thanks for the info, when i had my shocks off i noticed that the bottom bushes were not in the best of condition, maybe i could use this for them, seeing how i have just done my tops, hmmmm.
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203