Alfa Pages

[Oggie]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-Adjustable-Top-Mount-Custom-Car-Hot-Rod-Race-/390310493990?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8940682035931868393
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PHAT 33

[BigAl]

Hey Iain, have you seen my solid topmounts?
ser 2 solid topmounts

on ser 3 struts

Would you be interested in me speaking to my engineer guy for a price to make some up? Will need some old ser 2 topmounts.

He fitted new nmbt10 spherical bearings and spacers to fit on ser 3 struts and my koni's.

The koni's are 16mm but the spherical bearings are 15.8, so I dremmeld the koni's a little.

He also made these


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

[Oggie]

Yes I would, and I have a set of series 2 top mounts on the way Al, any idea of costs mate?.
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PHAT 33

[BigAl]

£45.
You will have to get the spherical bearings you want.
Top of the Koni is 16mm, so the spherical bearing needs to be 16mm for a direct fit.
The step the top mount will sit on is 35mm high, minus 2x 2mm for the top and bottom large washers, thats if you want to use them and then work out the shims needed.
So depending on how thick the top mounts can be made will dictate how high the spherical bearing can be.
Hope that makes sence

[BigAl]

here are some links to help you
http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=107577

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/index.php?cPath=3_4518
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Motorsport/Suspension_&_Steering/Rod_Ends_&_Bearings/NMB_Bearings_Stainless_Steel_Spherical_Bearings/1975/5947
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Motorsport/Suspension_&_Steering/Rod_Ends_&_Bearings/Aurora_Specialist_Racecar_Bearings/1975/6961
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p296/NMB-SPHERICAL-BEARING-(ABT10)/product_info.html
http://www.shawsmotorsport.co.uk/cubecat/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=673
http://www.directindustry.com/industrial-manufacturer/spherical-plain-bearing-71289.html
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[Oggie]

Al, regarding the top mounts , I now have the series 2 and 3 top mounts.
my question is are the a straight swap out?, or is it dependant on the strut type seeing as my car has series 3 mounts fitted at present.
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PHAT 33

[BigAl]

Hi Iain,
My second pic is my ser 3 strut in my solid topmount, as you can see the ser 3 is smaller than the ser 2

Here is what you have, ser 3 on the left






Can you get a vernier on your strut to see if you have a ser 3 Koni?
I think you have ser 3 as you have a ser 3 strut top, unless someone has modded the ser 3 to fit a ser 1 / 2 strut.
Most people use the ser 1 / 2 struts as they use a metal roller bearing which are stronger than the plastic ones
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[Oggie]

Series 3 Al, now I have all the bits laid out I found I need the spring pan bearing, thats on order at the mo as the last one had destroyed itself, having now looked at the series 2 and series 3 top mount i can tell you that depth is the same its just the metal spacer is wrong as the series 2 has a smaller opening. Why have you had the spacer rings made?, I see no reason for them unless you are trying to raise the overall ride height?.
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PHAT 33

[BigAl]

The plastig FAG bearing
I am shocked, lol no pun intended, that ser 1 struts and shocks were not used for the reason that the plastic FAG bearings are weak with standard shocks and springs. When using uprated stuf they fail quicker, hence me going for ser 1 with metal roller bearing type.
The spacer rings are for when I get race springs for my track days, if i can't get them the same height as what I have on the car, I can use the spacer rings to raise the car back to my normal height. I can't get rid of anymore negative camber with my camber adjusting sleeves,


so I don't want to go any lower.
I have also had a set of 4 studs that bolt through the body lengthened to take up to a max of 35mm spacer and will fit if no spacer is on. I can raise in 5mm increments, 5, 10, 15, I will need to get more spacers made to get to 35mm, it all depends on the race springs.



My struts have been made higher, my spring pan hole has been made larger so the strut doesnt foul,

this is so I can use my Koni sports that have been shortened by 30mm, so if i use shorter springs they wont go loose when the car is jacked up or going over a hill ect. I use spacers at the bottom of the shock when using my Eibach springs.

You can see the spacer rings on the top of the shock for my solid topmounts.
What did you decide to do?

[Oggie]

I have been offered a set of race / solid top mounts that I might get to pick up later this eve, until I know what the fitment is like then I will have to wait.
The series 2 mounts are good that I bought but the series 3 ones are no better than my originals.
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PHAT 33

[BigAl]

Typical, sorry to hear that hope the solid ones are better
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[Oggie]

I have been for warned not to use solid top mounts for prolonged normal road use unless I want chassis problems , Im still going to pick them up and try them for a while but the bearing wears out within 2000 miles or so!.

Have you tried yours Al?.
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PHAT 33

[BigAl]

Yup, I had them on my car for a while on my standard shocks, Kept them on when I put my Koni sports on but the shocks are still fooked and now I am using a borrowed pair of Special D's, I cant use the solid topmounts with these as there is a 0.2mm difference and the owner didn't want me to make them slightly smaller

Thats why I upgraded my spherical bearing, more than up to the job now
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203