Lurk mode off - suspension refurb....

Lurk mode off - suspension refurb....

Author
Discussion

Nosh

Original Poster:

982 posts

166 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
So, I have decided to keep my Chim after an agonising period of deciding whether I should sell or not.

The rear shocker is leaking and the wishbones look mange - so, have looked into refurbishing each corner and would like some advice / thoughts about the following.....

Buying brand new wishbones, front and rear which includes all of the bushes (fitted), bolts and nuts. Cost is £899. OK, so a lot of money, but when you look at the hassle of cleaning the old ones, removing the bushes etc - I am wondering if it is worth refurbing the old?

I intend to replace the ARB bushes (they come with the deal above) and also replace the ball joints and drop links.....(it all looks tired - like 85k miles the 23 year old car has completed thus far)

Shock absorbers - again, one needs replacing, but it is wise to simply buy new ones? And which ones? (the springs look like crap as well)

Whilst I am at it, should I replace the wheel bearings? As it is all dismantled, it seems foolish not to do it.

The wheels are also being refurbed as they look bl00dy terrible...

....what looked like a small-ish job (replace one shocker) has turned into something bigger...

....ahh, the joys of TVR ownership!! biggrin

Cheers in advance
Nosh.





ch427

8,858 posts

232 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
Depends on what sort of condition your existing stuff is in and how much time you have on your hands.
If the corrosion is only surface then blasting and painting yourself will save you a fair amount, fitting the bushes isnt hard but requires a decent press.
New front wishbones were fitted to my car around 2 years ago and they have started to flake and rust already with mainly dry use so new components are not that perfect.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
When I did my old chim, I refurbed the existing but had someone remove the bushes for me as i didn't have the facility at the time.

Shot blast and paint is easy then and a set of Polybushes is a dodle to fit.

Of course, sometimes it's worth paying the money. Buy and you have them there for a straight swap.

When I did mine, I renewed everything, bushes, bearings, swivels and track rod ends.

Seems excessive but when I sold it about 40K miles later and after about 40 TDs nothing had worn and was still going strong.

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

148 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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If your old wishbones are intact then if you have access to a large vice
You can remove old bushes easily, blast and powder coat your original wishbones, using same vice replace bushes with new,, ball joints etc are cheap as chips,,,
If shocks are old and warn out then their never cheap but by doing all the wishbones yourself you'll will save hundreds,,,
I also painted mine after powder coating to add further protection, new ones will rust within 12 months if not treated with something ?

Wheel bearings,,,, if they are rolling smooth and no play, leave alone!
I had a Volvo once 256000 miles on the clock,, original everything just about, if it ain't broke don't fix it !


QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
You say the dampers are old and one needs replacing. Do you mean it is weeping? Have you tried simply to get them refurbished?

Nosh

Original Poster:

982 posts

166 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
QBee said:
You say the dampers are old and one needs replacing. Do you mean it is weeping? Have you tried simply to get them refurbished?
It is weeping - where can u refurb these?


QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
Nosh said:
QBee said:
You say the dampers are old and one needs replacing. Do you mean it is weeping? Have you tried simply to get them refurbished?
It is weeping - where can u refurb these?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1393116

second post says it all....


Nosh

Original Poster:

982 posts

166 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
QBee said:
Top man! Ta.

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
...fourth post says they will respray the springs for you as well.....

If you investigate a Bilstein refurb and aren't happy to keep the stock ones for whatever reason, I have a set of Gaz Gold Pros taking up shelf space in my man-cave. Six years old, but fully refurbed by Gaz last year. I have some springs as well, I would just need to sort out if they are suitable spring rates for your purpose (can't remember without looking at them). Ping me an email if you are interested.

Nosh

Original Poster:

982 posts

166 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
ch427 said:
Depends on what sort of condition your existing stuff is in and how much time you have on your hands.
If the corrosion is only surface then blasting and painting yourself will save you a fair amount, fitting the bushes isnt hard but requires a decent press.
Thanks for the response - I just dropped off the smaller rear wishbones to a local blaster to see how they come out....

And then take it from there.

Cheers
Nosh.


Edited by Nosh on Monday 6th July 13:45

Nosh

Original Poster:

982 posts

166 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
QBee said:
I have a set of Gaz Gold Pros taking up shelf space in my man-cave.
YHM

Chimp871

837 posts

116 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
Just went through what you're thinking off. My wishbones were looking rough, so were the springs.

Springs can be powder coated just fine and i have to say the acid dip, shot blasting and powder coating was a good decision.

Bushes are bushes and a pain! I took the gas torch to mine, rubber and inner metal pipe pushed out and cut out the sleeve.

Think i paid £30 per item, HTH.

PJ57

245 posts

130 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
Just gone through this. Be prepared to take longer than you think, have a cold beer (or two) to hand and enjoy taking the time to upgrade smile Took me about 5 full days with all the complications, like spending a day to find someone to sleeve my upright frown

I personally found the bushes a real PITA to remove. I used a 12 ton press and they came out with a hell of a bang.
I also managed to oval the top bush sleeve in one of the uprights, so if in doubt, get someone who know how to press them out for you.
Whilst everything is apart, I would consider upgrading to poly bushes. Easy to fit, and remove in the future.

I ended up replacing front and rear wishbones, added a full poly bush kit including uprights, all anti roll bar drop links, cv gaiters whilst everything was apart, and a full set of bilstein dampers, springs and buses.

I have only driven the car around the block, but it feels more compliant and far sharper than before, and the alignment is yet to be set up (on Weds)

You will come across some stubborn bolts with that mileage, (mine is on 82k and a daily driver), but all is easily accessible with just a few tools smile

Good luck

Edited by PJ57 on Monday 6th July 21:47

Nosh

Original Poster:

982 posts

166 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
quotequote all
got the smaller wishbones blasted to see the state of them - and they don't look too shabby!



Does anyone know the size of the nut for the hub nut on the rear suspension....its a biggie!

Cheers
Nosh

Nosh

Original Poster:

982 posts

166 months

Tuesday 11th August 2015
quotequote all
So, just dropped the upper and lower rear wishbones off at the powder coaters....cost 60 quid - and that's with the bushing holes and threads masked off smile Hopefully get these back before the weekend so will report on the job done....

Other prep and work done:-

Cleaned up and painted both rear wheel arches - hammerite black for the chassis and stone chip for the wheel arch...



Carriers for the rear calipers cleaned up and painted....



Rear wheels refurbed and powder coated...



New drop links, rear ARB (and U brackets) cleaned and painted with stone chip, new coil springs from Absolute Shockers, Gaz Gold Pros ready to go in, bolt kit ready, new bushes ready to be pressed in (still unsure how I will pull THAT one off)....

Noticed over the weekend a nick in one of the CV boots - so will be ordering a new one tonight to be fitted....

Really looking forward to the weekend! smile And remembering this all started with a 'weeping' damper.... Mmmmmmm!

Nosh.



Edited by Nosh on Tuesday 11th August 21:26

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Tuesday 11th August 2015
quotequote all
Lubricate the adjusters on the dampers before you fit them - just realised I forgot to make sure that they turn easily, sorry.

ch427

8,858 posts

232 months

Wednesday 12th August 2015
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Looking smart, satisfying knowing you did it yourself and gets you to know every inch of the car.

Nosh

Original Poster:

982 posts

166 months

Wednesday 12th August 2015
quotequote all
QBee said:
Lubricate the adjusters on the dampers before you fit them - just realised I forgot to make sure that they turn easily, sorry.
Anthony,

What do you suggest?

Nosh

Oggs

8,813 posts

253 months

Wednesday 12th August 2015
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Looking good Phil

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Wednesday 12th August 2015
quotequote all
Nosh said:
QBee said:
Lubricate the adjusters on the dampers before you fit them - just realised I forgot to make sure that they turn easily, sorry.
Anthony,

What do you suggest?

Nosh
I'd work some WD40 in there, turning them up and down the click range. It's just dust that as got in there while they have been on the car.