Ford Dutton kit car
Discussion
Having purchased a Dutton without an MoT i have found that it has front suspension issues where the wheel hub assembly rubs up against the front shock absorbers.
Now the dilema is ....... do i alter the structure to accomodate the shockers or is there a reasonably priced shocker that will fit ?
Tried to join the Dutton owners club but they seem to be taking money without verifying email addresses /membership.....
Now the dilema is ....... do i alter the structure to accomodate the shockers or is there a reasonably priced shocker that will fit ?
Tried to join the Dutton owners club but they seem to be taking money without verifying email addresses /membership.....
looks like a Phaeton 3 or melos, if so its a cut down mcpherson strut and ford escort lower arm unaltered. fitted with a ball joint at the top via 2 welded on metal tubes where the strut was cut off.the angle of the steering arm and anti roll bar looks very much like mine used to. Dutton made the top arms. There was never much clearance, I seem to remember about 1cm around between lower solid body of the shock before it started the spring holder, with so little movement that it never got near the spring, so would suggest its most likely someone has replaced the shocks and springs in the past, and used incorrect shocks. My originals supplied by the factory were infact Koni (all round), it was a very early S3 Phaeton ( both cars shared the same chassis)
I was told at the factory once while there they used motorcycle shocks and springs, as the car ones were too hard, I also had the 5 link rear suspension and can confirm that even with 2 of us jumping in the car it used to 'drop' by less than 1cm at the rear. having said that it drove like a skateboard as long as I ran the tyres at 18PSI and was great fun no frills driving
Also check the mounting points on the chassis, mine were out by substantial amounts (2cm forward for 1 front point) so I cut and rewelded them to be identical.
I was told at the factory once while there they used motorcycle shocks and springs, as the car ones were too hard, I also had the 5 link rear suspension and can confirm that even with 2 of us jumping in the car it used to 'drop' by less than 1cm at the rear. having said that it drove like a skateboard as long as I ran the tyres at 18PSI and was great fun no frills driving
Also check the mounting points on the chassis, mine were out by substantial amounts (2cm forward for 1 front point) so I cut and rewelded them to be identical.
Hi
Well your top mount (second picture) has been well an truly butchered
Probly by someone trying to fit new dampers
Now whether they have "modified" the bottom mount on the TCA is another point thats going to affect things greatly
So any chance of a TCA pic ?
Dont think this is a dutton balls up more a over excited former owner
Easily fixed
Where abouts are you based ?
Well your top mount (second picture) has been well an truly butchered
Probly by someone trying to fit new dampers
Now whether they have "modified" the bottom mount on the TCA is another point thats going to affect things greatly
So any chance of a TCA pic ?
Dont think this is a dutton balls up more a over excited former owner
Easily fixed
Where abouts are you based ?
What a mess, looks like Dutton are from the Robin Hood school of engineering. The springs like quite large from the pics so a set of suitably sized coil-over shocks with standard 2.25" springs would probably avoid the clearance problem, but I wouldn't want to invest much money in that.
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