Hit a pothole and my upper front shock mount is fubar.
Hit a pothole and my upper front shock mount is fubar.
Author
Discussion

benebob

Original Poster:

365 posts

197 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
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So I hit a little pothole a few weeks back coming home from a TVR breakfast and the clunking noise that I thought I solved by replacing the rose jointed end link that was sheared off with the stock sway bar link. Well took it over a bump yesterday and got the same clanging. Jacked it up and this is what I found today. Seems the entire mount is bent, the shock wasn't attached to the mount but the 14mm nuts were still on it. Found the top washer and upper bush just hanging out on the shelf created by the mount. Not only is it bent up, both sides of the spring perch are bent and the hat mount for the shock is slightly "ripped" at the weld seam. Oh and the shock itself is toast, Pretty sure it is bent. Now is the time to decide what to do. Anybody have their mount fixed, if so a rough price would be great to know. My options are to fix it myself although this might be a bit tough as I can't figure out how I'd pull it back down where it should be so I can add some new supporting steel to reinforce it. 2. Take it to a shop and pay out of pocket. 3. Submit it for insurance.
.





benebob

Original Poster:

365 posts

197 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
quotequote all

adam quantrill

11,609 posts

258 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
quotequote all
I would guess that the shock failed first, then put the force into the mount.

The mount itself looks in good shape in terms of no corrosion so I would have it pulled back in shape and get some reinforcing steel welded on across the bended bit and also where the rip is (on both sides of the mount).


Steve_D

13,798 posts

274 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
quotequote all
As has been said pulling it straight is possible but if the job came my way I would cut the whole thing off and fabricate a new one but in a thicker gauge of steel.
You have demonstrated that even without it having rusted it is not quite strong enough.

A normal workshop will not be interested and will cost the job accordingly but this will be a simple job for many of your 'hotrod' style shops over there.

Steve

adam quantrill

11,609 posts

258 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
quotequote all
Yeah that's the other option, don't forget you have a whole good one on the other side to take a template off and also make measurements for positioning etc.

mrzigazaga

18,660 posts

181 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
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Thats a right PITA...sorry to hear it..hope you get it sorted...

benebob

Original Poster:

365 posts

197 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
quotequote all
Well I wouldn't say the other side is great, it too is slightly bent a bit, maybe an 1/8th to a 1/4 inch of for you boys 4-6mm. That side was like it since I got her. Yeah the car was bought for the frame. It spent its life in dry climates so there isn't an ounce of rust on the entire frame, the factory coating is still on it! Still torn on what I want to do.

GV

2,366 posts

240 months

Wednesday 4th October 2017
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Same thing happened to me many moons ago. I was running a conversion kit that had used the wrong spring and damper setup. Anyway, I chopped it all out and converted to coilover setup adapting the lower arm and welding brackets to take the upper mount. It works and it has been tested on some very bumpy and potholed roads with great success.

The metal on your car is now stressed so I would not try and repair - but replace if possible. Can post pics if you need an idea.

mk1fan

10,773 posts

241 months

Friday 6th October 2017
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I agree, that bit has been stressed now so should be replaced.

Converting to coilovers would be an option but you'll need new shocks too.

taz turbo

672 posts

266 months

Friday 6th October 2017
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This sort of damage is fairly common with some of the shonky coil over 'conversions', but not something I've seen with the standard setup.

Q. How hard was the damper compression setting?

Regards

Chris