Steering, Suspension, & Brakes

tips, technology, tools and techniques related to non-driveline mechanical components

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roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

TR 7-8 front struts
Posted by: roverman
Date: May 24, 2012 05:25PM

We need a stronger, readilly available strut/spindle, upgrade replacement. I can't trust a 5/8" spindle diameter for serious corner burning ! This might have been "ok", in the 70's, but tires are much grippier now. Rover SD-1 struts are too hard to find. What then ? RX7, Nissan ?? Bolt-on steering arms required Anybody ? Thanks, roverman.


bsa_m21
Martin Rothman
Vancouver, Canada
(216 posts)

Registered:
01/06/2009 11:41AM

Main British Car:
1980 TR7V8 Rover 3.9L

authors avatar
Re: TR 7-8 front struts
Posted by: bsa_m21
Date: May 25, 2012 08:59AM

There are a few guys up here in Canada that race TR7v8's, that have replaced the front suspension with BMW units. Not sure which ones, but will check and see if I can find out. Used BMW unit:

323494174_QY8T5-S.jpg

Racing replacement:

493969145_ahLGk-L.jpg

Also, I know that some people have used a mixture of 280Z struts, 85 300ZX hubs & rotors, although I've not seen the results myself. 280Z unit:

struts1.jpg

In the UK they often used Cortina (UK Ford) front struts, but again, I don't have details.

Basically, anything can be made to fit. :-)

These guys ain't cheap but can get you what you need: [www.vorshlag.com]

M.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/2012 09:13AM by bsa_m21.


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: TR 7-8 front struts
Posted by: roverman
Date: May 25, 2012 11:31AM

Thanks Martin, I can't tell if BMW strut has bolt-on steering arm,(my pre-requisite). Cheers, roverman.
Get Your BritishV8 T-shirt by clicking here


bsa_m21
Martin Rothman
Vancouver, Canada
(216 posts)

Registered:
01/06/2009 11:41AM

Main British Car:
1980 TR7V8 Rover 3.9L

authors avatar
Re: TR 7-8 front struts
Posted by: bsa_m21
Date: May 25, 2012 01:51PM

In the AST picture above, there is a separate bolt-on base plate casting, used for the balljoint/kingpin pivot point and steering arm mount. Is that what you are referring to? With this style AST unit, it should be relatively simple to fabricate a new base plate with measurements to meet your specific needs.

Or, are you looking for more of a separate cartridge style unit that bolts to a complete hub assembly?

M.


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: TR 7-8 front struts, BMW E-30/non M3 ?
Posted by: roverman
Date: May 25, 2012 02:20PM

I prefer to go with Koni double adjustable strut inserts. They are a quality proven design with good service availability in the US. Cheers, roverman.


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: TR 7-8 front struts, decision time.
Posted by: roverman
Date: June 02, 2012 01:11PM

I need to get off-the-bubble, about which struts/spindles to use. I am not keen on the 17.5mm small spindle diameter of TR-7and 8. In it's defense, I smacked a concrete barrier, at turn 1, RIRW, trashed the outer wheel half,(Yongbloed aluminum), bent the lower, reinforced control arm and strut insert without bending the spindle/strut housing. Does this mean I can "trust" this design,with higher loads than in 87' ? To put this in perspective, Darts and Valiants used .685" and 1.062" diameters on their spindles throught 66'. Obviously, I will wet-mag both spindles/housings. Sound engineering ? Thanks, roverman.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2012 01:39PM by roverman.


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: TR 7-8 vs SD-1 front struts, update 6/18
Posted by: roverman
Date: June 14, 2012 01:37PM

Thanks to Kelvin at Moss, SD-1 strut housings , have arrived ! Spindle dia's are .750" and 1.250", considerably stronger. Now to figure which insert from Koni to use. How do you "cool" a strut cartrige ? Seems like a worst case scenario. Bond an aluminum spring adjuster sleeve onto steel housing, fill internal void with thermal conductive oil ? Onward, roverman.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2012 09:40PM by roverman.



tr8todd
Todd Kishbach

(390 posts)

Registered:
12/04/2009 07:42AM

Main British Car:
Re: TR 7-8 front struts
Posted by: tr8todd
Date: June 19, 2012 04:14PM

Here you go Art. This is a set of regular old TR7 struts with collars. The original perch shelf is ground off, but the ring is left to keep the threaded collar from flopping around.(Not need on the SD1 struts because they are larger) Cut out the proper length of tube so that the new insert sits without spacers. Weld back together and add a new "perch". A piece of roll cage tubing or black gas pipe work well. Weld the pipe/perch over where you made the repair on the strut tube. It's important to cut and remove the material in the right spot so that all of these measurements come together. Use a 5" threaded collar and corresponding adjustable perch.
DSC02676.JPG
DSC02677.JPG
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DSC02686.JPG


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: TR 7-8 front struts, 3 sizes ?
Posted by: roverman
Date: June 19, 2012 05:42PM

Todd and clan, my TR8 strut housings have exactly same od. as SD-1, but with the tiny spindle sizes of TR 7 ? I can a: use a tap, or b: use a lathe to continue existing internal threads, of the housings. Thanks, roverman.


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: TR 7-8 front struts, no tap !
Posted by: roverman
Date: June 20, 2012 01:56PM

Todd and clan, Forget about a tap. Thread is 1.900"-24 tpi. Good news is, I'm rigging a "steady rest" for the cnc lathe. This makes "any" thread easy. Onward, roverman.


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