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
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.
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bsa_m21 Martin Rothman Vancouver, Canada (216 posts) Registered: 01/06/2009 11:41AM Main British Car: 1980 TR7V8 Rover 3.9L |
Re: TR 7-8 front struts
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:
Racing replacement: 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: 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
Thanks Martin, I can't tell if BMW strut has bolt-on steering arm,(my pre-requisite). Cheers, roverman.
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bsa_m21 Martin Rothman Vancouver, Canada (216 posts) Registered: 01/06/2009 11:41AM Main British Car: 1980 TR7V8 Rover 3.9L |
Re: TR 7-8 front struts
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 ?
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.
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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 |
Re: TR 7-8 front struts, decision time.
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
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. |
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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 |
Re: TR 7-8 front struts, 3 sizes ?
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.
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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 |
Re: TR 7-8 front struts, no tap !
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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