Rear shock bolts?

[Craig-Chap]

Evening all.

I had to undo the rear shock lower bolts this evening to get a new fuel tank in. The LHS lower bolt was very clearly not the right size! I didn't have my calipers with me to measure it (I rent a garage down the road and I forgot to grab it when I left- pain in the ****!) so I'm not sure what size it was. It took a 17mm spanner so my guess is M10! And it was quite bent..... The U sections that it bolts into also appeared to be bent inwards slightly on both sides- is this normal or is it supposed to be washered so it's all square? I guess the latter. I'm on metelastics if it makes a difference.

Can anybody tell me what the bolts are supposed to be please? I think I need to go and check them all now whilst I'm at it!

Also when its back up and running I'm planning on taking it to pro comp for some new shocks all round so I'll need some new bushes I guess. Rob, I think I've seen you mention where to get them from and the correct dimensions? If you could let me know I would appreciate it, I can't find the thread I'm thinking of.

Thanks,

Craig

[hearbear]

They are 1/2" if I'm not mistaken

[norma]

UNF too

[stylussprinter]

Evening all.

I had to undo the rear shock lower bolts this evening to get a new fuel tank in. The LHS lower bolt was very clearly not the right size! I didn't have my calipers with me to measure it (I rent a garage down the road and I forgot to grab it when I left- pain in the ****!) so I'm not sure what size it was. It took a 17mm spanner so my guess is M10! And it was quite bent..... The U sections that it bolts into also appeared to be bent inwards slightly on both sides- is this normal or is it supposed to be washered so it's all square? I guess the latter. I'm on metelastics if it makes a difference.

Can anybody tell me what the bolts are supposed to be please? I think I need to go and check them all now whilst I'm at it!

Also when its back up and running I'm planning on taking it to pro comp for some new shocks all round so I'll need some new bushes I guess. Rob, I think I've seen you mention where to get them from and the correct dimensions? If you could let me know I would appreciate it, I can't find the thread I'm thinking of.

Thanks,

Craig

Metalastics are a pain in the arse ---- I'd simply replace with poly bushes , last 10 times longer plus a doddle to take in and out.(inner diameter = 19mm's outer diameter = 29mm's and 17mm's length wise --- two to a set plus metal inner to take 1/2inch bolt) Bolts are 1/2 inch but many have the original 12mm bolts supplied with the kit . When you fit the bushes , make dead sure the inner steel tube is the crush point --- not the poly top hat. There should be about 1/2mm projection of tube from top hat. If you go for PROTECH's you'll need 15 inch rears if you've got dipped trailing rear arms and 11 inch fronts --- ask Procomp to set the fronts to the 1st range and the rears in the middle range , that will save you doing it.

POLYS FROM WISBECH ENGINEERING --- find them in Google
Better measure your arm hole diameters after removing the metalastics in case SSC changed diameters

[DH2]

Metalastics are a pain in the arse ---- I'd simply replace with poly bushes

What shore of poly is used? And how is it determined.

Dave

[Craig-Chap]

Thanks for the help chaps. Out of interest, are their any other bolts that were originally supplied incorrectly?!

I'm on straight trailing arms (that are still straight thankfully). I was planning on driving over to pro comp and letting them get on with it, it's not too far from here. Apparently they valve to suit the car and match into pairs. I can get it corner weighted etc as well. Does anybody have any experience of them? Slightly off topic but hopefully no one minds!

[stylussprinter]

Metalastics are a pain in the arse ---- I'd simply replace with poly bushes

What shore of poly is used? And how is it determined.

Dave

I don't remember the technical spec ' but was directed to ''Wisbech'' by Neville Powell who used to manufacture Stylus chassis for SSC . It was him who redesigned the front rockers to needle bearings , also moving to poly bushes and specified shore values . They only supply this particuler bush type/shore and are Orange in colour. Mine are original from 1999 and just been out once or twice over the years ---- the car's done over 7000 miles and just 3000 of that on the road.
No housing has ever cracked holding these bushes yet they appear very stiff ----- that was the criticism from the SYLVA register and Mark F , at that time.
The only problem ever arising using these bushes has been due to incorrect fitting by some who haven't understood that the bolt isn't the pivot
You could contact Neville via this forum , he's 'Babybertha'

[pigeondave]

Don't do the mod to needle rollers on the top rockers.

I have had my top rockers changed over to needle bearings by BGH when they had the Fury.
The other month I was round mike b's to change over the tophat/needle bearing bits to some new rockers
where mike noticed that the bearings had indented the shaft. It appears that the front of the car is spending most of its time sat on
two bearings per side.

Now I don't know if my needle bearings are short compared to what you stylus guys have, but it doesn't seem right to me.

One of the RGB racers suggested using Igus Iglidur-G bearings
http://www.igus.co.uk/iPro/iPro_02_0001 ... ?c=gb&l=en

I will one day get round to doing this.

Regarding the Metalastics. Don't they also have a torsional restraint that the polys don't have?
I think I was told that this is useful in the rear, because it makes the rear(whole axle) act a bit like a roll bar.

[stylussprinter]

Don't do the mod to needle rollers on the top rockers.

I have had my top rockers changed over to needle bearings by BGH when they had the Fury.
The other month I was round mike b's to change over the tophat/needle bearing bits to some new rockers
where mike noticed that the bearings had indented the shaft. It appears that the front of the car is spending most of its time sat on
two bearings per side.

Now I don't know if my needle bearings are short compared to what you stylus guys have, but it doesn't seem right to me.

One of the RGB racers suggested using Igus Iglidur-G bearings
http://www.igus.co.uk/iPro/iPro_02_0001 ... ?c=gb&l=en

I will one day get round to doing this.

Regarding the Metalastics. Don't they also have a torsional restraint that the polys don't have?
I think I was told that this is useful in the rear, because it makes the rear(whole axle) act a bit like a roll bar.

(top hats) Dave , the Stylus needle bearings are not the same design as converted Fury one's .The shaft and spacers plus front attachment are 60's Mini rear arm bearings with grease nipple , so the towers were built to suit . Craig doesn't have a Fury.
The design of a live axle on Sylva's act as an ARB whether metalastic or polybush ---- the torsional part should be dealt with via the shocks if set appropriatley. That's the problem using metalastics , the rubber is trying hard to tear itself away from it's outer housing , hence the short life plus the difficulty of removal and refit.
On top of that , some are not aware that you shouldn't bolt up tight until the cars weight is on them ---- that in itself makes it very difficult to bolt up tight , the car being on the ground If you do bolt up before lowering the car then the bush is under tension before it's required to work
My rocker bearings are still the original as built in 1999 after 7000 miles , by the way.

[pigeondave]

(top hats) Dave

With my ones the plastic bush (top hat) has been machined and then the needle bearings have been pressed in.
The tophat has been drilled and grooved so that the grease can get to the bearings. A few pumps of grease and it comes out of the bearings.

[Craig-Chap]

I was planning on leaving the hats/rockers as is, check everything is ok obviously, but other than that I'll leave them alone. Anything to look out for?

Nice to see some activity on here, it's been a bit quiet of late!

[MattD]

Craig doesn't have a Fury.

But he does have a Stylus with a Fury chassis, whatever the implications of that are


Dave: Stylus top pivots look like this:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=671&p=5412&hilit=metro#p5412

[stylussprinter]

I was planning on leaving the hats/rockers as is, check everything is ok obviously, but other than that I'll leave them alone. Anything to look out for?

Nice to see some activity on here, it's been a bit quiet of late!

There are no ' hats ' on Stylus rocker bearings Craig ----- just remove a front wheel then lever the top rocker around with one hand on the shock mount , the other on the outer bearing left/right for any wear also any float for and aft ----- ie. nuts each end pinched up VERY tight , otherwise the threaded ends of the shaft will be the pivot Grease them well.

[stylussprinter]

Craig doesn't have a Fury.

But he does have a Stylus with a Fury chassis, whatever the implications of that are


Dave: Stylus top pivots look like this:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=671&p=5412&hilit=metro#p5412

Ah ha didn't twig that ----- then just look at the radiator side of the rocker bearing , if it's got Stylus type bearings you'll see an almost oval plate about 3.5 inches x 2 inches bolted onto the tower with the shaft nut in the centre. If not , then they are the Fury type ie. long bolt and poly top hats which work very well if fitted correctly --- that is , inner tube just 1/2 mm longer than the poly top hats each end THEN bolted up really tight , so making that tube the pivot NOT the bolt. Sorry to keep repeating myself re -- the pivots but it seems to be a re - occuring problem over the years

[Craig-Chap]

It turns out I have fury front rockers! And no lower wishbone as I have seen on other peoples stylii, it's like a couple of control arms joined by a ball joint. If that makes sense? I have pictures I'll throw up at some point.

Unfortunately the front shock bolts were also bodge-tastic, but the RHS this time. I'm going to buy 8 off 1/2" by 2" bolts and do the lot, the ones that I thought were correct were M12. The long bolts through the rockers are M12 also, I'm assuming this is wrong?