How To: Coilovers and strut tube modification (with pictures!)

[Teaguer]

[newb flame suit /on]
If I get a ground control setup...I need to chop/weld my strut housings?
[newb flame suit /off]

Depends on which GC set-up you go with .

You can get a complete housing wiht the adjusters already mounted and installed .
$$$

Then you can get the coil-over kit and shorten your housings and then youmust purchase inserts for a different non-e30 application .
A lower spacer and or custom revalving of the inserts may be needed .
$$

Or you can get the coil-over kit and just grind off your lower perches and you are pretty much set .
$

[Rocla]

When I built mine I cut them perfect so that the gland nut holds them down when tighting.

I use Bilstein sports and their nut is too small to hold the sleeve.

[VAPORBLADE]

[newb flame suit /on]

If I get a ground control setup...I need to chop/weld my strut housings?

[newb flame suit /off]

[Teaguer]

When I built mine I cut them perfect so that the gland nut holds them down when tighting.

Yeah my Ground Control housings are buil in this maner also .
Basically the threaded part is loose but the insert nut holds it down .

^ The threaded sleeve always just rests on the lower lip without being bolted or welded on .

Even if you buy a nice set of $2500 Ground Controls this is the way it is .
The lower adjustable perch has recessed allen screws that tighten it to the threaded sleeve so there is no way that the threaded part will spin around .

When I built mine I cut them perfect so that the gland nut holds them down when tighting.

[Rocla]

^ The threaded sleeve always just rests on the lower lip without being bolted or welded on .

Even if you buy a nice set of $2500 Ground Controls this is the way it is .
The lower adjustable perch has recessed allen screws that tighten it to the threaded sleeve so there is no way that the threaded part will spin around .

I welded my sleeves on strut.

My assembly has separate "locking plate" beneath the adjuster, after finding proper position I just tighten the locking plate against the adjuster.

[Teaguer]

^ The threaded sleeve always just rests on the lower lip without being bolted or welded on .

Even if you buy a nice set of $2500 Ground Controls this is the way it is .
The lower adjustable perch has recessed allen screws that tighten it to the threaded sleeve so there is no way that the threaded part will spin around .

[mr-siv]

how do you hold the threads that the adjusters screw up and down on from turning on the strut housing? or are you not woried about this / hoping friction will take care of it? since you have probably been driving on it for some time by now, have you had problems with the coilovers adjusting them selves?

- Jason

[mspiegle]

A few more pics:

[mspiegle]

Here's a picture of the final product. I managed to get both assemblies to within 1mm of each other... not bad for all freehand work.

[mspiegle]

MIG is actually a newer technology than TIG. MIG is faster and cheaper, but it isn't as pretty looking. Both TIG and MIG can welding steel, aluminum, stainless, and magnesium. TIG can also weld dissimilar metals.

[Sean]

I MIG'd that. Thanks for the compliment :D

They are very nice welds! :D



I think I might have confused the two. I thought TIG was MIG - I MIG welded, and that is definately easy. TIG is the harder stuff.

[Borat]

BTW Sean TIG isn't for steel welding.;)

[sarcasm] yeah, and mig isn't for aluminium... [/sarcasm]

[2002maniac]

BTW Sean TIG isn't for steel welding.;)

wrong

[golde30]

wow, looks like a small bit of work there. i didnt do any cutting of my struts to install my GC...but then, i will probably end up bottoming out alot...