Before I changed to proper Bilsteins on the rear I ran relativly sucessfully (on a Mk4) with either standard Motorcraft dampers converted with coilover tubes, or Koni adjustables again converted with coilover tubes.

The car had no seam welding or rear strut brace in place and sucessfully competed in over 100 stage rally's.

The main issue I had was that both would bend down at the bottom where it goes into the hub if I hit any sort of rough road going sideways at speed.

The Konis were FAR worse at doing this and I must have got through about 15 of them, I approached Koni at a trade show to see if they could help and they just fobbed me off and told me tough, if you think you can do any better then go and do it

The conversion was done to a standard unit by placing the correct sized threaded sleeve over the original strut and tack welding it in place. An extended steel top hat was made to hold the spring in place and fit it all back up into the turret. Cost was less than £80 (back then).

Not once did the turrets try to rip apart, split, crack or do anything of the kind - and this was a well used motorsport car remember.

Learning and observing from the motorsport use what was happening to the spring top mounts, these were then modded further by MEF, to assist in shock loadings. These new units are still being used today on my car (which is seam welded and braced - just for my safety). The casings used now are thick walled CDS tubing coupled with inverted Bilstein dampers, this has completely overcome the bending issues.

Make of that what you will...... its just a "for info" post

Oh and here's my old car