Hi

Does anyone have a picture/drawing of the original S2 front suspension setup ??

Think my mechanic make an error when fitting the coilovers from GAZ. When i turn the wheel there a scratching noise, and i can see that the shockabsorber is turning with the wheel, but the spring is not turning making the noise.

Searching the forum a can see that you are supposed to reuse the original spring top with some kind of bearing... But that is a bit diffecult explaining not knowing what the original looks like.... unfortunely my mechanic turned up being not that smart after all

Thanks
Henrik

 

I don't have pics, but we noticed that with mine the design was flawed.

The front coilovers came out of the box with a blue anodised piece on top of the spring, you are then intended to fit your original 'bearing' and 'top cap', along with the rubber top mount etc.

However, we found with mine that with the bearing fitted and the top cap on, the bearing did nothing. So, we made a spacer to go on top of the bearing to space the top cap up a little. Then with the nut tightened down, the bearing still works, allowing the shock to turn as it should.

Mine are on the car now, so I can't take pics I'm afraid, but if you look at it, it's not hard to see the problem.

How old are the Gaz's by the way?

 

my coilovers came with the spring top cap with a bearing built into it, iv assumed this itself is sufficient enough to do away with the old bearing from the old struts, or have i too missed something? lol

 

The GAZ coilover are 1˝ years old, but due to rust work on car first got fitted 6 month ago.

Better see if i can find the original suspension and take a look... really thought GAZ would be "plug and play"

 

Same position as me, mine were bought over a year ago. I gather Gaz have altered the design now. They sent me out a pair of spacers, but they didn't look suitable. They were easy to make, just used some thick washers and drilled the hole out to suit.

You just have to make sure that the top part turns freely once its together.

 

OK, i will have to find the original top og some thick washers and then find the time to pull out the front suspension...

But if anyone has a picture of the top / bearing from the original it would still help me alot

Henrik

 

mine have been on the van for abbout + years used the original top mounts never had a problem with them

 

Ah hah, finally someone else who has the same problem! Had my gaz golds fitted a while ago now and have always 'clonked' when you turn the wheels, haven't had a chance to look into it yet but realised they shouldn't be doing that. Tbh i'm a bit disappointed in them really, gaz don't seem to have done their homework when designing them at all.

 

do the spring caps on yours not have a built in bearing then? or is it just not doing its job?

i bought my gaz fronts second hand, but im sure the spring caps are as standard, and they have a bearing built in. i havent used them on the road as the car isnt finished yet, but this has got me worried, and id sooner sort it now lol

 

Don't think the blue cap that came with them has a bearing in, didn't fit them personally and haven't had a chance to take them off and have a look and see how they were fitted. Seems that moe than one person has had problems though, mine were brand new too.

 

OK, got a drawing af the front suspension and just want to know what parts i need.
I think i need parts 1 - 4 (part 5 a Powerflex item has been fitted) I that correct ???



Henrik

 

Anyone knows if the top of the S2 suspension is the same as an XR3i / mk4 escort ??

thanks !!

 

You need to make sure that when nut (3) is tightened down, that part (2) can turn independantly of the part that the top of the spring locates in and not bind up.

We made a spacer to sit on top of the bearing to raise part (2) up a little.

I'm sure XR3i/Mk4 must be the same, but I wouldn't like to say for sure.

 

yes all is interchangable

 

OK thanks guys

that should make it easier to trace the parts that i need !

Henrik

 

Old post i know but i'm having a problem with fitting the fronts I've fitted the ford top bearing but the hole damper moves when you turn, I've put a spacer in but it doesn't matter how big the spacer is i'm still having the same problem.
is the top plate they supply suppose to slide down the damper as i can't see how you can stop from all moving if doesn't.
on the ford set up the spring top will slide down the damper shaft part 0