I've just fitted some Ahmed Bayjoo springs that I got from Mike Rainbird last year to a pair of Bilstein struts.

The springs are all marked up 10" f / 10" r

Expecting to have to compress the springs to fit them to the Billys I was surprised to find I did not need to.

But disappointed to find that when the nut was tightened over the top cup (which is over the bearing) there is a small amount of slack.

It doesn't seem quite right, does it?

I was under the impression that Ahmed spec springs were a compromise for not being too low whilst handling good.

I would have expected this to happen if I fitted some super low spec springs.

Opinions please.

A picture, which makes no odds to you whatsoever

 

they will be fine, put them on the car and see you will see how they sit
my eibachs were similar on my escort cosworth but sit fine

steve

 

I know your posts and threads I kinda trust your opinion but are you sure? I just dont want the springs moving around, I pushed down on them and the obviously tightened up - so with the weight of the car I thought they would be okay but what if I go over some bump or hump quite fast and catch a little air, would the springs be okay?

I'm just a little paranoid, and it's been a right bastard of a fight getting the old struts off - I had a broken pinch bolt, six drill bits, one punch and one stud extractor all broken - last night I was still at it in the dark whilst it was raining so I'm loath to do it all again.

But if your sure?

 

Mine were the same, don't worry about it

 

Its how much they compress under the weight of the car that will determine the height, not the uncompressed length.

 

Mine were exactly the same.

Even when you put them in the steering knuckle and put the anti roll bar back on, the compression is enough to nip them up before you drop it back on the ground

 

same here, mine are the same, a spoke a ahmed about it and reassured me they would be fine and they are

 

Are those struts for a cossie, or for a standard Sierra? The standard Sierra struts are a bit longer, which make the spring less tight in between the spring cups. I had those springs on Koni shocks for a standard Sierra and the springs were in a bit loose. At the time I put a hose around the spring end to make it fit a bit tighter on the strut. Later I changed to cossie 2wd shocks and then the springs were tight enough from the start.

 

They are on the (non Cosworth) Sierra now and they seem fine.

I was thinking that they might be standard Sierra Bilstein but I compared them to a set someone else had (real Saph) and the part numbers were the same (unless he has the wrong ones too?)

Anyway, whichever they are they were definitely Ahmed springs from Mike Rainbird, they are on and they felt really good on the test drive, although I have the rear end to sort out now.



Thought they might be a little lower, perhaps that is because they are on standard Sierra hubs/knuckles.

No matter, better than a broken spring at one side and 30 odd year old struts.


I have a full Sapphire Cosworth front end, crossmember, TCA's, knuckles, ARB, steering rack etc... I was going to do the bearings in the hubs, strip clean and paint everything and put back together with these Billys & Ahmeds.

But going down the M62 the N/S/F spring gave up and gouged the tyre




So I wasn't about to buy a standard spring, I don't like replacing one and I certainly wasn't going to buy two!

But really I wasn't ready to fit these, never really wanted to mix them with the standard stuff but needs must.

 

Oh, and thanks for all the replys, gives me a bit of confidence, cheers.

 

Exactly, I know the Ahmeds are not too stiff like some but also not too soft, which is why I bought them - I have read lots of good reviews here.

The standard springs are super long but obviuosly compress a fair bit under the car



Standard base model vs standard mk1 Cosworth vs Ahmed Bayjoo

I was just surprised by that little bit of slack, that's all.

 

I never touched the ARB, is that wrong?

 

Near miss with that tyre mate it will settle down a bit too

 

I know

I was doing 70 odd, slowed down for the 50mph average cameras and then a very strange noise indeed.

Lucky

 

No, there is indeed no need to touch the ARB.

 

Just out of interest, what is the part number on your bilsteins? I have a set off of my Sapphire 2wd Cosworth at the moment and thought I could compare.

 

I done all of my front suspension,
Including the rack and arms etc.

Once the strut was in the knuckle and bolted up, the springs were firm before dropping it on the ground

 

I don't think my Billys are Cosworth....



The part number crosses over to another which is listed as 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 etc

No big problem, I either need different springs or some proper Cosworth Konis.

Also, a lot of people seem to have this problem

https://passionford.com/forum/ford-s...o-springs.html

 

Just remember when you fit Cosworth struts you also need Cosworth hubs, otherwise the wheel will hit the lower spring cup.

 

Yeah, different number. My Cosworth 2wd ones are F4-V36-4130-HO.

 

could be because your bilstein are B6 for std height? There is a B8 edition for lower springs.

 

My AVO springs just nipped up nothing loose at all but only just. I didn't need to compress them to assemble.

 

These springs were specifically made to run on koni adjustables by Ahmed Bayjoo