I am looking for an more up to date topic for compression struts. Most of the topics or not to date. So i would like to make this a topic to find all info in and I will also ask questions for my own use.

I received my compression struts today and looking at them i do have some uncertainty´s and questions about them.

I´ve searched most info for Sierra. I´ve spend a lot of time reading every topic and sort out info.

Who makes them?(add if you know more)
-Compbrake
-Reyland (not sure if they make TCA´s anymore)
-MK motorsport
-MT motorsport
-ZOO (company stopped)
-Alachi57(universal compression with tca)

Pro´s
-Adjustable caster
-Possibly more wheel arch clearance
- No bushes

Con´s
-Possible harsher ride, no bushes
-More expensive running cost
-ARB delete or bladed ARB

Weakpoints and failures.
Here is something i don´t have alot of information on. I´ve read and seen only 2 cases of faillures. One with the welded tube style comp strusts. Where i think i read the tube itself snapped.
Then you also have the CNC bar type which came later to solve the previous issue. The other case is where the bolt holding the tca´s was snapped.

how to mount them?


-So one weakpoint is the bar itself on the older type.
-The other weakpoint is the bolt that hold and clamp the tca cups.

I don´t know how the tube style could snap. But i guess it´s too hard and will snap round the welds on hard impacts.
The CNC bar should bend before it snaps (so i read).
The bolt that clamps the tca normally doesn´t take forces. When that bolt snapped it was reversing on the driveway.
The only thing i can imagine is that it was not installed properly or that the suspension had too much travel.
Its a solid bar with no play in it. So it would probably pull alot and all those forces will end op the M10 bolt when the car has alot of roll, suspension travel or when the tca angle is not correct.


There are alot of diffrent opinions about compression struts and if they belong on a road car.
What i can´t find is alot experiences of them fitted on a road car. These parts are pretty crucial for holding the whole suspension together so safety is a big thing.

My questions:
-Are these prone to failing on a road car? I am using a ARB in the setup (not bolted to the tca clamps)
-How should they be mounted?
-Are there any faillures on the bolt that connect the adjustable rod to the clamps?( how should this be torqued? should it still be a joint or should it clamp?
-What maintenence or checks should be done running these?

As it is a part that´s crucial i would like to know the stories of people running compression struts!

Last question is this a comp brake item?(i did not bought this from compbrake, but from a reseller) i don´t wan´t compbrake items on my car..

 

I have the ones in your pic I bought them from burton power which I believe are made by comp brake. The bolts are all high tensile 12.9 grade. They do look well made being that they are solid bar.

Id be more worried about running tca’s that have been cut and welded to make them adjustable

 

I had the ones pictured on my race car (currently off as i'm building a new car)
I've had no issue swith them.
I run an Mk Motorsport front Bladed ARB which is great, IMO you have to run one of these with compression struts
The best compression struts iv'e seen are the MK Motorsport ones, they do need the accompanying lower arm but are based on the WRC set up

Steve

 

I am more worried about the compression struts than the tca´s. The tca´ look a lot stronger and the ARB would normally take alot of forces off them. With comp struts on it will be diffrent tho. The bolts are pretty small only M10 i would rather see some more flesh on everything and with m14 bolts. But i guess these things would be calculated to work and be safe.

How did you torque the bolts down? and i think the joint between the tca cups and bar itself should still move?

 

I run the MK ones along with bladed arb. MT told me that my comp struts are too strong and if I hit something hard it would ruin my shell. MT felt they should have a weak point built in to allow more deformation.

i did not find any real road noise but did get the odd clunk when cold as they freed off.

 

The group a items are also big money! The ones i´ve got are probably compbrake ones...
They don´t fit.
Will contact the reseller as i explicitly asked if they were from compbrake, hope it will get sorted.

Also they are too long so can´t really run the caster i want.


meassured 8cm/8.1cm on the car. The hole is out by 5mm

 

Mine where too long aswell so I trimmed about 10mm off the end

 

I can’t believe people sell ‘upgrade’ parts that you need to adapt yourself because they are not a straight fit. I wouldn’t buy any Compbrake stuff myself either.

 

Yes it’s a pain in the arse both the tca’s and comp struts needed adapted

 

What! Google would have revealed the answer if only you had looked.

 

I´m sorry, i was really refering to making the TCA´s not company´s activity. But i can see the confusion and it´s stands pretty vague there.

I will adapt it.