Jim - if you can find what Leda set it to that would be great. The problem I think I'm going to have is that Gaz can't do the tracking and setting up - so I'm going to have to be running about and spending money to get the setup right...

I've noticed some knocking going over bumps now - which I think is coming from the rear of the car. Would the stiffer damping or the suspension change in general be likely to cause this if the rear arm was worn (i.e. the arm is the issue)- was much worse when I stuck a 17 stone mate of mine in the passenger seat...

How would I tell if the top mounts have been put on the wrong way round?

I've noticed that the thread on the damper is hitting the spring on both fronts - you can see where it's wearing.....hmmmmm.....

Thats because the standard coupe top mount makes the spring sit at an angle to the damper so it will wear it away. Thats one of the reasons for fitting the Brava/o mounts, I did tell BMS about the top mounts when they were in the design stage but I guess they thought the coupe mounts would do ?

Mine do it slightly but only on the alloy spring retainer between the main and tender spring. If its wearing the spring then I'd be asking GAZ for advice Si.
For the price of some Brava/o mounts its worth taking them to GAZ and asking them to incorporate them into the design.

Or just make adjustable top mounts and alleviate the problem altogether.

Madeno have this option and i'm sure there are pictures somewhere.

What i personally will be looking for is the best set-up not the most cost effective and what we have to accept is that in some situations things are just going to cost that bit more for the right solution.

Suba you are doing a grand job and if there is anything i can help with then let me know. Mind you i haven't been out in my car for a good few months now but it was running again at the weekend so very close now.

Thanks Marco - looks like the noise is actually coming from the front left, where the spring has moved off central from the top mount...

We'll see what Gaz have to say about the issues - but I'm also thinking a custom top mount that is up to the job in every way.

Thanks for the offer, but I'm not sure that there's anything that you can do mate. Just sit tight and keep an eye on the thread - I'll get there!

Si, can you take some pictures of the top mount and how the spring locates in it please ?

Will do asap.

I'd agree adjustable top mount is great. Much easier to set and adjust the camber than messing about with camber bolts or a slotted hole in the strut.

Another thing might be to consider having a tender and main spring rather than a helper and main spring (if that's what you've got now and I've remembered them the correct way round ). I've considered changing to a tender spring but just never gotten round to it, but from what I've heard Jimbo say it sounds like a much better configuration.

Having spoken with Gaz we will have to work on the seating of the spring to top mount. i believe the problem is due to lack of preload (need slightly shorter springs all round).

Anyone know coop factory caster setting? IIRC it should be 3.5 deg. we think at present camber problem is caused slight missalignment on bottom bracket). My logic behind using coop mount is i am sure it will deliver more caster than brava mount but i may be wrong. we could certainly go with adjustable top mounts but they do not last long - and I think this would put many people off?

certainly the second caster measurement in wrong. also i misread toe before there was a lot of toe out (2deg) ok on track but bad for tyres on road. the reason it was toeing out so much was due to the ride height being raised.

We are getting there an I thank Simon for his efforts.

Julian

Just to let you know what I'm running Julian:

Eibach ERS 6" 550Lbs/Inch Main Spring Part No. 0600.250.0550
Eibach ERS 250/550Lbs/Inch Progressive Tender Part No. 0200.250.0550

The top mount is using a seperate ball race bearing that fits inside the original top mount to locate the upper spring seat.

Some pictures:

Top Mount

Bearing

Upper Spring Seat

Assembled Leda Strut

Brava/o Top Mount

Hope that helps ?

Is that brava top mount in the picture fitted with KW v2s Jimbo?

KW's Thats £800 worth of LEDA front struts

The bottom picture is the Brava top mount, the others are all a coupe mount.

Nope - checked both of them. There is more play in the back right (which has neutral camber) - the rear arms are not causing any issues right now, or knocking noises etc.

it is the bearing in the arms that collapse. Both my rear wheels on my coupe have some serious negative camber, which killed my rear tyres in about 2k

Here's some pics:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/Rideheight.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/Overheadview1.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/Overheadview.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/gazinstallation1.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/Frontrightmount.jpg

front left not central on mount:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/Frontleftmount.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/Fontrighttopmount.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/Adjustment.jpg

Nice Gaz mechanic in santa outfit:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/suba11/salinxmasoutfit.jpg

Love the last picture there Si

Ah ok I see what they have done now, They've used the original top mount and spring cup and just reduced the spring at the bottom to fit the coilover.

Not sure how that works on a coilover though, the coupe top mount is designed to run an offset spring. Look at a standard or Billy damper and the spring is set with most of it over the wheel and just a little bit on the other side, the top mount angles the spring to fit like that and it also rotates around the pivot angle.

I thought they were going for a true 2 1/4 inch or 2.5 inch coilover ?

Thanks Jim - all stuff that I'll pass on to balance and gaz....

Ok - my top mounts were definately the wrong way round (thanks Kenno for help with diagnosing on boxing day!) They are now the right way round, and the front left spring has been relocated (I'm fairly sure that Gaz did not locate it properly when they put the kit on). The camber issue on the front is most certainly caused by the ride height being too high, and the wishbne angle being wrong. Springs that are a good one and a half inches shorter all round should solve this....we're getting there!

OK - some more work done on this. I've looked at the negative camber on one of the rears:

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=539757#Post539757

Gaz have sent me a set of new springs that are an inch shorter at the front and an inch and a half shorter at the back.

The fronts went on yesterday. I had to grind one of the springs slightly to get it to sit right on the damper.... all fine now, but with the ride height adjuster at the bottom of the damper (lowers the ride height) the spring is too short to locate in the top mount - if I screw the adjuster up the damper so that the spring locates properly (1 inch travel) then I'm right back where I started in terms of the ride height, but just with a shorter spring.....

I guess this is not so much of an issue when the spring is under load as I can adjust the coilover accordingly, however if I put it where I want it surely the spring would come out of its mounting if the suspension ever got to full droop - e.g. big pothole or front end leaving the ground?

Correct thats why most coil overs have tender springs so that in full droop they dont come away. Otherwise reduce the amount of droop - pretty sure I mentioned that way back, especially for the rears. Do you get the feeling that Gaz arent really hitting the mark on this job?

In hard cornering the inside wheel may experince large droop if the body rolls too much.

Rich

Si, have they switched to proper coilover springs yet, like 60/65mm diameter ones or still using large diameter springs?

Rich - there's no problem at the back - only the fronts.

Thanks for the info - in case anyone else is wondering what a tender spring is then see:

http://e30m3performance.com/tech_articles/susp-tech/springs/index.htm

With regard to Gaz they are putting stuff together based on what Julian at balance and I are telling them. Their manufacturing place does not have access to tracking kit etc. so all of that is up to me - and it's easier for me to fit the springs than to take the car to them. I have not paid a penny for the kit yet, so I really can't complain.

I've had a go at dropping the front a touch without the springs coming away from the mounts - will go for a test later and see how it goes.

Si, why are GAZ still going with the standard top mount and that large spring ? A coilover spring in 2.5" or 2.25" will cure all these problems and let you select your spring rate and length of spring with no dislodging problems. Thier persistance with that weird spring is admirable but crazy when a true coilover is the better solution.

They could use a proper spring, give the valving a wide range and allow the same kit to be available in a oroad or track application. Saving the OE top mount doesnt really save anything.

Suba can you get a tender to go at the lower end of the spring - you'll need a cup platform to keep it all in line.

Rich

I'd have it up and running just as Si wants it, just give me 2 hours and £100 to get the bits

? Jimbo - you offering to 'fix' my car for me?

Rich - will ask Balance if this is on the cards, though as it is at the moment I dont see it being too much of a problem.

Hello all. again thanks for effort put into this Simon. I agree re coilover, tender and top mount so will put this into play - anyone got an old top mount lying about?
thanks
Julian