Dodgy struts

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Evoman
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Dodgy struts

Post by Evoman » 24 Jan 2012 03:50 pm

My struts are very weird, some of you may remmber me mentioning it before.

The best thing I can do is describe each strut seperatly

Nearside

Image

The nearside sits 10mm lower than the offside, however the spring cup appears to be higher up the strut leg. It is clear in the picture that its very close to the arch. It is also missing a bumpstop so rubs alot but thats not the cause of my concerns

Offside

Image

It is very clear in the picture how different it is to the nearside. Its sits 10mm lower but the spring cup is signifacntly lower down the leg and is rubbing on 185 55 r15 tyres.

*The photos were taken from the same height with my camera rested in the same way on the tyres, it is also shown with weight on.

Whats changed
Springs
Dampers
spring cup nearside (measured from a set of struts that were becoming coilovers)

So does anyone have any ideas what the f*ck is wrong? I cant think what it is and I dont think of myself as too stupid :lol:

Any ideas please, it may trigger something!

Specific questions i have are:

Should 185 55 r15 tyres rub on the spring cup? (if not the offside spring cup is wrong)
Also could anyone give me measurements from struts that are known to be correct please?
Image

macplaxton
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by macplaxton » 24 Jan 2012 04:29 pm

Evoman wrote:but the spring cup is signifacntly lower down the leg and is rubbing on 185 55 r15 tyres.
I'll try and measure a strut later, but given the above, is that not the problem? The lower spring cup is in the wrong place on the leg?
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82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

Evoman
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by Evoman » 24 Jan 2012 04:43 pm

macplaxton wrote:
Evoman wrote:but the spring cup is signifacntly lower down the leg and is rubbing on 185 55 r15 tyres.
I'll try and measure a strut later, but given the above, is that not the problem? The lower spring cup is in the wrong place on the leg?
Cheers!

BUT that side sits higher than the other side :?
Image

macplaxton
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by macplaxton » 24 Jan 2012 05:13 pm

Oooookay, well it's more than one problem then.

Both sides should have at least the bottom cups the same height from the bottom, after that look at what is above it.
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82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

Evoman
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by Evoman » 24 Jan 2012 05:15 pm

macplaxton wrote:Oooookay, well it's more than one problem then.

Both sides should have at least the bottom cups the same height from the bottom, after that look at what is above it.
ye, so seroiusly fucked struts :P
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trabitom99
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by trabitom99 » 24 Jan 2012 05:26 pm

I was never sure what made a GLT "factory-lowered" in the front, compared to a "normal" B200E 360. The springs seem to be the same in the catalogue as for non-GLTs. Someone mentioned once, that the spring cup was welded on in a different place.

So maybe you have one strut from a GLT, and one from a different 360?

Tom
343 GL Touring B14.1E CVT (155) 98000kms 1980 (sold)
343 L Junior B14.3E MT4 (155) 229000kms 1981 (scrapped)
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Evoman
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by Evoman » 24 Jan 2012 06:11 pm

Thats an interesting point tom! I was speeking to mattywattsit and he did say though that he had 185 55 r15s and they didnt rub on the spring cup
Image

macplaxton
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by macplaxton » 24 Jan 2012 09:17 pm

Having had a browse over the parts catalogue, was it a case of essentially three types of strut?

Type A = B14
Type B = D16, B172, early B200
Type C = Later B200, ARB drop link bracket on strut.

Anyway, I measured 2 struts sitting in the trailer. I'm not sure which two as there is a pair of MY83 360 struts and MY unknown, believed to be 340 struts.

Don't take these measurements as deadly accurate, but in the rough ball park. The shorter of the two is from the end of the strut to the flange edge on the strut, the longer is to the underside of the cup itself take on the inside face of the strut (that is opposite the hub flange).

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classicswede
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by classicswede » 24 Jan 2012 11:17 pm

From memory the early 1.4 had teh spring cup in a differnt position. Not sure if it was higher or lower. As already suggested you need to measure and compare
Dai

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Nimminz
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by Nimminz » 24 Jan 2012 11:22 pm

trabitom99 wrote:I was never sure what made a GLT "factory-lowered" in the front
I always thourght they were lower at the back and the front was the same height?

Hope you get it sorted mate!
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Evoman
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by Evoman » 25 Jan 2012 12:04 am

Thanks macp :D

To clarify, the measurements are to the bottom of the strut tube? to where is joins the hub?

I m not clear on the flange edge you mention on the strut

Thanks for all your help so far :)
Image

macplaxton
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by macplaxton » 25 Jan 2012 01:41 am

Evoman wrote:To clarify, the measurements are to the bottom of the strut tube? to where is joins the hub?
To clarify:
Bottom:
Image

Long and short:
Image
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82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

Evoman
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by Evoman » 25 Jan 2012 10:40 am

Perfect, Ill shall meaure them tommorow or friday :) thanks again!
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Ride_on
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by Ride_on » 25 Jan 2012 06:44 pm

Saloon struts are different again, on 360s anyway.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

macplaxton
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Re: Dodgy struts

Post by macplaxton » 25 Jan 2012 07:28 pm

Physically different, or just a different part number? I looked through loads of part number yesterday, but all it told me was that Volvo used a few basic strut housings (3 at last guess) and a load more of different dampers inserts with the odd different spring.
72 DAF 44 Estate 78 Volvo 343DL Black BeautyImageImage
82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

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