Alternative FWD struts?
Naturally I'd like to lower the front of my car & there aren't any known ready made bits about.
Sure I could chop/reset springs but the 30+ YR old dampers sealed into the original struts probably wouldn't like it & were probably on the soft side even when new.
The local (Australian) cheapy/self-serve wrecker is advertising a sale on struts & springs....
So I was wondering about the idea of swapping in the complete coil-over MacPherson strut from another car (with swapped top-mount), it's only one of the most common suspension set-ups around (except amongst 80-00's Hondas!).
Surely there must be plenty of options for a circa 920kg FWD car, & the lower knuckle just clamps around the bottom of the 50mm dia strut so different lower mountings could just be cut-off.
I'd hopefully also be able to get some open-able strut casings if I wanted to upgrade dampers, lower springs or weld on adjustable coil-overs later?
1979 Honda Accord Hatchback
The original springs were approx 190mm long loaded (250 unloaded but secured in strut asm), 145mm Outer dia. (not a lot of room to go wider), and struts 230mm from spring to lower end of strut ( to accommodate 155/70-13" tyre dia. originally.
I'm mostly looking at donor cars in the 10-20yr age group as being most readily available at the wreckers.
I have looked at whats there but chickened out of getting anything so far.
I liked the look of the struts on these Mazda-323-Astina as being fairly short for their low styling but they had sealed strut & the cars probably a good 100+ kg heavier so springs might sit higher?
A few Ford Capri Convertible about as well (also 323 based), but again struts appear sealed
Are Seat Ibiza struts openable as they appear? look possibly interesting.
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www.auto-types.com/images/seat/Seat_Ibiza_3_a92.jpg [/img]
Was defeated removing some to look at due to VW 18mm head nuts/bolts (Japanese favor 17 or 19mm)
Peugeot 205?
Plenty of Daewoo but steering attachment & lower knuckle might be too had to remove.
Ford Ka there as well, smaller strut Dia.
Any other ideas, suggestions, comments, obvious or possible problems I'm overlooking ? ?
Rear are similar struts as well.
Naturally I'd like to lower the front of my car & there aren't any known ready made bits about.
Sure I could chop/reset springs but the 30+ YR old dampers sealed into the original struts probably wouldn't like it & were probably on the soft side even when new.
The local (Australian) cheapy/self-serve wrecker is advertising a sale on struts & springs....
So I was wondering about the idea of swapping in the complete coil-over MacPherson strut from another car (with swapped top-mount), it's only one of the most common suspension set-ups around (except amongst 80-00's Hondas!).
Surely there must be plenty of options for a circa 920kg FWD car, & the lower knuckle just clamps around the bottom of the 50mm dia strut so different lower mountings could just be cut-off.
I'd hopefully also be able to get some open-able strut casings if I wanted to upgrade dampers, lower springs or weld on adjustable coil-overs later?
1979 Honda Accord Hatchback
The original springs were approx 190mm long loaded (250 unloaded but secured in strut asm), 145mm Outer dia. (not a lot of room to go wider), and struts 230mm from spring to lower end of strut ( to accommodate 155/70-13" tyre dia. originally.
I'm mostly looking at donor cars in the 10-20yr age group as being most readily available at the wreckers.
I have looked at whats there but chickened out of getting anything so far.
I liked the look of the struts on these Mazda-323-Astina as being fairly short for their low styling but they had sealed strut & the cars probably a good 100+ kg heavier so springs might sit higher?
A few Ford Capri Convertible about as well (also 323 based), but again struts appear sealed
Are Seat Ibiza struts openable as they appear? look possibly interesting.
Was defeated removing some to look at due to VW 18mm head nuts/bolts (Japanese favor 17 or 19mm)
Peugeot 205?
Plenty of Daewoo but steering attachment & lower knuckle might be too had to remove.
Ford Ka there as well, smaller strut Dia.
Any other ideas, suggestions, comments, obvious or possible problems I'm overlooking ? ?
Rear are similar struts as well.
