The front was a nightmare!
anti-roll bar all painted up, new poly bushes and hardware at ends
Mine is a 1981 model so had the horrible trunion upright, all fixed now with a Canley classic setup. Still not perfect as the lower mount has issues of rocking in the lower arm, and no rubber boots to protect the bearing. Can`t say I am 100% happy with it but it will do for now until I fit the latter arms and uprights. I have the uprights so if anyone has some lower arms going cheap?
Ok so lets get to the ball ache of the front suspension, lost lots of pics so will have to make do with what I have.
Front lower arms, I cut the lower rubber spring seat off to mount the air spring direct to the lower arm.
So far things are looking good, platform perfect size this is going to be too easy, or so I thought.
Still looking easy, all though top mount looks tricky as no access to bolt the top mount.
Here is when it all starts to go pair shaped, raising the lower arm to check suspension travel things go to wibblepoo!
This pic you can see the angle is all wrong.
Even the dampers clashed with the lower spring seat.
Even cutting access for the adjuster don’t help as the air spring also hits the adjuster.
I also found the front Protec dampers still longer than my original front items, Steve at sjsportscars was great in taking these back, and a Special set was ordered. This took ages and when I did get them they were still wrong! hassle I didn’t need, Gaz sell them on ebay so brought some.
These turned out to be wrong again!!! They were not the type or size I ordered!! Fcuk wits! Ok so lets get them fitted regardless, wasted way too much time. Near 2 months.
Top spring seat again had to be hacked off, and inspection hole cut in chassis to gain access to top mounting bolts, this was a total
and still is a nightmare to do the bolts up. I am not happy with it and will look into a better solution another day. Loss of photos again so gaps again.
Lower arms, cut the spring seat off completely and now using the coilover to mount the bag, cut hole to gain access to anti-roll bar nut.
Ever fitted the anti-roll bar to a 81 Esprit? If so you know what a total sod it is! This hole makes it a piece of cake.
Canley classic lower joint tacked in place, she`s not going to move now, also helps put some strength back into the arm.
I also welded the top of the lower arm to box it up to make it stronger as seen in the arrow highlight.
Top arms just touched the air bag, this again was a lot of work to fix. They are pressed plate steel.
First I boxed the outside.
Then had to cut the inner section out, hence why I welded the outside first. I welded some tube half into the arm.
They are now double skinned and boxed so should be stronger than the originals in my opinion, no doubt some people sure to chime in if they disagree.
Not pretty but they work, new bushes fitted. Not really happy with the homemade look. Will get some custom made latter.
Some heat shielding from the exhaust, twin 3” bore is not easy to route in a small space.
The rats nest! Still lots to sort out…….
Water pump moved to the front, now electric.