In today's episode, we'll hack up a new set of rear struts to make a pair of coilovers.
Monroe strut in it's virgin form.
This end cap is too large in OD and must be removed.
Note: I kept the strut shaft in the retracted position in order to avoid damage.
Using a zip wheel, score the offending material. Don't go too deep!
A little difficult to see but use Vice Grip locking pliers and fatigue the metal by rocking it back and forth.
When done correctly, you'll end up with four little stubs.
Just grind those off flush.
Onto the spring perch.
Lightly score the perimeter, just above the weld.
1) Using a hammer, give the spring perch a whack. It'll come off quite easily.
2) You can see the parts that have been removed from the strut.
3) My struts were powder coated. Despite the fact that the outer diameter was smaller then the threaded sleeve that I plan on using, I still had to strip the paint. Using a sanding disk, this made my job easy.
I will paint these on the next warm day.
Here's one threaded sleeve installed. These are 2" ID x 5" long. I have many of these laying around but you can find them at your local speed shop. Remember some struts are thicker, Koni perhaps, and might require a different inner diameter.
I also have several adjuster's here as well. I'm not liking the fit of the gold one. It's a little too loose for my liking.
The small threaded holes are there to keep the sleeve secure to the strut and keep the sleeve from turning. Short set screws will find their way into there.
The two piece silver adjuster's fit way nicer and I think I'll use them.
The springs are used. They'll need to get sand blasted and painted. They are 300 lbs, 12" long and have an ID of 2.560".
The poly ring fits into the top of the spring to avoid squeaking.
To those swapping an 88 cradle into an 84-87 chassis, this is for you. As you may or may not know, the 88's have the strut towers closer together. When installing the 88 cradle into the 84-87 cars, one must position the struts to match the location of the 88. Since these measurements may be difficult to obtain, I mapped them out for you.
Note: I measured the strut hole on the strut tower "without the strut installed" to get an exact measurement!
The 84-87 cars have a rear strut center to center measurement of: 1021.80mm or 40.228"
The 88 cars have a rear strut center to center measurement of: 959.64mm or 37.781"
With this information, 1021.80 - 959.64 = 62.16mm total.
Divide that in half = 31.08mm This is what you'll have to move "each strut" closer together.
When looking "DOWN" from the top of the 84-87 engine bay, (and standing behind the rear of the car facing forward), the new 88 strut shaft location will be:
INWARD (31.08mm) or 1.223" (1 1/4" is close)
FORWARD (25.4mm) or 1.000"
These measurements are "per strut". You'll have to move both struts!
With this information, I made a pair of these.
The small ring will secure the upper strut bushing. The larger ring will locate the spring and keep it from moving.
These need to be welded but first I have to install the cradle and make sure everything is perfect though.
The red bushing is the one I need, four actually. Since I didn't have four good ones, I went to Napa and got a set of poly end link bushings. They're almost the perfect outer diameter. The inner diameter is too small and will be opened up with a drill.
That's all for now. Time to install the cradle.