coilover question

[280Bob]

I'm sorry if this sounds like a dumb question but I am very confused. I am trying to install the MM coilovers on my '75 280 and have run into a couple of problems. First I do not have the black washers that are supposed to have come with the kit and was wondering if someone could tell me what size they are supposed to be or had a picture of them on the strut assembly. Also, when I took my struts apart there were no bearing in the top mount. I have know idea what these bearings or the bushings that sit in the rear mounts look like. Basically, if someone could post some detailed pictures of the strut assembly and what is needed to complete the coilovers that would be great. I saw a thread when I searched that would have been perfect but all of the pics were gone.

Thanks, and sorry for the long post.

Bob

[JMortensen]

I think the MM coilovers use the stock bearing in the stock rubber top hat. So the cone aluminum piece rides on the stock bearing. As for the washers when I redid mine I just found a piece of pipe that fit snug on the strut tube and cut some 1/2" lengths and welded those to the tube for the lower spring perch.

[280Bob]

I already have the lower perch welded on and the threaded sleaves on the tubes. Ross mentions in his instructions that 1-3 washers need to sit on top of the flat silver piece that sits on top of the spring...then the top strut mount is supposed to sit on the washers. I never received the washers so I don't know what size they are supposed to be. The biggest ones I could find at the hardware store don't seem big enough. Also, my strut mounts did not have bearings in them...I have know idea what they look like. Any help is appreciated.

[280Bob]

Okay, I went down to Victoria British and picked up the strut bearings that I didn't have. This whole thing makes much more sense now. Now with the bearings in three of the washers I bought completely make contact and two washers almost do but not quite. I have shaved the rubber off so it must be down to the metal that is stopping it. What did you guys use to take a little bit of the metal off so that you could get down to two washers? I am getting excited now that it looks like I might be able to bolt the struts up this weekend.

[Modern Motorsports Ltd]

Bob, sounds like you're getting their, drop us a line if you've got any other questions. UPS indicates you recieved the washers yesterday at noon so perhaps someone in your household received them and didn't let you know?

 

(Jon - our setup does not use oversize washers for the lower sleeve mount, that's a GC kit, ours are custom narrow profile pieces specific to the Z struts)

 

Front OEM top mounts have bearings directly under the one piece top OEM unit, this then bears on our washer then the spring top aluminum thin hat sits. Rear OEM top mount do not have bearings but just have a single rubber donut spacer (rear's don't have to pivot as front does for steering). If you want to reduce that metal lip to maximize travel without sectioning etc as the top hat reduction is intended, we've found a sawzall/reciprocating saw to work simplest. Blade will get dirty and a bit of smoke but it's a pretty quick cut. Have the top mount well braced so you can easily do the cut quickly and properly. This is only required if you're lowering notably and need to retain max travel and allows you to just use the one single spacer on top of our top hat. Otherwise you can just use 3 and be done.

 

Any other q's on this or your other packages please let us know,