When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I just received a set of adjustable strut rods from Zip Corvette. I am test fitting the struts into the strut bracket on the work bench before attempting under the car. It seems like the shims provided make the strut assembly to wide to fit inside the bracket. Do I just force the shims in place or were they provided to fill in any slack in the bracket?
In the first picture you only show one end of the bracket with the square shims attached.
Did you place them there and are they on the other end also.
The bracket should have 4 square shims on the outside.
How many shims came in the kit including the ones you already positioned on the bracket?
It did come with 4 square shims. These square shims fit on the outside of the bracket perfectly. I was inquiring about the round black shim/discs that press against the poly which goes inside of the bracket. The original strut rods did not have these round shims/discs.
I may end up using a C-Clamp to compress the inner shims/discs into the poly enough to fit them into the bracket.
Im going to complain for a bit so feel free to skip this section.
There are so many great products on the market that fall short because of a lack of good documentation. These strut rods are a well manufactured product but someone did not take a few hours to write up a good clear set of directions with a few pictures. SSBC is an example of good instructions and guidance for rebuilding the brake calipers. Not once did I feel like I was missing a step.
When I did mine I needed to extend the struts out so they reached the wider area of the bracket and then pull them in (greased of course) by shortening them back up
M
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...y2M0XFNk-Am7C2
There are heaps of install instructions and videos online for this.
I agree about the written instructions though, I remember the instructions page that came with an aftermarket product I bought that had been photo copied so many times as to be unreadable.
I was looking at that exact article. They seem to show all the parts but in the picture 21/26 you can see they omitted one of the discs. At this point im going to lube it up and shove it in using a C-Clamp.
It did come with 4 square shims. These square shims fit on the outside of the bracket perfectly. I was inquiring about the round black shim/discs that press against the poly which goes inside of the bracket. The original strut rods did not have these round shims/discs.
I may end up using a C-Clamp to compress the inner shims/discs into the poly enough to fit them into the bracket.
Im going to complain for a bit so feel free to skip this section.
There are so many great products on the market that fall short because of a lack of good documentation. These strut rods are a well manufactured product but someone did not take a few hours to write up a good clear set of directions with a few pictures. SSBC is an example of good instructions and guidance for rebuilding the brake calipers. Not once did I feel like I was missing a step.
The stock rods were supposed to have these metal washers on the bracket end.
These washers were included. They were an anodized black color. They were in the first couple of images. These washers don't exactly slide into place on the bracket. They take a considerable amount of force to compress into the poly.
I dont recall seeing any washers on the stock struts but they were covered in decades of road grime.
I appreciate the responses so far. There are a lot of parts that make this rear suspension and drive line work so this will be the first of many questions.
I've installed these and looking to do it again on another car, both 69's. You need the round washers/spacers - heres' why... The four square washers go on the outside, and are there to locate the fastener as you're eliminating the camber bolt and washer set-up...simple enough. However, it's a tight fit, especially if the bracket has been powder coated. I had to grind just a smidge on one or two of them and they still had a bit of interference with the rounds where the seat. You want these tight though.
Back to the round spacers... They're a bushing for the poly ends and with the square washers, keep the fastener center and keep the strut rod from moving. The round spacers ID should fit the bolt with very little movement compared to the bolt in the strut rod end with out the spacers.
It was not hard but needed some influence to get them in place...I used a BFH (poly version), starting on the inner more open area and gave it some TLC until I could get the bolt through. The other thing you'll notice is that it's not a straight shot to the shock mount even though the strut rod is straight. They kind of need to be coerced into place and appear to have a bit of binding but it's the way it is. They change the design a bit later. I did an 81 that had a slight angle on the ends which made things line up a bit better.
I hope this helps.
I say all this and the vendor will probably come back and say the opposite of everything I just said...
My 2 cents. Is the thickness of the ends different from each other? If not, I would put the end in the bracket without any washers, measure the clearance, divide by 2, and get some AN washers. Does the outer end also use the washers and how do they fit?
I was able to use a C-Clamp and a rubber mallet to persuade the ends into place. I also applied a little grease to the disc washers and the support bracket. I appreciate the advice guys. Once I get the differential back from the shop Ill install this assembly.
Adjustable Strut Install - Shims
They kind of need to be coerced into place and appear to have a bit of binding but it's the way it is. They change the design a bit later. I did an 81 that had a slight angle on the ends which made things line up a bit better.
