Smart strut installation questions
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
Smart strut installation questions
I purchased the following "smart strut" kit from Ecklers for my chassis build up. Somehow along the way I lost the instructions during the hot summer that kept me out of the garage for 4 months.
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1843
I don't think I lost any parts. The kit came with both the adjustable and fixed mounting bolts for where the rods bolt into the bracket under the differential (also supplied). My questions are as follows:
1) The spacers that were provided appear to be too wide to use one on each side of the rod ends, both where the rod ends mate to the trailing arms and where they bolt to the bracket under the rear differential. If I only use one spacer it seems to have too much play. Should I just try to locate narrower spacers? How much play is acceptable there?
2) Which mounting bolts should I use to secure the inside rod ends to the bracket under the differential? Should I use the adjustable ones or the fixed ones (shown on the web)? The rods themselves are also adjustable unlike stock rods.
Thanks for all the great advice I know I will get
Tom
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1843
I don't think I lost any parts. The kit came with both the adjustable and fixed mounting bolts for where the rods bolt into the bracket under the differential (also supplied). My questions are as follows:
1) The spacers that were provided appear to be too wide to use one on each side of the rod ends, both where the rod ends mate to the trailing arms and where they bolt to the bracket under the rear differential. If I only use one spacer it seems to have too much play. Should I just try to locate narrower spacers? How much play is acceptable there?
2) Which mounting bolts should I use to secure the inside rod ends to the bracket under the differential? Should I use the adjustable ones or the fixed ones (shown on the web)? The rods themselves are also adjustable unlike stock rods.
Thanks for all the great advice I know I will get
Tom
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
OK, found online instructions on VBP website and downloaded/read PDF. I still have the same questions as in my original post above which are not addressed in the instructions.
Thanks again, Tom
Thanks again, Tom
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
I have the adjustable strut rods from VB+P (not smart struts) and I thought the only difference was the mounting bracket that bolts to the differential. The smart struts lower the mounting point and the adjustable bolts allow you to fine tune the actual height of the inner mount, which would change your camber curve. the slot is vertical instead of horizontal like the stock bracket. Maybe they give you the fixed bolts in case you want to just use your existing bracket for whatever reason. Like I said, I don't have that kit, but that's what I'd assume.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I got smart struts for mine. Use the original mount bracket bolts to mount the assembly to the bottom of the diferential. Both spacers go in the ends, one on each side, its a tight fit but it will go in.
