New Cat Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I have the classic bottom bolt stuck in the damper bush issue on my 1994 x-flow and am wondering about the best way to proceed. A number of the options seem likely to shred or destroy the bush. I'm planning to call Redline in the morning but wandered whether any of you have recently successfully sourced a bush and if so where from. Many thanks, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 On my travels around the Caterham Parts website, I've found two sorts of Bilstein damper bush, one 32mm wide and t'other 36mm wide. Not sure if they suit your needs? You might be able to source them directly from Bilstein as well. This is assuming that you run Billies of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6speedmanual Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Bilstein in Leicester? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Cat Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 Thank you, ordered the bushes from Caterham but have thus far been unable to source the aluminium centre sleeves. Have to hope I can resurrect the original sleeves. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Oddly, I have a similar predicament, as I was going to make a start on widetracking and replacing dampers today but instead ended up working. I've skimmed the assembly guides (both Sigma and K-series) and I think the sleeves are of dimensions 5/16" ID x 1/2" OD x 32 mm, which is basically 8mm ID. I think they be these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dignity Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Quoting Mankee: Oddly, I have a similar predicament, as I was going to make a start on widetracking and replacing dampers today but instead ended up working. I've skimmed the assembly guides (both Sigma and K-series) and I think the sleeves are of dimensions 5/16" ID x 1/2" OD x 32 mm, which is basically 8mm ID. I think they be these. These should be in the box that I gave you at Santa Pod Mankee ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Oh yeah, I didn't mean I was going to buy any new ones, Colin. Was simply browsing to be nosey and check that I haven't got some weird mutant car that doesn't conform to the right specs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Cat Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 Perfect, thanks very much guys - just frustrating the Caterham denied on the phone that they sold the sleeves! Have had to put in a seperate online order for a couple. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 What about the bottom bolt that holds the dampers in place? As far as I can see it's a 5/16th x 2 3/4 caphead. Can't see it listed on Caterham's site, and Namrick don't do 1/4 sizes in caphead. Any suggestions? Edited by - Roger Ford on 26 Oct 2011 23:16:40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Here you go, Roger: click me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Excellent, thanks. (I was looking for 5/16 and caphead, neither of which are mentioned there). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Cat Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 It seems there are 2 sleeves inside the front damper bottom eyelet rubber bush, an inner aluminium one (which I now have) and an outer steel one (which I don't have). Have any of you been able to source an outer steel sleeve for the bush? Sounds like we could get one made but an off the shelf one will clearly be much more cost effective. Thanks! Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 The Bislstein rubber bushes i've seen had the metal sleeve fixed into the rubber, if you only need 1 rubber bush i can help you out. Spax dampers had the metal sleeve witch are not part of the rubber and to mount these i use a ital stud as a pilot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I spent yesterday stripping down a spare pair of front Bilsteins (thanks Colin!) to rob the bump stops and aluminium sleeves for future use and I remember the outer steel sleeve being fixed, as noted by Elie. I was using a press and some sockets to remove the aluminium inners. If you need two of the lower bushes and sleeves then I could have a go at removing them for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Cat Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Thanks guys, your offer/s would save a lot of aggro 😬 I only need one side (lower eyelet rubber bush with metal outer insert for the smaller sized Bilstein which use 1.9ID springs), the other side came undone very cleanly. I have the inner aluminium sleeve which seems the right size. Could you pm me your details and what you would like in exchange Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I don't want anything in exchange, but if you do decide to give a few squid to NtL then please acknowledge Colin (Dignity above) who gave me his old dampers. If Elie is unable to fix your problem, drop me a line and I'll see if I can help out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 New Cat, Send me a pm with your address and i post one to you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Cat Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 Thanks very much guys, I have pm'ed Elie so should be sorted now Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 How on earth are you supposed to fit the rubber bushes? I managed to get the old one out with lots of swearing, a vice, several sockets and a hacksaw, but I can't figure out how to put the new one in. I've greased the damper bottom and heated the rubber, and I'm trying to push it in with a socket. But one side goes in and the other stays obsitinately out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence Wilson Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 An arbour press and KY jelly, in my experience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Neither of which I possess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 It's possible with a vice, you need a few Belgian beers to do it 😬 on a more sober note , to press the new bush in you use a bit of WD40 or the like and press against the metal bush but when the bush is nearly home you will need to " play " a bit with the damper in a sort of circle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence Wilson Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Good advice from Elie. The circular motion helps the bush to pop into the housing. And if KY isn't available a silicon grease from RS or brake grease from your local auto factors will do just as good a job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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