Dodgy struts

[Evoman]

My struts are very weird, some of you may remmber me mentioning it before.

The best thing I can do is describe each strut seperatly

Nearside



The nearside sits 10mm lower than the offside, however the spring cup appears to be higher up the strut leg. It is clear in the picture that its very close to the arch. It is also missing a bumpstop so rubs alot but thats not the cause of my concerns

Offside



It is very clear in the picture how different it is to the nearside. Its sits 10mm lower but the spring cup is signifacntly lower down the leg and is rubbing on 185 55 r15 tyres.

*The photos were taken from the same height with my camera rested in the same way on the tyres, it is also shown with weight on.

Whats changed
Springs
Dampers
spring cup nearside (measured from a set of struts that were becoming coilovers)

So does anyone have any ideas what the f*ck is wrong? I cant think what it is and I dont think of myself as too stupid

Any ideas please, it may trigger something!

Specific questions i have are:

Should 185 55 r15 tyres rub on the spring cup? (if not the offside spring cup is wrong)
Also could anyone give me measurements from struts that are known to be correct please?

[macplaxton]

but the spring cup is signifacntly lower down the leg and is rubbing on 185 55 r15 tyres.

I'll try and measure a strut later, but given the above, is that not the problem? The lower spring cup is in the wrong place on the leg?

[Evoman]

but the spring cup is signifacntly lower down the leg and is rubbing on 185 55 r15 tyres.

I'll try and measure a strut later, but given the above, is that not the problem? The lower spring cup is in the wrong place on the leg?

Cheers!

BUT that side sits higher than the other side

[macplaxton]

Oooookay, well it's more than one problem then.

Both sides should have at least the bottom cups the same height from the bottom, after that look at what is above it.

[Evoman]

Oooookay, well it's more than one problem then.

Both sides should have at least the bottom cups the same height from the bottom, after that look at what is above it.

ye, so seroiusly fucked struts

[trabitom99]

I was never sure what made a GLT "factory-lowered" in the front, compared to a "normal" B200E 360. The springs seem to be the same in the catalogue as for non-GLTs. Someone mentioned once, that the spring cup was welded on in a different place.

So maybe you have one strut from a GLT, and one from a different 360?

Tom

[Evoman]

Thats an interesting point tom! I was speeking to mattywattsit and he did say though that he had 185 55 r15s and they didnt rub on the spring cup

[macplaxton]

Having had a browse over the parts catalogue, was it a case of essentially three types of strut?

Type A = B14
Type B = D16, B172, early B200
Type C = Later B200, ARB drop link bracket on strut.

Anyway, I measured 2 struts sitting in the trailer. I'm not sure which two as there is a pair of MY83 360 struts and MY unknown, believed to be 340 struts.

Don't take these measurements as deadly accurate, but in the rough ball park. The shorter of the two is from the end of the strut to the flange edge on the strut, the longer is to the underside of the cup itself take on the inside face of the strut (that is opposite the hub flange).

[classicswede]

From memory the early 1.4 had teh spring cup in a differnt position. Not sure if it was higher or lower. As already suggested you need to measure and compare

[Nimminz]

I was never sure what made a GLT "factory-lowered" in the front

I always thourght they were lower at the back and the front was the same height?

Hope you get it sorted mate!

[Evoman]

Thanks macp

To clarify, the measurements are to the bottom of the strut tube? to where is joins the hub?

I m not clear on the flange edge you mention on the strut

Thanks for all your help so far

[macplaxton]

To clarify, the measurements are to the bottom of the strut tube? to where is joins the hub?

To clarify:
Bottom:


Long and short:

[Evoman]

Perfect, Ill shall meaure them tommorow or friday thanks again!

[Ride_on]

Saloon struts are different again, on 360s anyway.

[macplaxton]

Physically different, or just a different part number? I looked through loads of part number yesterday, but all it told me was that Volvo used a few basic strut housings (3 at last guess) and a load more of different dampers inserts with the odd different spring.