The Suspension Thread
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- spetz
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Wouldn't that make the other arms work at an angle?
I assume the stock bush is centered in the middle?
I assume the stock bush is centered in the middle?
- the real technikhaus
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Coming to FTO Australia for advice.... Facepalm.


- Bennoz
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Perhaps you should have left the massive wall of waffle out & some of the Gen Y kids here may have actually read it rather than tl;dr'ing itthe real technikhaus wrote:Coming to FTO Australia for advice.... Facepalm.

What you wrote:
What you should have written:the real technikhaus wrote:Hey guys!
Not sure if i should put this here or in its own thread so mods feel free to move![]()
So went in for a WoF (Warrant of Fitness) today! Was really good, got 20c off per litre for that and 4 cents off when I bought new Oil, Filter, Petrol Injector cleaner, and Antifreeze coolant! So like 24 cents off a litre Oh and petrol prices have dropped! YAY now 98 only costs like $2.279 or 2.039 with the discount!
But anyway... money is only half of the topic of interest. The main part is the WoF and its requirements (BTW, every time I go and get a WoF I get complimented on the car:D I Love it!... Wow... I'm getting off topic...)
Anyway. Thankfully had a really nice guy who passed the car, and pointed out moisture around the front passenger shock absorber. He said that before the next WoF it will need to be replaced. So I thought... maybe its time to do a full suspension kit upgrade? I don't necessarily want to lower the car... yet. So adjustable's are looking promising so that I can lower it now, but lift it back up when I get the body kit and new rims as well as many other benefits
However, they come with a huge price and the need for a Cert Plate...
Anyone have any recommendations or comments about this? I've seen a fully adjustable kit for around $1k not including shipping and a Tien Racing kit for around 1.5k not Incl. Shipping.
Dont really have that much...I mean, for that I can have body kit!!!
So that's the delio...
Oh and I need to reseal my foggie pods Had a bit of water in them... hopefully will be sanding the inside to remove the vertical lines making it clear!
Nick.
EDIT: And no I haven't quite read through this whole thread yet so sorry If you need to repeat a little. I'll get there eventually
Then you should have taken your own advice:the real technikhaus wrote:So I thought... maybe its time to do a full suspension kit upgrade? I don't necessarily want to lower the car... yet. So adjustable's are looking promising so that I can lower it now, but lift it back up when I get the body kit and new rims as well as many other benefits
Anyone have any recommendations or comments about this? I've seen a fully adjustable kit for around $1k not including shipping and a Tien Racing kit for around 1.5k not Incl. Shipping.
Then you'd have a pretty good idea as to whats available, for how much & where from.the real technikhaus wrote:EDIT: And no I haven't quite read through this whole thread yet so sorry If you need to repeat a little. I'll get there eventually
This information was brought to you courtesy of FTO Australia. HTH

- Shane001
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Bennoz wrote:This information was brought to you courtesy of FTO Australia. HTH


- Shane001
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Re: The Suspension Thread
OK my rear trailing arms are now out, from the pic below it now makes sense how this bush installs.
Now I just have to get the old bushes out. Ben, any chance I can drop by and use your press tomorrow
Now I just have to get the old bushes out. Ben, any chance I can drop by and use your press tomorrow

- Bennoz
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Your welcome to try, but I don't reckon you'll get that off on my press. I had to used my mechanics big one to get it out. Plus he had a monster socket that fit under the bush which sort of created the perfect jig.
Be easier cutting a slice in the bush sleeve with a pneumatic saw I'd reckon.
Be easier cutting a slice in the bush sleeve with a pneumatic saw I'd reckon.
- Vectose
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Are you feeling alright Ben?Bennoz wrote:Your welcome to try, but I don't reckon you'll get that off on my press. I had to used my mechanics big one to get it out. Plus he had a monster socket that fit under the bush which sort of created the perfect jig.
Be easier cutting a slice in the bush sleeve with a pneumatic saw I'd reckon.

Bennoz wrote:A whoooole lot 'o jismTechnikhaus wrote:What is in said Bens big penis by the way?
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Re: The Suspension Thread
I'll get it:



- Shane001
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Re: The Suspension Thread
OK, had a chat with Ben yesterday and a bit more of a think about this, and decided to go to town on the bush with my cordless drill 
I used a 6mm drill bit and drilled holes all around the outside of the rubber bush as close as possible together, then drilled at an angle to cut out as much of the rest, then finished off with the multi tool in the pic until the centre fell out. That's the easy bit out of the way!
Edit: The bent drill was a 4mm, a bit thin for this tough old rubber bush
Now to get the metal outer casing out. I did as Ben suggested and got a hacksaw to the casing from the inside, being careful not to cut too far as I didn't want to score the housing itself. Once this was cut through I got the hammer out and bent it down, then hammered a screwdriver in between the casing and the housing to separate them.
Now to do the other one. Then I just need to give them a good clean up and start putting it all back together

I used a 6mm drill bit and drilled holes all around the outside of the rubber bush as close as possible together, then drilled at an angle to cut out as much of the rest, then finished off with the multi tool in the pic until the centre fell out. That's the easy bit out of the way!
Edit: The bent drill was a 4mm, a bit thin for this tough old rubber bush

Now to get the metal outer casing out. I did as Ben suggested and got a hacksaw to the casing from the inside, being careful not to cut too far as I didn't want to score the housing itself. Once this was cut through I got the hammer out and bent it down, then hammered a screwdriver in between the casing and the housing to separate them.
Now to do the other one. Then I just need to give them a good clean up and start putting it all back together

- Bennoz
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Nicely done
Press-less bush removal

Press-less bush removal

- Shane001
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Yep, and potentially this is better for the housing as well, as you're not scraping the bush casing on the housing as you press it out.Bennoz wrote: Press-less bush removal
Interesting the casing did seem to have 'fused' a little to the housing also. Even after cutting it I had to jimmy it free of the housing almost all the way around with a screwdriver. I guess heat and pressure over time.
- Bennoz
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Which is why I found it such a c@nt to press out I imagine...
- zuihoujueding
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- Technikhaus
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Re: The Suspension Thread
are the front struts the cartridge type, if you know what I mean?
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- Technikhaus
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Re: The Suspension Thread
Bump?Technikhaus wrote:are the front struts the cartridge type, if you know what I mean?
Nick's FTO needs new suspension,
We went into a suspension store, they sell Bilstein suspension, and can order in suspension cartridges.
They said to confirm that the FTO's suspension accepts cartridges...
Any ideas?
thanks.
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- Bennoz
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Re:
Way back in 2007...
With a big fat 24mm swaybar now on the way from Signature Swaybars, I figured I might need to revisit this, as there's gonna be some serious stress on the stock droplinks.
I recall having words with the Whiteline techs back in 07, telling them how sh*t their joints were. I just gave them a call a few minutes ago and low & behold, they adressed the problem
Here is the new style of ball joint available with this kit (obviously turn one end around when locking it in place to suit us.)
A proper style ball joint that is able to deal with the lateral stresses that the old style couldn't.

Direct Link here: http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_det ... _vehicle=1
They retail for about $170 odd bucks, but if you can buy at trade price, they come in just under $150 bucks
The part number has changed slightly, the old part number was KLC40 - 195, these new ones are KLC140 - 195
Have got a set on order!
Some of you may recall, back then in 2007 I did this droplink mod. I ended up binning them because of the super poor quality of the ball joints.Bennoz wrote:As promised, here this weeks suspension tweak![]()
Am going to try what has been previously unavailable for the FTO - Upgraded front droplinks. The rears are available as a standard Whiteline upgrade, but the fronts have not been previously.
Like a few of you, I run the 18mm adjustable Whiteline swaybar up front & compared to the standard sway, it tends to wear out the front droplinks at a much quicker rate than the norm.
With a standard set of droplinks costing around $120 (landed in Aus from Camskill - the cheapest available) I reckon this $197 pack is well worthwhile. If this works, Whiteline will add it to their FTO parts listing.
Matching up the length to the old droplinks - put the new units in a vice to tighten the locknuts on either end of them once you have the length right.
Top end with 6mm spacer sleeve
Had to buy these seperate. 4 x M10 by 50mm high tensile bolts & nyloc nuts to suit
On car
Bottom (swaybar) link with 4mm spacer sleeve
With a big fat 24mm swaybar now on the way from Signature Swaybars, I figured I might need to revisit this, as there's gonna be some serious stress on the stock droplinks.
I recall having words with the Whiteline techs back in 07, telling them how sh*t their joints were. I just gave them a call a few minutes ago and low & behold, they adressed the problem

Here is the new style of ball joint available with this kit (obviously turn one end around when locking it in place to suit us.)
A proper style ball joint that is able to deal with the lateral stresses that the old style couldn't.

Direct Link here: http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_det ... _vehicle=1
They retail for about $170 odd bucks, but if you can buy at trade price, they come in just under $150 bucks

The part number has changed slightly, the old part number was KLC40 - 195, these new ones are KLC140 - 195
Have got a set on order!

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The Suspension Thread
f**k I just done my ball joints
- PHIL069
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Re: The Suspension Thread
How about organising a group buy Sir Bennoz.
May even get them cheaper.
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May even get them cheaper.
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mikeey01nzl wrote:Hats off to you too Phil for spending so much time on the phone trying to help someone out, your a top man and only a few would've spent so much time. well done!![]()
Daniel2019 wrote:Come on phil, we bonded at the bonfire, lets be honest here...me and phil are besties now...![]()
- Bennoz
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Re: The Suspension Thread
How bout I just buy whoever wants a set at my trade pricePHIL069 wrote:How about organising a group buy Sir Bennoz.
May even get them cheaper.
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