Installing AP coilovers - is this right!? - photo

Tommmygunnn

Tommmygunnn

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Hi all,

Can anyone confirm who has fitted AP coilovers, or can check theirs can you confirm this is correct and similar to yours?

My mechanic is mid way through fitting them and is just questioning this lip towards the bottom of the strut, on the stock shocks the lip is lower down the strut and also acts as a retainer for the bolt if anything went wrong.

Forgive my lack of correct terminology as fitting suspension is well past my mechanical knowledge.

We have checked they are the correct AP model for the car that have been sent.



Cheers,
Tom
 
I can’t vouch for AP Coilovers but I’ve had my front struts off a couple of times. The strut should go all the way into the hub until it stops, it won’t go all the way through because there’s a lip/register in the bottom of sleeve. The lug that you’ve pictured is just for positioning and doesn’t hold any load.


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Also, and it might just be the picture but the strut doesn’t look in line to me and could be picking up. Completely remove the pinch bolt and gently open the clamp a bit with a wedge or chisel....


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Yes the tab should be right down in the slot and the pitch bolt should just miss the curved bit. I normally remove the hub to get the shock properly seated


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Thanks for the replies chaps. So from that photo you think it looks like the strut isn't seated properly and should go a further down into the hub. Possibly he needs to remove the hub or get some more slack on the clamp for the pinch bolt to allow to strut to move down more?

here is another photo if it helps

 
The OEM strut pokes out from the bottom of the hub a little bit but not all of the way round. If you feel underneath you should know if it’s all the way in. What I did was remove the pinch bold and put a bit of weight under the hub with a jack, then wobble the strut until it goes in. You’ll know....


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Looking at your photo there appears to be a mark from machining about 1” above the top of the hub, just inline with the top of the tab.

when compared to the tab and bolt I’d say that’s how much further in the strut has to go.
 
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abmat said:
Looking at your photo there appears to be a mark from machining about 1” above the top of the hub, just inline with the top of the tab.

when compared to the tab and bolt I’d say that’s how much further in the strut has to go.
Click to expand...

Yeah agree you can see the bottom of the tab in the hole preventing the bolt going in properly


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As a bit more info I fed this back to the mechanic. He says if the strut drops down any further it will hit the cv joint due to the wing/tab position. The bolt will go through, it just looks odd that its sticking out the top something doesn't seem correct
 
I don't understand what he means, I've done loads of spring/coilover swaps on the 8P chassis and the strut should go all the way down until it hits the stop in the bottom of the hub which is maybe 5mm or so from the bottom (you can feel it) ...It can't go any further!
Can you take a picture from below the hub showing the bottom of the strut?
 
Appreciate this because it took me ages haha. Zoom in to the end of the arrow and you’ll see the point where the bottom of the strut goes to, it cannot go all the way through....

51b5713f099b209ece57f2cd4e2b6002.jpg



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But it will poke out slightly here...

294a650462c3939b64538c4b7a2a5431.jpg



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Thanks JON for the photo bud its appreciated. I'm sure it is going all the way to the bottom as he mentioned he can get the bolt through. I think the main concern really was just the wing/tab sitting proud of the hub, it just looks a bit odd. He definitely knows what he's doing as he owns his own reputable garage. I was hoping someone with AP coilovers may be able to confirm theirs also looks like this at the hub.
 
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YorkieTom said:
Thanks JON for the photo bud its appreciated. I'm sure it is going all the way to the bottom as he mentioned he can get the bolt through. I think the main concern really was just the wing/tab sitting proud of the hub, it just looks a bit odd. He definitely knows what he's doing as he owns his own reputable garage. I was hoping someone with AP coilovers may be able to confirm theirs also looks like this at the hub.
Click to expand...
If its sitting right down at the bottom then the position of the tab is irrelevant tbh, like the pictures supplied above shows it CAN'T go past this point so there is no worry about hitting the driveshaft!
Have a feel underneath with your finger and put your mind at rest, if its sat down then its all good

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As above, the tab is there for positioning. They often break off but as long as the strut is in the right place it doesn’t matter, once tightened it’s going nowhere. While we’re at it, make sure your mechanic gets the top mounts in the correct position, the arrows are easy to miss....


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Picture of the underneath when I fitted lowering springs to mine (8V but principle is the same) so you can see how the damper sits in the hub.
You can also see the tab on the left
83a8003c998c4eb2c8cdafbe953108ed.jpg



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J0N said:
As above, the tab is there for positioning. They often break off but as long as the strut is in the right place it doesn’t matter, once tightened it’s going nowhere. While we’re at it, make sure your mechanic gets the top mounts in the correct position, the arrows are easy to miss....


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Click to expand...


I quite enjoyed taking mine apart again once I noticed the arrow on the top mount of the second one :rage::rage::rage: lol.
 
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danrst171 said:
I quite enjoyed taking mine apart again once I noticed the arrow on the top mount of the second one :rage::rage::rage: lol.
Click to expand...

Haha, how do you think I know about this common error?? Only I put both sides on and drove around for a couple of months! Oh the joys of motoring??


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