Buying new strut rods....options?

[shadango]

Ray,

Hoping you still visit this forum and have subscribed to this thread....

I cant find the email where you told me what the torque should be on the front mounting bolt and it is still not a shown anywhere in the online instructions.

I am having an issue with the front connector rotating out of the 2 o'clock position to more of a 9/3 oclock position.

HELP!

Thx

[Doomed]

Try this:

raycostello@cogeco.ca     
 

 

Kyle.

[brads70]

Ray,

I am having an issue with the front connector rotating out of the 2 o'clock position to more of a 9/3 oclock position.

HELP!

Thx

You might have to drill and tap for, say a 5/16 or 3/8 bolt through the front of the K-Frame and into the aluminum part of the strut rod to keep it from spinning? On my K-frame it is not perfectly flat in that area but with the stock set up (rubber bushing) it doesn't matter so much as the rubber conforms to the shape and won't spin? I'd say you could tighten that till the cows come home and it still will spin because it's not sitting on a flat machined surface and the aluminum won't conform to the shape?
That's one reason I built my own, I wanted it to still be mounted in rubber with a rod end, no one made that style of set up? Cap seems to be a tough guy to get in touch with? I phoned 3 times  and left messages wanting to ask some questions about strength and durability for a street car .  I was all set to buy one and try it? I couldn't wait anymore and built my own? 

[72bluNblu]

Brad-

Ray can be a little difficult to get a hold of sometimes, although he usually doesn't disappear for long.

As far as durability, I run a set of CAP strut rods, and have for about 2 years now. I've never had any issues with them, including them loosening up. And believe me, I've pounded my share of potholes. 

The only minor snag I had with mine was when the local alignment shop had one of their less talented guys try to adjust my driver's side strut rod with a set of lock jaws, which dinged up the knurled section of the aluminum rods.    But even with the cosmetic damage the rods have held up fine.

[Cuda54]

Brads70 didn't you post pics of the ones you made? I was looking for them but I could not find them. Do you have a link? Thanks!

[brads70]

Brads70 didn't you post pics of the ones you made? I was looking for them but I could not find them. Do you have a link? Thanks!

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=74858.0

[shadango]

Ray is confusing me (easliy done) and has me worried (also easily done)....

First he said that the struts should have extra ("ample") threads at each end showing.......I sent him pics of mine showing only a couple threads each end and he then says that there should only be a couple threads showing but in the same email says "there is clearly something wrong" and to check the struts....

Check for what!?!?     And why is there something  :22yikes:clearly wrong??

Now he has me panicking.

Of course, I ran the car all last season with them and no major catastrophes yet.

I guess this is one reason some folks like to stick with stock stuff....less headaches....

72blunblu -- any chance you have pics you can share of yours installed?

[dodj]

Ray is confusing me (easliy done) and has me worried (also easily done)....

   

[brads70]

Post up a picture? The general rule of thumb for thread engagement in steel is 1 1/2 times the diameter. eg. 1/2" thread  should have a minimum of 3/4" engagement. Aluminum is 2x the diameter .

[72bluNblu]

Sure- I think these should work. I don't have a ton of threads showing either, I just adjusted mine until the everything moved up and down without binding. I believe my alignment shop tweaked them a bit when they did my alignment to correct for the changes, but that was it. Also, you may want to do something about the ends, buggers rust.

Man my car is dirty....   Stupid rain.

[shadango]

I dont have anywhere near that amount of thread on the drivers side....about half that amount on the passenger side....

[brads70]

I dont have anywhere near that amount of thread on the drivers side....about half that amount on the passenger side....

Are you comenting on 72bluNblu's picture? What size threads are they? I made mine 5/8"?

[shadango]

Are you comenting on 72bluNblu's picture? What size threads are they? I made mine 5/8"?

Yes

What I meant was I dont have that many threads exposed once installed/adjusted.

[brads70]

Yes

What I meant was I dont have that many threads exposed once installed/adjusted.

Well no problem then!