Rear damper thread size - Ali Arms

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:20 pm

I've got the first side back on the car and have come across the first problem!

My rear dampers have a 12mm diameter bush and the steel insert in the ali arms is 14mm, question is what is the pitch?

I've tried a M14x2 in it, and it's finer than that, which most probably makes it a M14x1.5. But before I get an adapter made up so I can fit the dampers can anyone confirm this?

Thanks!

Lightweight_911 · Post by **Lightweight_911** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:59 pm

Yes - it's M14 x 1.5

It's quite a few years since I last did this swap - but can't you just use the later lower shock bush with the std M14 x 1.5 bolt ?

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 6:33 pm

Thanks Andy, I guess so, do you have any old bushes spare! It would be easier than turning up a stud.

dizzycap · Post by **dizzycap** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:38 pm

I did this too. You're trying to maintain your original (pre-ali bananas) rear dampers right? I simply got out a drill and drilled the bottom bush on the old shocks from 12mm to 14mm. A bit crude, i suppose but it worked.
Good luck!

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:42 pm

Yes, the dampers are in decent condition, so no need to replace. I thought about drilling them out, but I'm not convinced there is enough meat in the bush, and I don't have a 14mm bit anyway!

I going to ring Bilstein tomorrow and try to get replacements.

davidppp · Post by **davidppp** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:20 pm

Hi Gary

Drilling the bush has worked for me too...

You only need enough materila left to support s bit of tension in the bolt: Loktite even lowers that!

Kind regards
David