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Rear damper thread size - Ali Arms
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:20 pm
by Gary71
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!

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:59 pm
by Lightweight_911
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 ?
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 6:33 pm
by Gary71
Thanks Andy, I guess so, do you have any old bushes spare! It would be easier than turning up a stud.
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:38 pm
by dizzycap
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!
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:42 pm
by Gary71
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.
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:20 pm
by davidppp
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