Hi, when looking at my rear chassis tonight I have ralised that my spax shock my be too long for the book lower axle mount position. The shocks came from a Westfield. They are 13.5 inches between eyes when not fitted.
So, I think I may have to cut off the shock bracket and mount the lower shock on the same bolt as the upper trailing link.
The shock has 7/16 bushes, I am using 10mm bushes.
Can I get replacement 10mm bushes for the shock (2 only)?
Can I get long high tensile bolts long enough the pass through the trailing link and shock in 10mm?
Advice much appreciated.
Cheers.

You may be able to get (or DIY) an internal sleeve for the 7/16ths shock opening.

The theoretical size difference, would be 1.12mm, which even though that would make the wall thickness of the sleeve to be just over 1/2mm it's still poss IMO.

On top of that, the size of a 10mm set screw, could be a little less than 10mm so that would make the wall thickness more, and easier to make...

If you can't get bushes you can make some or get some made from some Nylon type bar. Bolts should be available for the length you need but weld some more support so they are not in single shear supporting the shock where they stick out from the trailing arm bracket.

You should have no problems getting long HT M10 bolts from a decent fastener supplier (Namrick go up to M10x150 in 8.8)


You may be able to get M10 bushes from Spax if you call them.

As said by Peteff single shear isn't a great idea for a coil over shock.

Can you explain the term "single shear" please?

Sure, single shear is where the bolt is supported only on one side, double shear is where it's supported on both sides.

This diagram should help.

Page 74 / 75 of the second edition book look like single shear shock mounts. I'll make mine similar with an extra bracket to make them double shear. Cheers.

westfield mount them in single shear the way you describe on the escort axle.

I made an extra bracket for my axle and did what you describe using a long 7/16th bolt but now in double shear.

although instead of getting the car on the road i made a de-dion axle instead

I bought my shocks from Dampertech. The guy there, Dave Ainsworth, (sales@dampertech.co.uk) was really helpful. He supplied me with sleeves to allow the shocks to be mounted using M10 bolts. The bush was 1/2" and he sent me sleeves to take them down to 3/8".

HTH

JB

Can you give me some advice on making Nylon bushes. Where can I buy the material?