I'm sure I read on here somewhere that the adaptor inserts (to take the Transit ball joint) for the Sierra 4x4 front uprights are a different size from other Sierra front uprights. Of course, I can't find a trace of it now!

Can someone please confirm?

Thanks,

Martin

Yup, the struts for a 4x4 are a bit thicker, so you need bigger inserts. MK told me once he'd happily do a one off - dunno about the price though.

Aint makin a 4WD, are you?

Liam

Yup. Gonna have a go!

Martin

Martin the brecky i owe you is going cold,ill be there sunday

Hi John,

Hoping to get a Sunday off very soon now. Will be in touch as soon as I know when.

Cheers, Martin.

Did I dream it, or did Merlin used to make 4x4 inserts?

Martin

probly a bad dream,ive got some ally bar you could use just need a lathe to make them in

I'm doing a 4x4 and cut the bottom 4 inches from the strut, inverted it, welded a tapered tube (12mm long woth the transit taper) to the top and still have to add a couple of flanges for strength. Not ideal, but free and I will be fabrlicating the cycle wing brackets to hide most of it. You'll find some pic on my site www.fk2.co.uk.

Hi Ewan,

Seriously thinking of going this route. How did you fabricate the tapered tube, particularly getting it tapered to the right angle?

Cheers,

Martin

I took a piece of tube I had lying around, cut it to 13mm long, cut a slot (wider at the one end than the other) along its length. Then using the taper, I clamped the cut tube to the taper using a pair of mole grips. Then welded up the slot.

I plan running a taper through it before final build just to make it a 100% fit, but at present it is a very snug fit.

I will also weld a couple of flanges to it when i do my final build to stregthen it

I am sure an engineering shop would make one for a few beers.

My idea is to make as much as I can myself rather than pay some esle to do it.

Thanks Ewan.

Not confident enough in my engineering skills to get the taper bit accurate enough. If I can get the local engineering shop to make up the taper bit for me I'll fabricate the rest myself from the old strut.

Cheers,

Martin

A bit off topic but since this topic was already open, and i guess some of you know.. where i can buy adapters for the normal sierra uprights?

-P

lolocost and MK can supply inserts for regular sierra hubs. MK's look rather nicer but also more expensive IIRC. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Kingr

In know (as I have them) the MK ones (£20 each!!!) have the benefit of the taper being off-set which gives you the opportunity to change camber/castor.

Not sure if Lolocosts let you do that.

Also, the MK ones are case hardened- a lot I've seen are just mild steel- not sure if it matters or not.

HTH,

James

Right, finally cracked it!

Bought two inserts (for normal Sierra uprights) from Lolocost for £40 inc postage. Cut the old McPherson strut to required length. The insert goes about 10mm into the strut before sticking. If you put the strut in the oven (while the wifes out 'cos it stinks!) and put the insert in the freezer for about an hour, one good whack of a hammer does the job. Once it cools it aint goin' nowhere! I know 'cos I had to take it apart again. A run of weld around the top and job done.
One additional bonus of this is that, by definition, those of us going the 4x4 route are having to redesign our front end suspension set up. This allows us to set the height (within reason) of the transit ball joint above the upright to suit whatever wishbone configuration we are using.
Photo in archive, although not finished yet 'cos I want to do it at the last minute, once I'm sure everthing is is exactly how I want it. I'll post more pictures as I progress.

Cheers, Martin.