20 replies to this topic

[carsten850]

Hiya,
Having a problem with the Gaz 2-way rear dampers on my mini during fitting:

With the dials fitted facing aft, the inboard one hits the hilo trumpet when it travels up (during compression)

With the dials facing forward, the outboard one hits the radius arm on full droop.

So Gaz tell me they have sold 200 sets without an issue.

So can somebody post some pics of theirs on the ground so I can see the rear dampers installed?

-do I neet to machine off 5-6mm off the hilo trumpet diameter??

Ta,
Carsten

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[imack]

I've got no experience of the gaz dampers but two things spring to mind from looking at that picture. Is the rear toe angle correct, as too much toe out will move the damper closer to the trumpet, and secondly, is that rubber cone compressed in its running position in that photo?
If its not compressed it looks very flat/ collapsed. If it is collapsed, then a new cone would alter the position of the hi lo flange and may cure the clearance problem.

[carsten850]

Hmm, yea, the toe issue did pop into my head and would indeed affect clearence there.. but its got fixed plates so I assumed the radius arm was where it should be.
-also the cones are fine and havent collapsed (in the pic its being jacked up slightly from full droop to the point it touches..)

The car is an ex race car, found in a barn but was used as an road weapon until a few years ago and the previous owner told me not to mess with the geo initially as it was rocksolid around roundabouts etc..
So who the heck knows..

[GraemeC]

What do you intend doing with the car? Competition, track day, weekend road warrior?

[nicklouse]

I would be checking the tracking. before anything else.

[Arthy]

This exactly happened to me when I fitted a new rear subby + cones. I ended up putting a few washers on to bring it out (as I had uni the next day!)

 

I have fixed brackets too although mine are the one way Gaz shocks. Been driving it like that for over a year now and it seems fine! Will check the tracking one day though

[carsten850]

Ok, just measured from the greaseport to the subframe fitting pin (to see if there is a difference from side to side)
-they are the same... so that makes me think there is a slightly bent (phnarphnar) radius arm

I will throw some washers on as above to get it on wheels and do a geo to confirm or deny that!

Many thanks for the help guys, will let you know how I get along.

[nicklouse]

where are you going to put washers and what are they going to do?

 

and you measured what?

 

next question are the Hilos or some ones copy?

[imack]

Have you only got clearance issues on on side of the car?
As above, where are you going to put the washers that will adjust the clearance?

[carsten850]

Yea, scrub the washer idea.. wrong way around if i need clearence that way..

Original hilos

Measured from radius arm grease nipple to edge of subframe support pin ( flat one with two holes in..) and both sides where same distance

[nicklouse]

to be honest i would be getting the tracking looked at. just dont have those shocks fitted if you have to drive it. as you need to know what you are going to do. are you going to have to change the arms or are you just going to just fit some adjustable brackets to allow you to fix the toe and give the clearance you need.

[John Gervais]

I'm not familiar with these dampers, but what if you positioned them with the adjustment knobs facing forward instead of rearward?

[Northernpower]

I'm not familiar with these dampers, but what if you positioned them with the adjustment knobs facing forward instead of rearward?

If you read the first post this is what the OP said "with the dials facing forward, the outboard one hits the radius arm on full droop".

[GraemeC]

Theyre not left and right handed are they?

But again - whats the car for? If its a road car then I think you could end up spending time & money to fit some shocks that are potentially not ideal for the application.

[Artstu]

Theyre not left and right handed are they?

But again - whats the car for? If its a road car then I think you could end up spending time & money to fit some

shocks that are potentially not ideal for the application.

 

Dampers