Top mounts confusion! Advice/help/suggestions needed!

[Novaload_Nick]

Right, something just doesn't seem right with my top mounts. They are original items mounted to my gaz coilovers. I know the way I have put them together is correct.

Im confused because when I tighten the nut down tight, instead of turning on the bearing the piston rod seems to turn in the coilover housing, if I slacken the nut of a little bit it turns on the bearing nicely but the top brass cup turns under the strut nut, which doesn't seem right. Major confusion.

This is how they are put together

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/Novaload_Nick/464E1772-D2EA-44CE-91EA-200CEE127471.jpg (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/Novaload_Nick/media/464E1772-D2EA-44CE-91EA-200CEE127471.jpg.html)

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/Novaload_Nick/C107CE5B-A95F-4205-9355-48DCF5C84B9C.jpg (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/Novaload_Nick/media/C107CE5B-A95F-4205-9355-48DCF5C84B9C.jpg.html)

what I need to know is on your nova does the brass cup swivel under the top mount nut or does it stay still and the strut piston turn in the coilover housing

any help appreciated if it's not too confusing! Help.

Nick

[Benn]

The pistons always turns i find. Using a air gun normally does it, but some times it the nylock nut that holds it to tight and makes the piston turn.

I swapped to normal nuts just done up bloody tight.
i have all the same top mount bits you do there. Sure the brass cup stays in place and the pistons turns in it...

[Novaload_Nick]

Cheers benn, seems to make the whole point of a bearing useless doesn't it. Weird

[Benn]

No, the whole top mount will move on the bearing when the cars weight is on it iirc.
IT's only cause its non weighted that it moves the piston.

[Mieran]

I usually put mole grips on the shock rod to stop it from spinning (make sure you to use a thick cloth to avoid damaging the rod).

I've done this way tens of times without any issues before anyone says it will damage anything

[Pistol Pete]

I ground a notch out of a angled spanner to sit square over the nut and clear the top mount cup. Then got another spanner over piston rod tip.

I'd be wary of gripping the rod with molegrips.

[Edd]

How about using the correct spanners in the first place? lol that will work

[Benn]

Not true edd, as the top turns to adjust the dampening. So the top turns and you can hold it tight. The end bit looks the same as mine with it round.. so nothing to hold too.

[Novaload_Nick]

It's not doing the nut up I'm on about it's just the function of the top mount I was wondering about, sorted now

[dgbnova#1]

Right, something just doesn't seem right with my top mounts. They are original items mounted to my gaz coilovers. I know the way I have put them together is correct.

Im confused because when I tighten the nut down tight, instead of turning on the bearing the piston rod seems to turn in the coilover housing, if I slacken the nut of a little bit it turns on the bearing nicely but the top brass cup turns under the strut nut, which doesn't seem right. Major confusion.

This is how they are put together

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/Novaload_Nick/464E1772-D2EA-44CE-91EA-200CEE127471.jpg (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/Novaload_Nick/media/464E1772-D2EA-44CE-91EA-200CEE127471.jpg.html)

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/Novaload_Nick/C107CE5B-A95F-4205-9355-48DCF5C84B9C.jpg (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/Novaload_Nick/media/C107CE5B-A95F-4205-9355-48DCF5C84B9C.jpg.html)

what I need to know is on your nova does the brass cup swivel under the top mount nut or does it stay still and the strut piston turn in the coilover housing

any help appreciated if it's not too confusing! Help.

Nick

is there not a washer missing in the top photo goes on top of the alloy dome part?

[dgbnova#1]

Or is that it on the left just not in your lineup?

[Novaload_Nick]

Yeah I've tried it with and without the washer, seems no difference

[Benn]

Thinking about it. In your 1st photo, the 2nd bit from bottom, that's the wrong way up (it's its layed out how its fits to the car) as the bit in the photo so be facing down as that touches the bearing....

[Craigy]

once the cars weight is on it, it will be fine, ive done loads of cars that do this

[craig green]

/\ Kinda what I did, got the nuts on as far as I could, fitted the struts & lowered the car down, then with the weight of the car over the struts, the pistons dont turn & the nuts wind on the rest of the way nicely.

Who suggested mole grips on the piston rod FFS?

[Mieran]

Like I said I've done it 10s of times with no issues, you have to be a complete douche to mess it up.

If youre that worries clamp it at the highest point, that part of the rod shouldn't go through the seal anyway unless you're running on the bump stops!