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Fitting sierra strut top bearings


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I've done a search back to find all I can on fitting the sierra bearings.

It seems the consensus is that the sierra bearings is the best solution.

Is there anywhere where I can find blow by blow instructions on how to carry this mod out?

I've read about how machining the cone gives a better result but I can't find the basic instructions anywhere.

 

Ta in advance.

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Hi Chilly,

 

The job itself is reasonably straightforward. You obviously have to remove the complete front suspension legs -

1. Undo the two bolts that hold the steering arms to the legs and then the remaining bolt that holds the brake caliper ( i have made up two hooks so i can just hang them to the inner wing).

2. you will now need to remove the split pins and undo the 21mm castle nuts from the bottom swivel joint and get this broken - i have a really good splitter that does not damage the rubber seals.

3. once broken I have a six foot steel bar to push the bottom link and the antil roll bar down so that I can pull the bottom of the leg out of the way.

4. undo the three half inch nuts at the top and withdraw the leg complete.

5. Now with the leg on the bench.If the rubber strut bellows are still in place now is the time to undo the cable tie and push the bottom end upwards.

6. You can now compress the springs (take extreme care with this part)and then undo the big nut on the top of the insert.

7. Note how the upper spring pan,the dished washer, the cone, the big steel washer and the rubber top are placed and pay particular attention to getting everything clean (a great deal of the steering stiffness is caused by the lack of lubrication to these components.

8. The instructions I have say now discard the washer UKC9395,the nylon collar UKC329 and the the rubber seal ULC2043 (although I have kept the rubber seal and use it around the new bearing).

9. Now with everything all cleaned up I would also replace the top and bottom spring rubbers and take this oppertunity to paint all of the components (check the rubber strut top mounts for corrosion and splitting).

10. Reasembly is now possible - place the spring back on the leg with the upper pan in place also.

11. next comes the new bearing with a washer on the top

12. next the solid cone, the strut mount, and the dished washer.

13. Next the big nut - I use a gun to remove and do up the nut (sometimes you will have to wedge the dished washer to stop the insert spinning).

14. with the nut done up you can now release the spring compressors checking that everything is correctly located on the way.

15. Refit the assembly to the car as per my notes above.

 

Also worth checking - the bottom swivel condition and whilst the leg is out take time to clean out the top of the turret and deal with any rust.

 

Hope these notes help, if you need any more info please shout.

 

Cheers

Ian

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Thank you very much Ian - very good instructions.

 

I've read a post by JohnG about having the cones machined which retains the original ride height and ensures there's still plenty of thread left for the top nut. Sounds well worth doing while fitting the bearings as you describe.

 

 

Chris

Edited by chilly
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Hi Chris,

 

The bearings are either Sierra or MK5 Escort strut top bearings which should be widely available.

 

As to machining the cone I have no experience of the effects this creates as I havn't bothered - I have been running my 8 without power steering, prefering a 1981 TR7 rack and the sierra top for about five or so years now and have probably covered around 25 - 30k miles in that time.

 

My only notes are that I have pulled the units apart a few times as the rubber gaitors have split and I changed the shock absorbers - I am happy with the ride and feel.

 

Cheers

Ian

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Cheers Keith,

 

That looks interesting, is there any chance you could PM me a larger version of that photo.

 

I have never experienced difficuties with lack of available thread fom the insert, but I am interested in finding out more on this modification.

 

Regards

Ian

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Cheers Keith,

 

That looks interesting, is there any chance you could PM me a larger version of that photo.

 

I have never experienced difficuties with lack of available thread fom the insert, but I am interested in finding out more on this modification.

 

Regards

Ian

 

 

To TR8Ian:

If your instructions have not been published already in TRAction, would it not be helpful to the TR7/8 fraternity if you could turn this into an article, perhaps with some drawings or photos. it seems to me that this is just the sort of contribution we need in our magazine.

Ian Cornish

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Hi Ian,

 

Im quite happy to write this up as a report for TR Action, I think I would like to see what Keith has to say about the cone conversion and add that in.

 

If anybody has any other comments or additions to my above notes please come forward now.

 

Cheers

Ian

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To TR8Ian

Excellent! Get all the information you need and check any details with others - I have always had my technical articles vetted by others (such as Ian Gibson, Pete Cox, Neil Revington and Alec Pringle) as it's all too easy to miss some vital detail, take something for granted or accidentally include some ambiguity (technical, not rude!) which another's critical eye may spot before it is committed to print in the magazine.

Those of you with TR7/8s must be going through the sort of problems which those of us with the original TR 4-pot cars had in the 1960s and 1970s, and those with IRS cars suffered in the 1970s and 1980s (when suspensions collapsed and diffs fell out!), so it is very important that advice and modifications such as yours is documented for the benefit of others.

Ian Cornish

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Hi Ian F,

 

I'll second Ian C's comment, good one to write up, and well worth having your article scanned by someone else too. In my time as TR Action tech ed I found it invaluable to have articles and responses checked over by fresh eyes.

 

Ian C's reference to my vetting his writings could be misconstrued, I fear - yes I have my modest areas of specialist knowledge, but nothing remotely like the TR expertise of Ian G, Pete or Neil I'm afraid . . . .

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

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Hi Ian F,

 

I'll second Ian C's comment, good one to write up, and well worth having your article scanned by someone else too. In my time as TR Action tech ed I found it invaluable to have articles and responses checked over by fresh eyes.

 

Ian C's reference to my vetting his writings could be misconstrued, I fear - yes I have my modest areas of specialist knowledge, but nothing remotely like the TR expertise of Ian G, Pete or Neil I'm afraid . . . .

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

 

 

 

Just having a second opinion, even if from a non-expert, is invaluable.

Frequently, I get my wife to read my ramblings for two reasons:

(a) she is as pernickety as me about use of the English language

(B) as an intelligent non-expert, she will point out where my explanation fails, which gives me the opportunity to improve matters.

Whenever our son (29 years) sends us something for comments, he has both parents castigating him on spelling, grammar and usage! But he still keeps coming back!

 

Alec - don't put yourself down, your thoughts on technical matters are appreciated and seldom wrong. I think you are old enough to know what you don't know and honest enough to say so.

 

Ian Cornish

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Many Thanks Odd,

 

Keith had also forwarded them to me as well so I can put together a write up for TR Action.

 

If there are any other points you think I should add to my list above I would appreciate your input.

 

Cheers

Ian

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