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rob-legend
21-01-2009, 22:16
after fitting my avo's a while back i've noticed this (the car has been driven since the being fitted):

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm6/rob-legend/27092008228.jpg

is the rubber meant to be that high from the body work? :?
rob-legend
21-01-2009, 22:18
it really doesn't look right, plus one looks slightly more off centre compared to the other when you look at it from above, (if you get me) :?
MatBrown
21-01-2009, 22:41
Yeah, thats fine.


Mat.
katbloke
21-01-2009, 23:09
same as with normal shocks
white16valver
22-01-2009, 09:54
Really???

I understand that struts are held in place by the weight of the car to a certain extent, but surely that much 'gap' will mean that the body of the car is moving separately from the suspension??
stevie_b
22-01-2009, 11:47
It's normal, but I agree with you that it can't really be ideal. Whilst under load it shouldn't ever be an issue but if you hit a bump hard or get some air over a jump then I imagine it drops down until the 'nut' rests on the top of the strut tower and there is some 'slack' that comes into play as the car comes back down before the suspension proper comes into play?
rob-legend
22-01-2009, 16:16
huh? that confused me :oops: haha is it normal then yeah?
schakal
22-01-2009, 16:40
its a shit design ,
proper cars have the top mounts bolted to the turret :wink:
Wobba
22-01-2009, 16:58
I knew this to be an issue with AVO's and top mounts.

I did not use the big nut supplied by AVO. I used the slimmer Renault nut, and just the one, not the two per side from AVO.

When I get home I will post the correct build sequence for the top strut mount with a pic or two that I took to make mine an acceptable height, and even then tightened by hand not Impact gun.
rob-legend
22-01-2009, 17:33
i'm confused again wobba :oops:
richy
22-01-2009, 18:36
AVO supply there shockers with a large nut to hold the strut top on, which doesnt fit inside the top hat as shown in your pic, the proper renault nut is designed to fit inside which allows the top hat to sit lower/closer to the strut tower!
rob-legend
22-01-2009, 18:42
so like above, it is fine then?
richy
22-01-2009, 18:49
well it wont go anywhere! obviously if you get the front end close to airbourne then there will be more movement over using the std nuts but normal driving will be fine lol
Wobba
22-01-2009, 20:24
When building up a coilover strut like an AVO, the first thing I do is unwind the height adjustment so the spring will give 0% compression, totally uncompressed. I pull the damper up as high as it will go with gentle pressure so I can easily build the rest of the suspension whilst it rests on the top of the strut, as it should.

Below, I have shown a picture of the order of where the separate parts go:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/DSCF0231.jpg

Strut - AVO collar - Metal swivel doughnut - Big rubber doughnut - Top collar - Nut - Top mount.

Ok. The pic above shows the nuts supplied by AVO. I chose not to use these, and certainly did not need two of them on each strut!

Here is a standard Renault top mount kit nut:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/DSC01003.jpg

Fascinating, I am sure you will agree. As you may be able to tell it is slimmer than and not as thick as the AVO nuts. It helps get the top mount lower to the body of the car. It may seem flimsy, but is plenty enough.

Now, put the parts on in order as above. The metal swivel doughnut has to have the black swivelling part on the top, otherwise the top collar won’t go down the sleeve far enough.

Then goes on the big rubber doughnut

Next is the collar (the gold looking washer) which fits inside the rubber doughnut and rests on top, so it sits flush with the top of the rubber doughnut.

We now screw the Renault nut down over the strut to meet with the top collar. Do it up good and tight, but it does not have to be uber tight, just to compress the other parts and hold them down.

You can now compress the coilover unit using the height adjuster. Remember to undo the plastic locking lug thingy to let it move freely, and tighten it up when you are happy with the height settings.

You now have the maximum amount of space to screw the top mount onto the strut when you have it in place on the car itself. It can now screw down to the bottom of the thread on the top of the strut as there is nothing below it stopping it.

Any remaining gap between the top mount and the suspension turret is now minimised.

When doing up the top mount DO NOT use the adjuster as a way of holding the strut in place whilst you tighten the top mount. You use the bit below the adjuster, which has two faces to clamp onto to stop the strut spinning.

You should now have a happy strut fitted as best as it will go. Just remember to grease the splines, as seen here:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/DSCF0233.jpg

Job done! Happy Happy Willy Love!
rob-legend
02-02-2009, 20:56
hey richy, your avo's look like mine don't they? do you cain track days with 'em like that?
richy
02-02-2009, 21:14
hey richy, your avo's look like mine don't they? do you cain track days with 'em like that?


yeah mine look like the pics wobba has posted, and been hammered on track/nurburgring lol although ive just changed to 350lb springs from the std 250lb

had no fitting issues etc although i do use the proper renault nut not the ones supplied by AVO, only issue i had was 1 started leaking at the top but they lasted almost 2 year before this happened!
rob-legend
02-02-2009, 22:18
ok then, itsjust i'm sure i've heard stories of the strut tops denting the underside of bonnets on cars on this forum before, a while back like.
white16valver
13-02-2009, 21:37
Having always been fine, I noticed this weekend just gone that my top mounts have just come away like in the first pic :?

I think it's because I banged down a massive pothole I didn't see, but it is still annoying...

I need to go and find a bridge to get air on so I can drop them down again and hope they stick LoL
Wobba
14-02-2009, 19:36
Here are my AVO's. One is a little higher than the other for some odd reason, but that could be because it's parked at angle:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/DSC011091.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/DSC011101.jpg
rob-legend
24-03-2009, 20:51
When building up a coilover strut like an AVO, the first thing I do is unwind the height adjustment so the spring will give 0% compression, totally uncompressed. I pull the damper up as high as it will go with gentle pressure so I can easily build the rest of the suspension whilst it rests on the top of the strut, as it should.

Below, I have shown a picture of the order of where the separate parts go:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/DSCF0231.jpg

Strut - AVO collar - Metal swivel doughnut - Big rubber doughnut - Top collar - Nut - Top mount.

which parts are avo, and which renault?

is there anyway to get these to sit closer to the bodywork? there seems to be a hell of alot of movement in them :?
MAXIBOY
24-03-2009, 22:06
solid top mounts...

bottom two avo ...next two renault..not sure on the nuts..top one renault ..

iirc of course..
richy
24-03-2009, 22:27
was bored and had a play with paint... :lol: :lol:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/c20rfs/avo.jpg
webby
24-03-2009, 22:33
haha couldn't have been any more help imo thats awsome!!! 10/10 for effort and comedy value^^
richy
24-03-2009, 22:41
lol was bored!
rob-legend
24-03-2009, 22:43
haha mint :D
Bayliss
25-03-2009, 09:26
rob do you actually worry about everything??
Wobba
25-03-2009, 13:41
was bored and had a play with paint... :lol: :lol:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/c20rfs/avo.jpg

LOL! Nice :D

The two AVO nuts there I did not use. I used the slimmer OE Reno nut as you can get the top mounts lower down I think.
richy
25-03-2009, 19:20
i did the same wobba, used the renault nut not avo so the final cap fits on fully as it should