Thread: Motion in Strut Mount?

Hi, Ive been looking over some images of solid strut mounts (For both front and rear struts). And Im trying to visualize whehter or not there is substantial motion (side to side) of the strut shaft in the strut mount during spring comression over bumps. I know in the stock strut munt there is a rubber piece in which the shaft passes through and the top bolt tightened, but does that provide a bit of play to prevent any cutting into the strut shaft? Or does it serve another use entirely.

If there is no substantial play, it should be possible to create a new mount with a higher mounting point so as to provide a bit more shick travel, ala the GC camber/caster plates, shouldnt it?

But if there is substantial play, Im guessing the mount would need a spherical balljoint/pillowball.

If anyone cares to contribute their two cents to this please do, it would most likely provide a more informed answer in any case.

you need to use a flexible bushing or spherical "pillow ball" type mounts. there is a bit of movement especially in the front where turning the wheel alters the angle of the shock slightly.

I figured as much, hmm..

edit: read it wrong, sorru

are you trying to build something for the front to add suspension travel? I assume you mean front since the back would never really need that. you can use nissan front tophats and modify them to be higher by cutting and welding in more material.

Thats what Im looking into, but just wanted confirmation on the motion in the mount. Also while looking at the stock nissan mounts Im not fully convinced on their maintained strength after cutting and rewelding. Also, where would a new bushing be placed if this was to be done? Considering hood clearance and the physical depth of the tophat itself, I'd say at most about an extra 3/8 to 1/2 inches could regained. (More likely the former)..

Would you think it possible to actually use a solid spacer, placed in between the mounting surface/rubber bushing and the bolt of the strut shaft? Just shooting in the dark here basically for the simplest yet most effective and safe way to try to regain travel other than those already often discussed.

I've cut the upper strut mounts (unibody) off before and raised them up 1.5" without hitting the hood. You regain quite a lot of 'lost' travel from lowering a car. You can *almost* go 2" up, but at that point you're pretty much into the hood reinforcements.

this might be what I end up doing on my B13, I only need 3/4" though..

Is the benefit really in moving the entire strut mount up, or is it allowing the strut shaft itself to move up, because if it is the latter case, you wouldnt need to do that much cutting rather than spacing the top shaft bolt (and by extension the shaft) up, would you?

The strut shaft and spring perch/spring must also move up as a unit. No use increasing strut travel if the springs coil bind before you get there.



Old pic, but you get the idea.