Front Dampers fouling on KnL beam

[Graham L]

OK, finally got some time to work on my own bus yesterday (fitted the late bay steering box, but more of that later :lol: :lol: ), found that the front dampers are fouling at the bottom on the back lower beam bolt, not noticed it since the beam was fitted by Slamwerks last year but it fouling enough to have punctured the shock body (nice couple of deep grooves in them). Dont think the MOT man will be too impressed.

Posting this to see if anyone else has come across this?, it a slamwerks Knl 4" narrowed beam, I think I can get around it by inverting the damper and removing the dust cover but curious if its a known issue?

 

[gvee]

I thought inverting any shocks was a big no-no?

 

[Alex VW Heritage]

I thought inverting any shocks was a big no-no?

I was always led to believe the same, I'd fit a spacer and longer bolt rather than flip it the wrong way up.

 

[StuF]

Graham

Before I left for my 4 month holiday I noticed the same on our bus - however it has only happened on the right hand shock.
Didnt get much time to investigate before I went away and this thread has jogged my memory.

I have the same beam as you from Slamwerks and Spax adjustable shocks - although the right hand one wont adjust anymore due to the scoring on the shock body
Will watch this thread with interest

 

[Graham L]

A spacer doesnt help, its the casting on the lower arm that pushes the bottom of the damper out too far (inwards) and makes it foul the bolt on the beam, they knew it was fouling as the rear bottom beam bolt has had its head depth reduced so it doesny foul but it still does.

Lots of motorsport dampers run inverted to reduce unsprung weight.

 

[radish]

Have your trailing arms been modified? if not you need to cut the shock mount back and put a spacer on the top shock mount. if you look at the lower trailing arm there is a roll pin, knock that out and the stud should come out. Drill and tap further into the hole, cut abit off the mount and redrill for a new roll pin, done! spacer on the top and everything is away from the beam mounting bolts.

 

[Graham L]

Cheers Darius,

First KnL beam I've had on a bus and it was all fitted by Slamwerks last year so would have expected them to do this, heading to the unit shortly so will have a look under the paint to see if I can find the roll pin , already got spacers on the top (well a load of washers!!) but currently the damper sits at an angle (closer to the beam at the bottom) so hopefully this will sort it,

Thanks and I'll let you know how I get on

 

[Nick-Rackham]

Definitely need to narrow the bottom trailing arms for a slamwerks 4" narrowed beam! DIY see --> HERE or stick your hand in your pocket! --> HERE

 

[Graham L]

Cheers Nick, nice links apart from the second one, slamwerks supplied the whole beam, spindles, arms and fitted it in the first place so A, why didnt they bother to modify mine, B, why would I buy another set

 

[Nick-Rackham]

slamwerks supplied the whole beam, spindles, arms and fitted it in the first place so why would I buy another set

Good point!

 

[Graham L]

Ok so taken one side off and thats clearly the problem, they have chosen to fit standard bottom arms rather than modified ones hence the catching, it just infuriates me as this is just cutting corners, as a trader this really winds me up.

Anyhow tried to get the pin out of the nearside arm and it just wont budge, brute force, heat I've tried everything I've got in the workshop and its a no go so may have to buy some replacement arms, aaargghhh

StuF, I'm suspecting that yours will be the same mate, sorry but at least you now know what the solution is :lol: :lol:

 

[K@rlos]

As said Big G you'll need the modded arms, got them on mine.

 

[Graham L]

Cheers Karlos, just some what pissed off why they didnt fit them in the first place and by the sounds of it mine isnt the only one :evil:

 

[radish]

Graham i have the facilities to get it sorted if you want to send them down. 2 old boys with 100 years experience and all the tools work for me.

 

[ground hugger]

I recall some one on here fitting an alen key type bolt on the bottom of there beam to over come this.
It was a flat round headed bolt about 5-10mm thick with an Alan key tightening method....Dave

 

[K@rlos]

Cheers Karlos, just some what pissed off why they didnt fit them in the first place and by the sounds of it mine isnt the only one :evil:

I can't work it out either, couple of my friends have had to get these arms at a later date because they had early Slamwerks beams and they weren't about when they brought their set-ups but yours is a fairly recent beam isn't it?

I built my own beam and was gonna make my own narrowed arms & flipped spindles but didn't have the time in the end so just got Slamwerks stuff.

Well T2D stuff :lol:

 

[Graham L]

It was fitted a year ago as I missed taking the bus to Ninove last year

 

[aspro]

I suspect mine must be ****** too. :roll:

 

[Nick-Rackham]

Graham i have the facilities to get it sorted if you want to send them down. 2 old boys with 100 years experience and all the tools work for me.

I need a pair doing fella, how much would you charge? Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[radish]

Graham i have the facilities to get it sorted if you want to send them down. 2 old boys with 100 years experience and all the tools work for me.

I need a pair doing fella, how much would you charge? Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll work something out and let you know.