Woo Hoo my KW1 coilies have arrived.

[Monkeymagic]

As per the title they have arrived and if nothing else are very pretty. Can anyone tell me or show me a pic of what is required from original set up to fit top mounts. I'm thinking washer top mount castle nut etc, I'm purchasung some new blue top mounts but would like a diagram or picture if possible of what is needed to fit to mcpherson struts. thanks in advance.

[re2500]

Id seriousl consider getting some slightly more meaty topmounts. The standard blue or green ones dont seem to last long even with standard suspension. Meyle High Density topmounts seem to have had some good feedback.
Your stack seems right to me. You will have the KW purple spring cap, then the correct washer, then topmount, castle nut, and then the bits inside the bonnet.

[Error404]

I never got a washer with mine? Looks like I'll need to take them apart again dammit

[re2500]

Actually it depends i cant remember whether the standard style topmount needs a washer or not, i doubt youve done it wrong as it would probably look wrong when you assemble it. Im sorry as this may be difficult to explain, lol. Your topmount bearing should effectively be sitting on the shoulder below the thread on the piston shaft of your shock. (my topmounts were ok as they are spherical, and the shoulder on the bearing was large enough to not require a washer). I suppose it depends if the bearing fits well on the shoulder, i doubt a washer would do any harm, the bearing or washer needs to fit on the shoulder and over the springcap, i try and draw what im thinking, grey thing is topmount bottom face/washer:

[zefsider]

dry assemble your KWs with a top mount ...

...use the green mounts ( or blue ones although they are a tiny bit shorter height wise, no big deal though ) ....because the OEM mounts ( and don;t use chinese generic mounts, try and get SKF or Meyel,or Boge or Sachs mounts they last longer ) have only a fixed bearing you shouldnt really need a washer BUT...see if the bottom of the bearing fits nicely on the shoulder of the strut ( at base of the thread ) it should do.
The 2 reasons I used a 2.5mm thick s/steel washer ( just wider than the bearing and wide enough to seat on the top flat surface of the perch. ) on top of the purple spring perch was:
1. The perch is made of a composite and I wasnt happy about the wear it might incur from the bottom of the bearing...I have heard they can crack , a washer will spread the load I reckoned
2. and because I used VAP Promounts with a spherical bearing,.And on a dry fitting I found that the perch interfered with the full movement of the sphercial bearing , which defeated the object of same, the washer allowed 2.5mm of space between the perch and the bearing, ( which allows more lateral movement of th ebearing without it catching on the composte perch ( again causing wear and restricting movement of the Sph.bearing.

All academic if using OEMs , but dry fit first ( wind down your spring so you can put it together and take it apart several times without faffing with spring compressors etc. If you want VAP P/Mounts , be prepared to wait quite a while and pay quite a bit ...worth it IMO...alternatively try and get Mountsavers to fit into your OEM mounts.

Watch your lowering too, I've adjusted mine back up a few times as they settle due to tyre rubbing . Good luck....firmer than I thought these KWs, but car now feels like it has an invisible hand pushing it back down onto teh road when going over bumps etc as opposed to the sea sick motion I got with original set up.

[re2500]

I think you described the washer merits a bit better!

[Monkeymagic]

Think I 'll fit the washer to spread the load so it's not directly onto the bearing. I'm actually fitting the coilies to bring my car up a inch all round as it's a touch too low for my liking. Can't wait to see how it improves handling and tightens things up. Cheers Steven

[zefsider]

don't forget new strut to hub bolts & lock nuts...

..essential cos they are stretch bolts, and new lock nuts all round re tie rod/sway bar ....mine handled like a totally different vehicle, well worth it ( thanks again to Yaz for sorting the KWs, top man ) expect a firm ride though , not that this is a bad thing ;-)

BTW FOA : Error 404 : Got a pair of tie rod adjusters off Bambridge , thanks again for your offer though of your spare initially, I never got back to you, apologies !

[Monkeymagic]

I'm planning to remove old struts complete and fit the kw with new bolts.
Been looking on etka though and can find part number for the washer that fits the strut under the tp mount. I can find the part number for the castle nuts but when i look strut to hub bolts it only lists m12's and when i measured mine they are m14.
does anyone know where i can all bits. top mounts washers castle nuts and m14 strut bolts?? I was thinking of quattro corner as he is only a few miles from me.

[zefsider]

yeh Pete at QCorner has Meyle HDs and slotted nuts etc...if not got the strut to hub

To hub bolts just get a set of right sizlength from any good nut&bolt shop on ebay etc..make sure they are 10.9 strengthr

[TimE-J]

I didnt notice a washer on the top of the shock on the standard units and I didn't fit one when I fitted my Meyle HD top mounts to my KW's

[nesshead6]

Finally got my KW's fitted last week (no washer) and the wheel alignment done yesterday.... Much firmer ride but the car fairly goes round a corner now!