K24R Offset Top Mounts

[Ross]

Looks good Andy! Im especially interested to hear there is no additional harshness either... I hope to look at coilovers next year, this could compliment them well.

[A80Avant]

I thought you were fine with the mount savers Ross!

[Rusty]

My only caveat is that the car is running 205/55R16s at the mo. The true test will be with the track rubber on.

I have an extreme version on the drawing board that will work with coilovers very nicely indeed.

[Ross]

I wasn't able to get them fitted in the end, so it's still on my 'to do' list. I do suspect they are adequate but if there's no difference in ride, these would be the ultimate, albeit I won't be in a position to do anything until late spring at the earliest. So I doubt I could be in a first group buy.

[Rusty]

So I've just been looking at the design to address a few of my issues with the prototypes:

1. 5 retaining bolts are now used for extra clamping force and safety.
2. The rideheight difference is now less than 0.5mm from OE (great for anyone who wants to run stock dimension mounts at the rear).
3. The offset has grown a whopping 0.5mm to 8mm; not much but every little helps...
4. I've adjusted the spacer bush (makes up the diamter difference from the shock shaft to the bearing) so that the design now retains the slotted OE retaining nut, thus the top mounts can be removed without the need for spring compressors - not seen this done on (m)any such upgrades before
5. Just the top plates and rear brace bar plates to finish off for the revised bolt pattern and to improve manufaturing costs if possible.

I've also been assessing the extreme version and it's looking like somewhere between 11 and 12mm is the maximum offset I can do by using a custom threaded spacer with an extended hex to enable the top mount tightness to be checked when on the car. More could be eeked out of it but not being able to easily check the top mount tightness is a problem that I haven't solved yet and TBH, without strut top modification, it's looking like that's about it. If people want to take out a scallop from the strut tower, then that's a different story. I'm looking to retain the same top plate design for the extreme version and although these will be rear use with coilovers only, the rear brace mounts will also be the same. Finally, the body blank is also the same, so again, this will save some money, although it's all relative when you're looking at £350 a set with bearings...

[Mcstiff]

I'm interested in the idea of an extreme set with brace(s) but I'm sad to say that my coffer may not be supportive However I do regret not buying a full set of the original Mance /VAP solid mounts so maybe I'll find a way B)

[Rusty]

These are very different to promounts.

Unfortunately, with the small batches and high quality materials and design I strive for, my prices are never the lowest and my profits are negligble... I do it for the love (of cars and proper solutions) rather than anything else...

[Mcstiff]

These are very different to promounts.

Unfortunately, with the small batches and high quality materials and design I strive for, my prices are never the lowest and my profits are negligble... I do it for the love (of cars and proper solutions) rather than anything else...

Sorry if it seemed like I was complaining; I do not question the value at all! Also, I was not talking Promounts but the earlier version out of billet with a spherical bushing.

[Rusty]

No problem, just sorry that these cost more than I'd have liked...

[Rusty]

So, I've been testing these for a few miles now and overall, I'm impressed with them. Still a few things that I'm working on for the production version but I'm hopeful that I will be able to offer a properly thought-out set of top mounts that are fit and forget.

I will be combining these with a set of offset subframe mounts and possibly some poly wishbone bushes, before getting it all setup for some track work this year. At the rear, I need to measure the rear strut brace length and get them all fitted, again, with solid subframe bushes (not offset) and then setup.

I also have some HnR Avant front springs to fit on the rear and I may go for a whiteline RARB.

I'm hopeful that the final setup will be a good road / track compromise and that it will enhance what I already have

[Rusty]

Got these fitted on the rear, gaining around 1 degree of camber on the rear wheels and improving the strut top position for dynamic camber. All fitted perfectly and I have now measured the strut brace dimensions, so I'll get some bar on order.

I'm happy that these fit and work as expected and so will get the V2 design sorted and put a batch together

[Rusty]

So been testing these for a few months now and they seem to be doing an excellent job

Today, I got the rear strut brace fitted - 3mm thick 30x30mm aluminium

Got to get some new bearings to test, which are a little cheaper and get a pair of production spec bodies made, to finalise the design.

Final thing to do is get the offset subframe mounts on and have the whole lot aligned.

[bilko0795]

Rusty you have pm.

[Rusty]

Just picked up the new bearings from the post office. The bearings in the car have such close tolerances that they are very tight for the steering axle. With over 500 miles of normal driving, they're still proper tight, so that bodes well for the quality of the bearings! I've gone for some cheaper (Still £33 each!) bearings, with a slightly looser tolerance, which give movement using hand alone, rather than a small breaker bar!

The V.2 bodies have been designed, with 9mm offset and I am hoping to get these some time towards the end of the year.

Expect a group buy in early 2015. You can't rush testing of these things, unfortunately.

[Rusty]

Thanks to Kev, I've now got the new bodies and have heat fitted the new bearings in. Also got matching top plates. The plan is to fit these at about 30 deg to give a smidge less castor but 0.3-0.4 deg camber. In conjunction with the new offset subframe bushes and camber bolts, I'll achieve around 4.5 deg castor and 3 deg camber. Should be pretty good...