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Suspension questions 200 1981

posted by  pbryantr on  Fri Aug 11 09:22 CST 2006
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last visit: Sat Jul 19 12:45 CST 2014
[RELATED]

Re: '81 242, stock except for IPD sways.

My car rattles over bumps. I'm thinking about replacing bushings and shocks with Bilstein HDs. I want to a) eliminate the rattling and b) make the ride a little more firm.

I've already looked over some websites but I want more answers. I asked a suspension related thread some while back and I ended up with a smarty-pants answer, so I'm serious this time and more specific with my objectives and questions.

So, here goes:

1. While I'm in there, anything I should look for/replace?

2. Do Bilstein HDs work OK with stock springs or should I consider lowering springs? Is it just better to cut a coil or two off the stock springs? I have the stock wheels I plan to keep and paint black and install Euro center caps.

3. Are chassis braces a must? I plan to get the firewall to strut braces. Should I get the GT strut mount plates in the ipd catalog?

As always, thanks for the input.








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    Suspension questions 200 1981

    posted by  yama on  Fri Aug 11 11:22 CST 2006
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    last visit: Fri Oct 25 05:26 CST 2013
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    I've had Bilstein HD's for over 2 years with stock springs on my 1990 240 Wagon and have been happy with them. If your doing bushings you may want to consider polyurethane especially in the front. It all comes down to how much you want to spend as its all good stuff to put on. Strut to firewall braces are suppose to be the most bang for the buck. I also like the Cherry Turbo strut to strut brace alot and have them on 2 of my 240's. Not a fan of their lower brace though and would go with the GT ones if putting on lower braces. I like the plates for the added strength and stiffness they provide and again have them on 2 of my 240's. IMHO for 40 just put them on. I did spray on some rubberized undercoating on the plates for a solid watertight seal between the plates and strut towers.








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      Suspension questions 200 1981

      posted by  pbryantr on  Fri Aug 11 16:38 CST 2006
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      last visit: Sat Jul 19 12:45 CST 2014
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      Hi Al, thank you for your comments! If poly bushings are the way to go, is IPD the only place to buy them? They seem expensive, but I'm sure the high cost is worth it.

      Thanks,
      Bryant








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        Suspension questions 200 1981

        posted by  yama on  Sat Aug 12 00:32 CST 2006
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        last visit: Fri Oct 25 05:26 CST 2013
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        In addition to IPD FCP carries top notch Super Pro bushings. There is also a guy named Dale out of Canada that sells full sets of the Super Pro bushings. Just check out the For Sale adds on Turbobricks.com.








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        IPD seems to be uniformly better than others (e.g., FCP) .... 200 1981

        posted by  Ken C on  Fri Aug 11 17:02 CST 2006
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        last visit: Fri Oct 24 11:39 CST 2014
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        To start, I'm probably somewhat biased because I've bought my polys from IPD.

        That aside, my reason for that choice is that I've read some comments on this forum that FCP's supplier varies, and that sometimes you get an inferior product. I don't know how true it is, but that's what I remember.

        The key, as I recall, is to look for a certain trademark or other indication on the bushings, ensuring that it is the higher quality (if not, send it back) -- that being the same as what IPD sells all the time.

        As I said, I buy from IPD, so I haven't experienced the disappointments from FCP. I'd rather just buy from IPD to be assured of the higher quality source/material.

        In any case, I do really like the poly's!







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    Suspension questions 200 1981

    posted by  daveshan on  Fri Aug 11 11:00 CST 2006
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    last visit: Sun Oct 19 07:03 CST 2014
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    1. look at all bushings, bearing (top strut bearing) and ball joints.

    2. The Bilsteins are valved for stock springs, the rebound valving is too loose for most "sport" springs IMHO, others may like the bounceback. The best aftermarket spring that I've found is Eibach which are sadly no longer available. Cutting springs is a last resort, never a good idea if alternates are available.

    3. Strut to firewall make a difference as does a GOOD cross tower brace. Cherry Turbo makes one of the few ladder style cross tower braces availiable this type does not flex under load. The "show" braces which are a pipe attached to a plate with a tab sticking out forward of the towers are not as rigid. I've seen some of these flex just putting a pre-load on the threaded adjusters.

    The GT plates are not necessary with a cross tower brace no matter how hard you run the car and I never used them before I added a brace even though I have several sets laying around somewhere, no problems with years of Bilstein HD use and hard driving. Exception may be in rusty areas where the top of the tower is rusty.
    --
    Dave Shannon
    Durango, CO
    '63 P-210
    '67 1800s
    '88-240
    '06 F250 Diesel
    my pages








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      Suspension questions 200 1981

      posted by  pbryantr on  Fri Aug 11 16:35 CST 2006
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      last visit: Sat Jul 19 12:45 CST 2014
      [RELATED]

      Hi, Dave:
      Thanks for your feedback. A question for you. If you say you have some GT plates laying around, would you be interested in selling a pair? I'd like to take a closer look at then even if I don't even use them.


      Thanks,
      Bryant








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        Suspension questions 200 1981

        posted by  daveshan on  Fri Aug 11 17:19 CST 2006
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        last visit: Sun Oct 19 07:03 CST 2014
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        If I had any idea where they were I'd be glad to. We just moved and I have about 1/2 of a 12' trailer of parts still waiting to find a place in the new shop and what is in the shop is mostly still needing to be sorted. If I run across them in the next week or so I'll email you.

        They won't fit my 240 as the bolts on the upper strut mounts are not long enough to fit the plates and the cross tower brace and the tower to firewal brace. One has to go and as the plates offer no handling benefit I don't use them.
        --
        Dave Shannon
        Durango, CO
        '63 P-210
        '67 1800s
        '88-240
        '06 F250 Diesel
        my pages








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          Suspension questions 200 1981

          uid 15548's pic
          posted by  volvo245gti on  Sat Aug 12 15:20 CST 2006
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          last visit: Sat Sep 13 16:32 CST 2014
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          "There is also a guy named Dale out of Canada that sells full sets of the Super Pro bushings. Just check out the For Sale adds on Turbobricks.com."

          He pops in here once in a while too.

          Email me at volvo245gti@shaw.ca for more info on my SuperPro bushings...

          Thanks,

          Dale







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