Hi all
My first time on the new Forum, I'm after some advice.
I'm in the Process of trying to fit Koni Rear Telescopic Dampers in place of the Lever Arm dampers on my Mk2 Vitesse?
I have purchased the usual Top Extension brackets and got some Koni 80-1717 Shocks which are the correct open & closed length for the Mk2 Rotoflex suspension (These are actually for a lowered early Mini, but I have been advised by several people on the Club Triumph site are correct for the Mk2 Suspension) I have gone for Koni to match the front of my car and they have a good reputation for quality.
I was supplied with the Top Extension Brackets, the special 5/8" Diameter Sleeved Bolts with 1/2" UNF Threads at the end to fix the top of new Telescopic Dampers to the bracket, these sleeved bolts are similar to the original type bolts for fixing the top of the Telescopic Dampers to the Chassis bracket.
However I have got problems with the original Koni 80-1717 Damper Bushes being too Small and narrow to suit the width of the new shock bracket, also the 80-1717 bushes have 3/8" holes in the bushes but the Bolts I have are sleeved to 5/8" diameter where they go through the Damper bush?
The Original Herald/Vitesse damper bushes are two part and are too big for the 80-1717 Damper Eyes and are also the wrong shape so I cannot use these?
The original Koni 80-1717 bushes have a central metal sleeve with a 3/8" diameter bolt hole, I have drilled this out at the bottom of the shock to 1/2" which is the correct diameter for the bottom damper fixing to the Vertical link and I have no problems at that end with spacings as it fixes to a 1/2" Stud on the Vertical Link.
It's the top end that's the problem
One possible solution is to try and find some Cotton Reel type Polybush or Supaflex bushes that are the correct width to suit the top extension brackets, have a 5/8" diameter hole and are the correct diameter to be a tight fit in the Koni 80-1717 Damper Eyes?
I could drill out the Metal sleeve completely to give a 5/8" diameter hole, then space the gap out between the damper eye bush and the top bracket with the right number of 5/8" diameter hole washers, but would rather not go down this route (Seem's a bit of a bodge to me?)
Hope I've not waffled on to much but can anyone think of a better solution, or is the correct size Cotton reel type Polybush the way to go?
Regards
Gary