(T) rear shock top bush

well these have only been on 3 months and knock a knock again, is this why uno's rust on the rear turrets, as it ripped through and started stabbing my inner wheel arch, does anyone know of a heavy duty performance type eg like for rallying, worst part it removed my good work (paint) sorted know with a set of LARGE washers ,going to order new ones and leave them on. Ant

some pics of the offending part!! and scrapes and paint it again must be the stiff shocks

That's a drastic consequence... never heard of a damper stabbing free of its mounting before! Just as well that it doesn't locate the wheel...

I think that perhaps the aftermarket parts are not up to the quality of the originals. I just happen to have a pair of new top mounts that look similar to the ones you are having to replace

The other thought that comes to mind is that perhaps someone fitted incorrect washers, or perhaps the spindle is the wrong dimension to clamp the rubber bushing properly - allowing the centre to tear out rather than distributing the stresses as intended?

Thanks for the information!
-Alex

You should make solid plate mounts rather than the rubber ones. Just use generic shock mounts bushes to secure the shock to the plate.

The ones on my rally car lasted about six months, and probably need doing again, just like the TCA's where the bushes can sometimes only be useful for one event

well the big washers on top of the shock but under the bush will be staying, the mount was taking all the load on only the rubber, i thought it was a poor idea when i fitted them kept noticing the plasic cap kept popping of and rolling around the boot, open the tailgate and push the rear end up and down and you'l see how much they move FLEX, now the load is on the whole bush not just the centre where its bonded and another big washer on top SANDWICHED, cant see it happening again and the rear is much firmer now the shocks are on the softest setting, and it feels good DONT WE ALL LOVE SPEEDBUMPS! Ant!

I take it from the pictures you have Spax gas adjustables? It could be that the damper settings are too high, which means the damper/ rubber mounting is taking the brunt of the suspension travel, hence it not lasting long. Maybe lower the damping rate might help?

yes mate there on minimum now for good, this is my 3rd car with adjustable suspension and all have ended up on the softest setting in the end unless i go for a trip out on a nice day, my golf mk2 188bhp wears AVO's and there on soft ,feels nice leave them alone and sits sweet! an excuse for a pic

Over-damping is over-rated... the French know this...!

As for the Germans... Dig those 70's-style exposed wipers and round headlights...
And are there actually tyres on those wheels or are they just rubber bands?

-Alex

I had problems with too much flex of these rear strut top bushes on my race uno. As the rest of the suspension set up was so stiff, these bushes proved to be a weak link, and was causing a lot of instability/movement on the back end. I took the bushes to a Polyurethene company, who upgraded the rubber bushings (forget what grade now but it is strong stuff!) This cured the problem instantly, and after a years worth of racing, they are still doing a brilliant job!!

Hi there 205 40 17's toyo's , do you like my old school golf. just ordered the top mounts from fiat £10 each, he said there a different part no to standard uno's, so i'l see when i get them on thursday, think il retain the large washers top and bottom tho as they distribute the load more evenly not just on the centre where the collar is bonded to the rubber and they don't flex, the last ones were of ebay and cost £8 to my door probably inferior

well i've just fitted the new ones direct fom fiat, and put large washers on the top and bottom, and sandwiched it, as it is a weak link, only flexes a small amount now, softened the dampers, i'm confident it wont happen again, just waiting for my flywheel to come back then fit the new clutch then turn up the BASE!! SSS!!!WHOOOOOSH!!TSH!!!

I stumbled across a strange thing yesterday as i was rooting through all my precious gold he he and they are bmw rear shock mounts that dont look to disimilar to the uno rear shock top bush, so i offered them up and with a little fettling they fit, hows that and they look a lot more hardy (sturdy) and probably cheaper, looks a good modification but i'l leave the original ones on with the larger washers on for now, but if they die i'l be fitting them, another TWEEK he he Ant!

Originally posted by antsuno2

"well i've just fitted the new ones direct fom fiat, and put large washers on the top and bottom, and sandwiched it, as it is a weak link, only flexes a small amount now, softened the dampers, i'm confident it wont happen again..."

Hi to all,

I've seem to have a similar problem with the near side rear shock top bush in that it moves excessively causing the plastic cover to rattle (not on the other side though). A simple solution would be just to remove the cover, I know, but I think something else is at fault.

To explain a bit further, I've replaced both bushes recently as the rubber had perished in the middle but since then had this rattle. On close examination, it looks as though the top washer might not be exactly central so catches on the plastic cover as it flexes up and down. However, a garage has said the hole in the washer is the same size as the bolt meaning no adjustment is possible.

Is the other washer which you fitted under the bush (to make a sandwich!) not there as standard? Where can you get the washer from?
Shock absorbers themselves seem OK doing the 'bounce' test.
The real question is why there is more movement on the near side bush-any ideas please?

Thanks,
Andy

Hi there,

Just an update on the prob I've been having with the rear shock top bush.
I've fitted 2 new shocks (good make, Boge, off eBay) but still have the same rattling of the plastic cover on the near side only.
The most obvious sign of trouble is the excessive movement which you can see with the plastic cover removed as the bush flexes up and down under weight a lot more than the other side.
I'm thinking of checking at the base of the shock absorber and maybe swapping over the bushes from side to side to find out if it makes any difference-could it be a faulty bush I wonder?

Can anyone help me out with advice or suggestions on what might be the cause/cure?

Thanks,

Andy