BenG
ClioTrophy Moderator
#266 Suspension/Transmission Rebuild 2017/2018
Last year in March, I decided to refresh things a little by having the Dampers refurbished, they were well overdue and after seeing some of Rik’s work I couldn’t resist having them done. I put the car on the lift and set about stripping it down. I wasn’t long before I realised it could do with a bit more than a little refresh, a more major refresh was required. I made the decision to strip it down further and refurbish/replace the entire suspension, brakes and transmission.
Below is the list of parts which have been fitted. Either brand new or refurbished parts were used.
Front:
Refurbished Sachs Dampers inc DLC shafts.
PMS Solid Top Mounts
Damper/hub fixing bolts
Mark Fish Springs
Refurbished Hubs
Wheel Bearings
Refurbished Brake Callipers & Brackets
Brake Discs
Pagid RS2-4 Brake Pads
Dot 4.1 Fluid
Wishbones/Ball Joints
Power-flex Wishbone Bushes
Powder-coated Anti-Roll Bar
Power-flex Anti-Roll Bar Bushes
Powder-coated Subframe
Powder-coated Subframe/Chassis Mounting Brackets
Powder-coated Lower Gearbox Mount Bracket
Lower Gearbox Mount
Vapour Blasted Upper Gearbox Mounting Brackets
Gearbox Rebuilt at Agency Transmissions
Gearbox End Cover/Seal
Gearbox Oil
Driveshafts
Clutch
Clutch Cable
Oil Catch Tank/Hoses/Filter
Sump Gasket
Engine Oil/Filter
Zinc Coated Fixings Throughout
Rear:
Powder-coated Rear Axle Beam
Powder-coated Axle Beam Mounting Brackets
Power-flex Rear Beam Bushes
Refurbished Hubs
Refurbished Whiteline ARB
Brake Disks/Bearings
Refurbished Brake Callipers & Brackets
Ferodo DS-2500 Brake Pads
Sachs Rear Dampers
Mark Fish Springs
Power-flex Rear Exhaust Mount Inserts
Zinc Coated Fixings Throughout
I didn’t keep track of the costs but a quick estimate comes up with at least £3500. Quite a lot considering you don’t see any of it once it’s back together, only when you put it on the lift and look underneath do you see how good it looks. A fair amount of time was also put into it but it’s been quite enjoyable, it also put the lift to good use, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much without it and probably wouldn’t have put as much time and attention to detail into it.
Mechanical, the car is now in good shape. The body work looks good but it could do with some respray work to freshen it up, particularly the front bumper and bonnet, that’s next on the list.
I’ve just finished putting everything back together today. The MOT ran out last year so I’ve not been able to test it, I can’t wait to drive it but I’m going to hold off for an MOT for a few more weeks, the future plan is to use it in the summer months and put it away for winter. It’s been stood for 10 months or so whilst the work has been carried out, I turned the key earlier and it started on the first go. Every part of me wanted to get in it and go for a drive!
I took loads of pictures throughout, here’s the build progress in picture form...
First job was to remove the dampers and send them to Rik. I then started on the rear whilst they were away.
Some before pictures...
Powder-coated rear axle beam...
Powder-coated rear beam mounting brackets and crash plates.
Refurbished Brakes...
Mark Fish Springs...
New Discs/Bearings fitted onto Refurbished Rear Hubs...
Built up Rear Axle Beam. Refurbished Whiteline ARB.
Rear Sachs fitted with Powerflex bushes.
![296F312F-8199-43C2-8F07-8CAEE212AAF4.jpeg 296F312F-8199-43C2-8F07-8CAEE212AAF4.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19719-3b6f5ca6b210e225a17af510841ea7a4.jpg)
Last year in March, I decided to refresh things a little by having the Dampers refurbished, they were well overdue and after seeing some of Rik’s work I couldn’t resist having them done. I put the car on the lift and set about stripping it down. I wasn’t long before I realised it could do with a bit more than a little refresh, a more major refresh was required. I made the decision to strip it down further and refurbish/replace the entire suspension, brakes and transmission.
Below is the list of parts which have been fitted. Either brand new or refurbished parts were used.
Front:
Refurbished Sachs Dampers inc DLC shafts.
PMS Solid Top Mounts
Damper/hub fixing bolts
Mark Fish Springs
Refurbished Hubs
Wheel Bearings
Refurbished Brake Callipers & Brackets
Brake Discs
Pagid RS2-4 Brake Pads
Dot 4.1 Fluid
Wishbones/Ball Joints
Power-flex Wishbone Bushes
Powder-coated Anti-Roll Bar
Power-flex Anti-Roll Bar Bushes
Powder-coated Subframe
Powder-coated Subframe/Chassis Mounting Brackets
Powder-coated Lower Gearbox Mount Bracket
Lower Gearbox Mount
Vapour Blasted Upper Gearbox Mounting Brackets
Gearbox Rebuilt at Agency Transmissions
Gearbox End Cover/Seal
Gearbox Oil
Driveshafts
Clutch
Clutch Cable
Oil Catch Tank/Hoses/Filter
Sump Gasket
Engine Oil/Filter
Zinc Coated Fixings Throughout
Rear:
Powder-coated Rear Axle Beam
Powder-coated Axle Beam Mounting Brackets
Power-flex Rear Beam Bushes
Refurbished Hubs
Refurbished Whiteline ARB
Brake Disks/Bearings
Refurbished Brake Callipers & Brackets
Ferodo DS-2500 Brake Pads
Sachs Rear Dampers
Mark Fish Springs
Power-flex Rear Exhaust Mount Inserts
Zinc Coated Fixings Throughout
I didn’t keep track of the costs but a quick estimate comes up with at least £3500. Quite a lot considering you don’t see any of it once it’s back together, only when you put it on the lift and look underneath do you see how good it looks. A fair amount of time was also put into it but it’s been quite enjoyable, it also put the lift to good use, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much without it and probably wouldn’t have put as much time and attention to detail into it.
Mechanical, the car is now in good shape. The body work looks good but it could do with some respray work to freshen it up, particularly the front bumper and bonnet, that’s next on the list.
I’ve just finished putting everything back together today. The MOT ran out last year so I’ve not been able to test it, I can’t wait to drive it but I’m going to hold off for an MOT for a few more weeks, the future plan is to use it in the summer months and put it away for winter. It’s been stood for 10 months or so whilst the work has been carried out, I turned the key earlier and it started on the first go. Every part of me wanted to get in it and go for a drive!
I took loads of pictures throughout, here’s the build progress in picture form...
First job was to remove the dampers and send them to Rik. I then started on the rear whilst they were away.
Some before pictures...
![EB054389-D486-4AB3-8302-29F23D843CEA.jpeg EB054389-D486-4AB3-8302-29F23D843CEA.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19714-2c4e9edbd95c3d317c6d120befbefe76.jpg)
![A58B1F2F-A1D6-48FE-B67D-D9C1CCDE7ACF.jpeg A58B1F2F-A1D6-48FE-B67D-D9C1CCDE7ACF.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19715-3ab818b9b30eb5b294fad7f92cc7cdef.jpg)
![7BDEC478-A79A-4D69-9FB5-A12BEAD706A7.jpeg 7BDEC478-A79A-4D69-9FB5-A12BEAD706A7.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19724-33bdf3cdbe1df9832ecd3c72813ecc2b.jpg)
Powder-coated rear axle beam...
![19D836C8-5481-47C3-AEE0-3ED6A92158D0.jpeg 19D836C8-5481-47C3-AEE0-3ED6A92158D0.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19716-295ced2d538cdb678417dc9fbc5183d5.jpg)
Powder-coated rear beam mounting brackets and crash plates.
![A351CCEF-38E8-4039-954F-79D96660B200.jpeg A351CCEF-38E8-4039-954F-79D96660B200.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19723-950ff2e6695d6d22c7733b7283f7df22.jpg)
Refurbished Brakes...
![2816CE66-92D8-45EB-9274-CE02E30043E2.jpeg 2816CE66-92D8-45EB-9274-CE02E30043E2.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19717-879d94e6301cce1e2bd94a178c3794ca.jpg)
Mark Fish Springs...
![DABBF73D-B90F-462E-8466-5208A40DAAA9.jpeg DABBF73D-B90F-462E-8466-5208A40DAAA9.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19718-80685fbd395124b9031939a9d9047a24.jpg)
New Discs/Bearings fitted onto Refurbished Rear Hubs...
![A81124F7-15E3-4C39-B0A2-C37DA1C42DCA.jpeg A81124F7-15E3-4C39-B0A2-C37DA1C42DCA.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19721-ad82e88d2a416cd7b61e27989429e8ab.jpg)
Built up Rear Axle Beam. Refurbished Whiteline ARB.
![D4FB753F-CEBD-4DC2-96B4-0747218B49D6.jpeg D4FB753F-CEBD-4DC2-96B4-0747218B49D6.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19720-eb7dbf0162671c37203d58348c4bcb88.jpg)
Rear Sachs fitted with Powerflex bushes.
![296F312F-8199-43C2-8F07-8CAEE212AAF4.jpeg 296F312F-8199-43C2-8F07-8CAEE212AAF4.jpeg](https://cliotrophy.co.uk/data/attachments/19/19719-3b6f5ca6b210e225a17af510841ea7a4.jpg)