Identifying Strut types

[RickyJ]

A quick question on Suspension - Is there any way of identifying if I have the early-type insert struts on my car without removing the struts from the car?
I have an 84 VX Coupe, but I know that they were replaced at some point at Betacar several years ago. I need to replace the rears in the near future and it seems that inserts are more readily available than complete struts.

[rossocorsa]

later cars from around the time of the series 2 fl1 era changed to sealed units vx's definitely came ex-factory with sealed units it is unlikely therefore that your car has refillable struts especially as most after market replacements over the years were full strut units. you could tell by looking at the top of the strut where the rod emerges and seeing if it has a collar or not in comparison on a sealed unit there is nothing obvious that you can unscrew

[lanciamad]

These are fronts but the same applies for the rears.
Sealed:

Non-Sealed:

With the car jacked up you should be able to feel which it has.

[rossocorsa]

blimey they're rusty!

[RickyJ]

Thanks Chaps - At least I know what I'm looking for now.

[HFStuart]

blimey they're rusty!

That's not rusty.

This is !

[lanciamad]

ooo nice 

[Neil-yaj396]

I know that the rear struts on Coupes differ from those on saloon/HPE's (they're longer I think?), but can you actually fit saloon rear struts to a Coupe?

The reason I ask is that although my 1978 Coupe rides level, the NS strut looks noticably different to the OS one (shorter?) and I'm getting a bit of uneven tyre wear on the NSR wheel. Could be a historic bodge???

Neil

[rossocorsa]

I know that the rear struts on Coupes differ from those on saloon/HPE's (they're longer I think?), but can you actually fit saloon rear struts to a Coupe?

The reason I ask is that although my 1978 Coupe rides level, the NS strut looks noticably different to the OS one (shorter?) and I'm getting a bit of uneven tyre wear on the NSR wheel. Could be a historic bodge???

Neil

not 100% sure but anything is possible they probably would fit of a fashion the body of a coupe shocker is shorter not sure it would give uneven wear though having a hpe os strut. I'm fairly sure I've come across the opposite, hpe fitted with coupé strut, I suspect that the spring platform is in the same place it's the piece of strut above that differs  no doubt someone will come along that knows for certain

[markwast]

Yes the ditance obove the spring platform is different by approx 30mm . below that is the same.

[bravo-v8]

I have a set of rear leg S/H and Kayaba new cartridge for Beta coupé for sale, it's the solution to fit on late type Beta.

Eric

[hongkongphooey]

I have a set of rear leg S/H and Kayaba new cartridge for Beta coupé for sale, it's the solution to fit on late type Beta.

Eric

How much Eric?

[echobravo]

I have a 1976 coupe, which should have the non-sealed type (I will check) does this mean that I do not have to get them converted to accept inserts?

[rossocorsa]

yes but only if they are the originals if they've ever been replaced thre is a strong likelyhood that sealed units will have been fitted so check them first