Adjustable strut tops

[kaanage]

Funnily enough, I revived this thread because the camber bolts discussion made me think about strut tops as an alternative for easier/more flexible adjustment and possibly greater safety

[Buller_Scott]

all perfect reasons to do the strut tops as a superior alternative for sure....

but $30 vs. $480......

i'd be inclined to leave them on the 1.75deg of camber most of the time - i only really travel longish distances these days for cruises anyway

[kaanage]

$30???? Where can you get them for that?
The Whiteline/Nolathane ones are ebay'd for $117 a pair.

I'd love to be able to run at stock while tooling about the 'burbs (+ driving to the track) and then be able to quickly dial in a couple of degrees of negative camber when at the track.

[Eddy]

So can anyone here with the K-MAC strut tops for the 9N(3) are actually "simply replaces upper strut mounts (NO modifications)"?
At $480 a pair, they don't seem that expensive.

I saw in another post that Eddy said they weren't what he was looking for - anyone know why?

Hoyhoy.

Hey Greg just ask & I'll do my best to answer if I see the thread that is.
Well to start with me is a fussy old chap, at the time the K-mac didn't have the quality & fitment for springs I wanted.
Now to obtain a fair amount of neg. camber you have to go narrow linea coils, the standard & most after market springs are progressive & large in size & there just isn't enough room in the strut tower of the Pog for the bigger ones.
I use 65mm dia. King Springs, which allows for easy changing of spring rates.
Have a good look at my set-up, you'll see that I have changed the 10mm studs to 12mm because the holes in the strut tower are 12mm. also you'll find that this set-up is sturdier than the K-Mac, because the K-Mac is designed on a sandwich system which can move & will do every time you loosen the top bolts for any reason.(Strut Brace for air filter for one.)

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...tml#post680413

Welcome to K-MAC Camber and Caster Kits, Coil Springs , Sway Bars

[Eddy]

$30???? Where can you get them for that?
The Whiteline/Nolathane ones are ebay'd for $117 a pair.

I'd love to be able to run at stock while tooling about the 'burbs (+ driving to the track) and then be able to quickly dial in a couple of degrees of negative camber when at the track.

Hoyhoy.

Greg, it doesn't work that easy, when I change the camber from -2% to -3.2% the alignment toes in 8mm.
I wheel align before & after, its a pain & extra expense, but I'm going for the quick times.

[kaanage]

Thanks Eddy - I hadn't seen you post for a bit so I thought you may have been away.
In any case, you've answered all my questions quite comprehensively and one day I must get up your way and have a good look over your car. Maybe I can meet you half way at Goulburn sometime so you can put some laps on me

I'm guessing your strut tops only allow the struts to move laterally, hence the toe shift due to the strut inclination (not telling you anything - just getting it clear in my own mind).

In the ideal world, the strut tops would either allow caster adjustment to allow the toe change to also be adjusted or have the adjustment alter at an angle to minimise the toe change. Actually, in the ideal world, I'd have an open wheeled track car that others would maintain and I was paid to drive

[Eddy]

Hoyhoy.

Me is going away next week,,, Wakefield on Saturday the 15/Oct.
Hoping for fine weather & that the changes I've made don't put me behind where the Little Blue Girl was.