Front suspension help

Sjdickso

Morning had more work done on the car yesterday and the garage seems to think there is excessive play in the top mount on the passenger side. I checked my records and all the suspension at the front including the top mounts bearings dampeners and springs was replaced under a year ago.

Looking on the web some say the the spring retaining nut may have come loose. They say remove the top doughnut, so you can see down into the wing area, the nut holding the spring in place.

Has anyone got a diagram or a picture of this as I have no idea what nut they are on about?

Thanks

KevinH

I'm with you - I don't know which nut they are referring to.

I can only think it maybe nut '3' in the diagram above.

Sjdickso

Nice one Kevin I think it must be that one, also is it normal for part number 4 to be really raised?

Sjdickso

A bit like this.

KevinH

I don't think there should be a gap like that Si.
Certainly looks like the unit could do with reseating and 'torqueing' back up - perhaps nut '7' has worked its way loose.

milo

Sjdickso said:
A bit like this.[ATTACH]62894[/ATTACH]

When I finish work bud I'll take a look at mine to see any difference in the gap.

Sjdickso

I am wondering that or looks like two different types of mounts but when I bought them I could only find one.

Sjdickso

@[deleted] thanks pal see the pictures of my actual car. @[deleted] have you seen this before?

milo

@[deleted] Took the photos bud but looks like something up with my passenger side
Driver side

Passenger side (i shouldn't see that bolt)

Properly no help but looks like I've got another issue to fix:rolleyes:. Well car going into get Vxr brakes put on all round next week so I'll get that fixed then.

dewismotorsport

That diagram is wrong, nut number 3 shouldn't be there at all, nut 7 clamps everything together.

Sjdickso

Thanks @[deleted] and @[deleted] so does mine look about right and milos driver side?

dewismotorsport

No both look wrong and sitting too high, that nut isn't meant to be there

milo

I've had the car out for a drive to night and I've got no noises coming from it and the car sitting right, I think my mount gone so cheap/easy fix

Sjdickso

I am the same no knocking from the front but the car does sit high always has since having it all swapped out last year just thought the gsi springs where for a heavier curb weight.

Sjdickso

dewismotorsport said:
That diagram is wrong, nut number 3 shouldn't be there at all, nut 7 clamps everything together.

@[deleted] are you sure nut 3 isn't meant to be there? done some additional digging about and everyone says with standard shocks number 3 nut should be used but it has to be the original slim m12 nut otherwise everything sits high. When many have replaced the shocks they have used the new one which comes with them and they are a lot higher in profile and cause this issue.

Not that I am any mechanic just going on what I have read on the web.

@[deleted] may explain why you see the nut?

milo

Sjdickso said:
@[deleted] are you sure nut 3 isn't meant to be there? done some additional digging about and everyone says with standard shocks number 3 nut should be used but it has to be the original slim m12 nut otherwise everything sits high. When many have replaced the shocks they have used the new one which comes with them and they are a lot higher in profile and cause this issue.

Not that I am any mechanic just going on what I have read on the web.

@[deleted] may explain why you see the nut?

Something went wrong rofl

The nut u see is number 3 of diagram as the other but is under the black cap.

I think the mount collapsed or bearing will know more when garage get it on Wednesday.

KevinH

As @[deleted] mentioned, it is required with standard GM suspension (both shocks & springs) as nut '3' is shallower than nut '7' although in the diagram they appear identical.

3 - Nut, Hex, M12, Support to Shock Absorber. GM Part # 24427844

7 - Nut, Hex, M12, Shock Absorber to Wheelhouse. GM Part # 9223174

The setup is the same on the Vectra B (for standard suspension) except the nuts have different part numbers to the Astra G.

Edit: However for the Astra, there are two versions of the shock absorber support '5' & '6' in the diagram - one comes with a bead ring (presumably for the nut) and the other without the bead ring.

evocarlos

Nut 3 is ment to be there it holds the top mount to the shock its half a nut not a full one
The top plate is to stop the whole strut and spring dropping out the shell on lift off
The only issue I've heard of is where the 2 different types of top mount and bearing have been mismatched

dewismotorsport

Ah I apologise, been a long time since I've had standard suspension off, and with coilovers it's not used. I'm sure if it's a half but that will reduce the gap height somewhat

Project_L850

EPC has been updated, there should be slimline nut 24427844 in pos.3
Check your top mounts too, you should have the stiff version 90538936.
These were re-engineered recently for duribility and have less flex...which is better for the handling too!
I'd also check that the garage didn't fit the soft version 90468554 or any soft aftermarket version.