Surreptitious.....

[oldeskewltoy]

As stated, I managed to get a few things done towards the suspension. As with many of you, once you "install" performance springs there is a gap between spring seats and springs when the suspension is fully unloaded. This is very disturbing to me(just don't like loose parts on a car!!!) In my black car I used 50 year old technology to overcome this by using tow strap material, and looping it over the upper spring perch, and gathering the ends under the lower spring perch and using 2 large hose clamps to keep the assembly together. It has worked for near 10 years now, and although "inventive" (using 50 year old tech on a 25 year old car) it has always rubbed me just a bit that it is a bit "ghetto".

When Tokico introduced the HTS112, I felt my problems were solved.... and they were..... almost! Looking at the photo below you'll see the three pieces of the front strut install hardware, 2 spacers, and the gland nut.



Well that isn't what Tokico sent me... the spacer on the far left is about 1/2 of the original spacer. The upper spacer I had my friend Jesse turn for me. This was done (cut the original Tokico spacer and make the new upper spacer) because there was just a bit of free space(about 15mm)with the strut unloaded with my custom springs. The spacer adjustment now keeps the springs firmly mounted in the housing.



As you can see... the spring has a small amount of preload on it... with no straps holding it together........