DIY top mounts

Jon, based on what I saw on your Mk1, I started looking for those mounts on the net, but didn't find them. I found lots of two piece aluminium plate jobs though. Can you remember where they came from?

 

I would say it was, I have brazed flat bar together and then bent it in a vice the joint held and the bar bent, no sign of the joint giving in. However, the brazed joint would only be used in compression not tension, so they is relatively very little force on the join. (you would have a lip on the bearing housing to take the load).

As for machining time it's going to add up quickly if you went with billet Ali or steel. You are talking over an hours work at the very least maybe two or three, plus the material costs, I could see getting the billet machined or the steel welded and machined coming in at maybe 100+ easily. Then you need the bearings and the rest!

However, you could buy a brand new Ali top mount with bearing, anodised and ready to run for 72 delivered from demon tweaks on the bay, then have that cut down size, drilled and tapped (helicoiled if you want), you could even do this at home with a hacksaw and file, then you need access to a pillar drill.

It might be the most cost effective route! Bolt this Ali bearing carrier to your steel laser/plasma cut top and bottom plates and your away!

For these two plates, the lower washer plate and the upper adjustable plate I was thinking that the use of stainless would be handy, no finish required, however, I am unsure of the grades available in plate form and there properties, how thick would they need to be to take the forces bolted to the top of the turret? Are there any down sides that would rule its use out, am I missing something with stainless?

Edit,regarding seats and MoT, they are fine to be bolt in as we run, the problem is if they are motorised and the motor has failed rendering fixed and non adjustable, at leaast ours are adjustable, it may require a spanner but that is fine in the MoT eyes.

 

Mike: No I cant remember. Had them so long...............Possibly/probably on a comp car I have bought. Think rally design do an escort one. Its even possible they werent what I thought they were.....But I still like a bit of rubber in my top mounts, if the surface is poor. Believe it or not I run std rubber ones in my autocross car, with no ill effects, although it has quite long travel for grass racing
Jon

 

It's not the accuracy that's the issue, it's the actual welding. I can't weld, and so would have to pay someone to do it. Not cheap when you're cutting as well as welding.
If it's bolt in, I can do what's needed. Therefor you'll have more people who'll want them, making a group buy more likely.

 

I can weld, and have a mate who welds like it's an art form,

Pic from Jommanjo's cage, which my mate did.



...but I still agree that bolt on is probably a better solution for most people, and means you can swap between shells, etc.


I actually meant you don't need to be totally accurate drilling the bolt holes!

 

I can see the cost for these easily spiralling and ending up being more than some `off the shelf` parts.

 

Hope not, but if that happens we'll probably shelve it, knowing that at least we tried.

Based on the numbers Brian was talking about, if we get it right we can end up with high end adjustability and on-top mounting, for the price of the cheaper offerings on the market. It's not going to be 20 quid a side, for sure.

 

I cant bring myself to start drawing until a target price has been agreed, I did start two, but then thought it madness without price...

Im guessing bolt in so?

Brian,

 

160
?
Thanks Brian.

 

Made adjustable top rear mounts for my pulsar. All singing, all dancing. Set them once and left them there.
Moral is, unless you are sure you WILL adjust them, do you need adjustability. Me, after years of racing, I'm still confused by too much adjustable potential.
Just getting tracking (toe) and tyre pressures right is enough for me
Jon
PS: have the corner weight guage and camber / caster.......

 

Bump!

Let's call it 150 a pair, and see if we can beat it.

 

i am currently looking at the sliding camper-adjust ones from compbrake... with a spacer underneath, and set back for caster.
Pretty straight forward and easy enough......

Otherwise there are similar ones here for 150: http://www.mcmotorsport.co.uk/topmounts_1.htm
We could maybe make them in small batches for a similar price... maybe.

 

Well if they're doing them for 150, including paying for everyone's time and making a profit, I'd hope we can do something better for the same money, or even for less.