I purchased a used pair of turn-in spacers , and I'm not sure how to install them. Looking for advice:

1.) The spacers are "offset" (not just a spacer but it also changes the position of the strut tube bottom relative to the steering arm that the bottom of the strut tube normally bolts onto.) It's not clear which way the offset should be (ie: which spacer goes on which side of the car.)

2.) I think I need to "drill-out" the threads on the foot of the strut tube, so that the upper bolt can pass through the foot and screw into the spacer.

Before I destroy the threads on the strut tube, I am hoping somebody has seen these spacers before and knows how to install? Thanks for your help.

 

Probably would help to identify the car.

 

The spacers are for an FB.

 

Not sure how to tell which side is which, but the bolts will go up through the bottom, then into the bottom of the strut tube. If you are trying to install them through the strut tube, then into the spacers etc. then you are doing it backwards.



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Kentetsu, thanks for the reply. I also thought the bolts would go "up through the bottom" (as do the stock bolts), until I tried to install the spacers; the hole in the spacer doesn't go through the spacer, because of the offset.
So I am going to:
a) drill-out the threads of the strut tube foot,
b) grind the top of the strut tube foot flat, so that the bolt head can sit flat on the foot
c) put one pair of bolts in from the top, through the strut tube foot, into the spacer. Use threadlock.
d) install the other pair of bolts from the bottom, through the steering linkage, into the spacer.

As for the orientation, I had an offline discussion with RX7Club member Carl, and we both think the offset should be in the direction that pushes the steering linkage outward in relation to the strut tube.

Michael

 

Those are early Gforce units. You need to drill out the thread of the strut and also grind a 'flat' for the head of a bolt to seat on from the top **It is very important to make this flat otherwise you will be putting a load on one side of the bolt head that can cause it to break** I recommend having it done on a mill.

The steering arms will be pushed IN. You may need to shorten the adjuster bolt in your tie rod ends to get them to go short enough.

 

jgrewe, thanks much. Steering arms "INWARD" is correct - I just spoke with legendary Jim Susko, and he confirmed it.

 

The Legend and I were business partners when he first started developing that suspension. We raced and rented a couple FB's back in the early 90's.

 

Ah, I missed the fact that they were the offset model. Sorry about that. Glad you got it figured out.