Front suspension top link bracket

Dirk

Dirk

New Member
Hi fellow members

I am preparing a rust spot repair near the left hand top link outer mounting bracket (front suspension) IMG_20220226_130124.jpg.

I would like to keep it simple and therefore remove this outer bracket only. This way I would not need to disasemble the entire suspension.

Is this possible or wil it put extra stress to the other (inner) bracket? Or even causing harm to other parts of the suspension?

Thank you for your advice.

Best regards,
Dirk
 
I can't see that working, even if it were possible.

You're going to need to undo the top ball joint and release the upright from it. Then get some spring compressors onto the road spring and remove the four nuts (or bolts) then remove the whole link.

Best of luck with it :)

Personally I would remove the wing, but then that brings its own problems
 
Hi Quattro
Thanks for your reply.
You have a point, no shortcuts here.
If I have not enough space to make a decent repair I disasemble the suspension.

It's part of the fun, isn't it?
The fun started last year, with a small repair, but it escalated. It always does.
Love my P6.
D)
 

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Taking the wing off is pretty simple to be honest. I would say that keeping the repair level will be critical to suspension geometry so be aware of that. I’m also a little wary of a welded repair that area, it’s a high load region that takes a lot of weight and shock from the suspension.
 
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Hi sdibbers
Thanks for your suggestion, it is a critical area indeed. Good to point that out to me.
I am going to weld in a large new panel, that will hopefully reduce the risk and secure both strength and geometry.

OK, some coffee, measuring, and more coffee before I start disassembling it al.

Have a nice evening!
D)
 
Hi all, just a quick update.
As suggested, I removed the springs. I used my spring compressor tool, and a friend supplied 3 clever home made spring retaining rods and clamps. Safe and a lot easier then expected.

The new repair section around the holes for the brackets is now welded, and very solid again.

I'm going to replace the front bump stops with new ones. Any idea how I can remove the old ones? They don't move at all...

Thank you
D
 

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Hi Dirk,

The bump stops are not retained in any way, they just sit against the bulkhead held in place by the spring. If they don't move, then they must be well and truly rusted. All I can suggest never having faced such a dilemma is to chip away at them.

Ron
 
Hello Ron
Thank you, I wasn't sure if they were pressed in or not.

With some patience, lots of penetrating oil and a bit of encouragement with a light hammer, I managed to extract the bump stop.

Thanks, again Ron.
Have a nice day.
 
When assembling the two end plates, the bump stop and the cone end, should press into the spring ends. The three slots need to be in line so you can get the retaining rods in and you will find it best if their triangle points to the top so you can twist the rods without hitting the top link. Oh and make very sure the slots the rods fit into are solid and not the least bit rusty and the rods are fully at 90 degrees to the slot so they don't let go while your holding the spring.
 
Hi Mike, it worked out pretty well, the spring ends are still solid and rust free. So it all came apart very easy and safe.

I struggle with the inner bush (rubber+metal) from the top link. I could not yet remove that bush from the top link. It came out of the bracket ver easy tough.
There is not enough metal on that bush for my pulley puller.

Mmm, I need a plan
 

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If you are talking about the big bushes on the bulkhead & it seems you are, then the general opinion is to use original rubber bushes. Polybushes used in that particular application are known to be extremely noisy.
 
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@Dirk – DON'T polybush the front swing arms! The innermost purple poly Superflex bushes quickly sag, and they don't half squeak and squeal an awful lot! I regret having fitted them in that location. I'm happy with all the other bushes being purple poly, but I wouldn't do the swing arm bushes in that material if I were doing it again.
 
Hi guys, thank you for your valuable comments.
I have already bought the black superflex bushes @Wins before I started.... The original rubber bushes were unavailable.

You mention purple bushes, are they different from the black ones I have bought?
D)
 

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I don't know if different poly bush colours indicate a different 'hardness'. The bushes I fitted were a pretty ghastly purple colour. I would have preferred black!
 
The Rovering Member said:
Wadhams do the bushes in rubber. You would be well-advised to buy them & forget the polybushes you have as they can't cope with the particular stresses & strains exerted on them in that part of the the P6's innovative front suspension set-up:

J R Wadhams Ltd | Front inner top link bush

J R Wadhams Ltd | Front outer top link bush

Feel free to polybush the rest of the car including the bellcrank buffers:

View attachment 21363
Click to expand...

Well, I follow your advice and will order the rubber bushes ad Wadhams.
It is a pitty tough that shipment to the EU has become so expensive...

Thank you guys
D)
 
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