Suspension: 140: Spot the difference, Pre-Post 71 Suspension

[Sam Barker]

Hello All,
Pondering through the world of suspension I keep coming across the fact that post '71 144 cars have a much wider range of shock absorbers than pre '71 Looking at all my bits from a 72 car they all look the same as my 68 road/rally/whacky racer so are they the same or not?

Cheers,

Sam

[classicswede]

Post 72 cars use the same rar dampers as a 240. Its only the bushes that have changed

[Sam Barker]

Hi Classicswede,
I've been busy breaking it y'see!
Does that mean that for a 68 144 you can use the later shocks just get the right rubbers or polybushes then?

Or does that mean that the early ones are in fact different beasts!

Cheers,

Sam

[classicswede]

To use the later 240 damper all you need to do is remove the from the top mount from memory.

If you want propper shocks for it I can get them no trouble.

[DaveTrees]

Originally Posted by classicswede

To use the later 240 damper all you need to do is remove the from the top mount from memory.

Other way round, I think you'll find !

The lower shock mount stud/bolt on a 240 (and therefore pretty much all the replacement rear shocks for 140s !) is 12mm rather than 5/8"

I just put a set of Bilsteins in my 1974 144 .... just got some lower mount bolts from a 240 & used them. Alternatively, just take the mounting stud out of the 144 lower arms & replace with the correct sized bolt.

[john h]

Dave,

How do you rate the Bilsteins? Did you fit all four?

John

[DaveTrees]

Originally Posted by john h

Dave,
How do you rate the Bilsteins? Did you fit all four?
John

Fitted all 4 (Bilstein B6/Sport). Impressions after 2 weeks - brilliant !

The Koni "red" shocks I had in previously were pretty tired - the Bilsteins actually feel slightly "softer" on the road, or at least less harsh, but much more controlled. Have also run a motorkhana & autocross with them last weekend and they were really good.

Only cost me US$75 per shock from Skandix USA, plus US$55 freight from the US to Australia .... which is about half what they would have cost me locally. It would have cost me equivalent of US$70 a corner to get the Konis serviced/rebuilt !

Car is slightly lowered (about 20mm) with stiffer front springs, 21mm swaybar, and slightly shortened 145 springs in the back.

Note - I also found that you have to grind out the holes in the front lower control arms 2-3mm to install the Bilsteins - otherwise the body of the shock won't fit through the hole !

Dave

[classicswede]

You are half right then. The bottom mount needs the sleeve or the bolt changing as where the top needs the sleeve completly removing.