Adjustable Strut top machining.

[BigMuz]

Wouldn't that premote slight play which could cause the lock bolts to sheer

The thing is, the bolts only serve as a clamp in this arrangement. Single shear is not really effective in locating anything. So the main thing is that the bolts are able to be tensioned tight enough to generate enough friction between the two plates to stop them moving. Relying on the bolts to work as pins is only viable if you have a top and a bottom plate made up to sandwich the middle plate (which is ludicrous).

[HoonBoy]

The company who made my strut tops suggested I modify them with a hacksaw to get them to fit my car (and they were supposed to be made to fit my car in the first place...) Clamping ability is more important then getting the holes dead accurate.

[Jason Broadhurst]

Well I figure I will use 8mm deep hex head bolts for clamp. the material will be stainless all round so there should be plenty of clamping force without having to worry about stripping thread.

[Jason Broadhurst]

The datrats image i posted looks like they use 6mm lock bolts, would this suffice? It would make it a little easier to design.

[BigMuz]

Light car- probably. Use hard washers though.

[Jason Broadhurst]

Okay, getting easier.

The original top has two plates with lube for a bearing, I assume i should just get a pillow ball and circlip to hold it in the disc?

[Jason Broadhurst]

The two lock nut sliders need to be narrowed down to 6mm and new lock bolts drawn but as rough as it is, I think it will work and be cheap enough to be worth doing.

[BigMuz]

Fancy!

Looks good. I didn't notice the inner ring on the first photo you posted in this thread. That takes the stress out of the bolts. Good design for sure, but no caster adjustment? Maybe make the slots 10mm off centre and then you can change the positon of the entire cap to sort caster?

[Jason Broadhurst]

I was just going to dial in 15mm of castor which is about 2 degrees. This will not be adjustable.

[sssgtr]

Very dumb question, but what is the particular bearing type used for camber plates like this?
Pillow ball search in google only yields results for pillow blocks and the various Tein products.

[Jason Broadhurst]

I was under the impression they were called pillowballs? my google search found them under that name

[HoonBoy]

Very dumb question, but what is the particular bearing type used for camber plates like this?
Pillow ball search in google only yields results for pillow blocks and the various Tein products.

They allow for movement on all angles whilst still holding the weight of the car. Standard and some of the cheaper aftermarket ones use a eurothane insert and a normal bearing instead, which gives it more flex then is ideal for handling.

[sssgtr]

I found them as spherical bearings.

hoonboy, thanks anyway but i know how they function.

I assume that NMB's AWBT range of spherical bearings would be ideal for camber plates?

[sssgtr]

Better yet, THK's Series NB spherical bearings (lubrication free) appear to be a better option.

[Jason Broadhurst]

Okay I did some pricing.

Bearing = $17ea
Steel for 16 units = $264
Studs = $2ea
Lock bolts = $1ea

That makes the units around the $50(vs 100ea if I only made 1 set) dollar mark material wise. Im going to turn the discs up, but the top disc will be laser cut so im unsure of an exact price yet.