[Mk2] [Generic] Fitting my pillowball top mounts

[jason_pmr2]

Hi ive just bought these topmounts to fit onto my stock (rev1)shocks:


A few questions:

1. Having never used pilloball topmounts, do i need any other bits apart from what is shown in the picture i.e washers nuts, any sort of adapter?

2. To fit the front ones, do i simply undo the nut on top of the strut, remove the OEM topmount, and replace with the pillowball topmount, with no washer or anything inbetween it and the spring cup?

3. How do the front topmounts work. i.e the pillowball topmounts don't have a bearing in(Whereas OEM ones do!), so how will the strut be able to turn with steering etc?

4. Do the rear pillowball topmounts require a spring cup at all, or is fitting them, just as simple as removing the OEM topmounts and replacing with the pillowball ones, with nothing else extra?

5. Do i mount the front topmounts in such a way that i can only adjust the location of the centre inwards/in the OEM position i.e with cusco logo nearest wing and white stickers nearest the centreline of the vehicle?

Thank you for your help, im fitting them tonight!

[Slarty]

2. To fit the front ones, do i simply undo the nut on top of the strut, remove the OEM topmount, and replace with the pillowball topmount, with no washer or anything inbetween it and the spring cup?

NO!! The topmount is what retains the spring, and can only be removed once you've taken the strut off of the car. Also, it cannot be removed from above.

You need to:

1: Raise and support the front of the car, and remove the wheels.
2: Undo the single nut in the original top mount, when viewed from above, a few turns. (NOT completely!!)
3: Undo the 3 nuts holding the topmount to the tower (triangle shape arangement) from above.
4: Undo and remove the strut from the car. (from within the wheel arch)
5: Using spring compressors, compress the spring.
6: When the spring is sufficiently compressed, the top mount will rattle a little. You can now (safely) undo the single nut you loosened at the start.
7: Take the top mount off and replace with the Cusco one.
8: Refit is the reverse of removal (good old Haynes lol)

That's the principle of the job. There might be a few other minor things to remove/disconnect along the way (brake line springs to mind) but they'll be pretty obvious as you go along.

hth.

[jason_pmr2]

2. To fit the front ones, do i simply undo the nut on top of the strut, remove the OEM topmount, and replace with the pillowball topmount, with no washer or anything inbetween it and the spring cup?

NO!! The topmount is what retains the spring, and can only be removed once you've taken the strut off of the car. Also, it cannot be removed from above.

You need to:

1: Raise and support the front of the car, and remove the wheels.
2: Undo the single nut in the original top mount, when viewed from above, a few turns. (NOT completely!!)
3: Undo the 3 nuts holding the topmount to the tower (triangle shape arangement) from above.
4: Undo and remove the strut from the car. (from within the wheel arch)
5: Using spring compressors, compress the spring.
6: When the spring is sufficiently compressed, the top mount will rattle a little. You can now (safely) undo the single nut you loosened at the start.
7: Take the top mount off and replace with the Cusco one.
8: Refit is the reverse of removal (good old Haynes lol)

That's the principle of the job. There might be a few other minor things to remove/disconnect along the way (brake line springs to mind) but they'll be pretty obvious as you go along.

hth.

#

Your instructions seem to refer to the rear struts, where i agree that the topmount and springcup are one.
However, my question is regarding the front, the spring cup and topmount are seperate items- just wanting to know whether they can be simply put together(top mount and spring cup) with no additional parts(which i may not have got).

[Slarty]

The instructions refer to both front and rear. They both use MacPherson struts.

Front: http://www.ayrpark.plus.com/epc/toyota/ ... _1993.html

Rear: http://www.ayrpark.plus.com/epc/toyota/ ... _1993.html

Although they're diagrams, they give you an idea.

[jason_pmr2]

Thanks for the help. I need to know about pillowball topmounts though! I bought them second hand, but there seems to be some part missing - dont know what though!
All i got was 4 topmounts, no special nuts or sleeves etc. I've just been out for the last 2.5 hours fittng tein springs. I had an attempt at fitting the pillowball topmounts but they dont seem to fit at all(even the rears). The hole in the cusco topmounts are much bigger than the diameter of my struts. So ive put my OEM mounts back on for now.
I still really want to know how i can get these Cusco topmounts to fit on my rev 1 shocks?

[Grajey]

You are missing a sleeve type nut.
After assembling the strut and topmount you need a threaded nut about 30mm in length which slides inside the topmount and screws onto the insert thread.
When properly tightened the whole unit fits together snugly.

If you go to my garage you should see a pic which shows what I mean.

HTH

[jason_pmr2]

Ok so if i get hold of those sleeve type nuts, it should work fine.
So am i correct in thinking that there is no other part that goes in between the spring cup and topmount (I.e no dust cover as on the OEM topmounts or anything else)!

And by the way what topmounts do you have and how much/ where from? Just asking because i think im going to have real difficulty getting those nuts for the cusco topmounts - I cant even finf anywhere that sells cusco topmounts!

[simmo490]

you can use a normal nut and a spacer mate. easy make one up from a piece of tubing

[Ginjaninja92]

Holy thread revival batman!

I know this a very old thread, but i have also just purchased some Cusco rear top mounts. I'm hoping to fit them on yellow Bilsteins which have the same fittings are standard shocks.

But it looks I'm missing the "sleeve nuts" that Grajey mentioned, did you ever get your top mounts fitted Jason?

Has anyone else fitted these successfully?

Thanks peoples.