Rear shock tower bent upper mount

[LOTUSTEVE]

Hi.
I tried to find info in the forum about this but no luck. So during my rear end overhaul dismantling phase, I discovered that both upper shock mounts are bent. Looking for some creative ideas on how to repair and strengthen them? Just to make it challenging, all with the body on!
Cheers,
Steve.

[Elanman99]

Steve, its not clear from your picture what or where the bend is. I can see we are looking up into the Lotacone(?) that hold the top of the suspension strut but the 2D image makes it hard to form an opinion.

As regards any strengthening work on the chassis, this would have to be done body off. The workshop manual give major chassis dimensions so should help give you an idea of bentness!

Ian

[Billelan]

Same thing happened on my S4 in the 70’s even though the chassis was new!
I took the body of (again!), straightened and realigned the Loctocone platform before adding some strengthening flanges. I believe later chassis had these flanges incorporated.

[LOTUSTEVE]

Thanks for the reply's. Trying to add another photo but having difficulty but it is the bulge to the right of the Locotone mount as viewed in the pic.

[Elanman99]

I'm curious to know in which direction did the Lotocone flanges bent?

My 1968 chassis failed with rusted front uprights in the early 80's but I'm sure the rest of the chassis was like new.

Ian

[Billelan]

The platform bends upwards and the vertical flange kinks outwards. You can see that on the photo.

[LOTUSTEVE]

Bent upwards and a long time ago. I picked up this car mid year and it's been in project status for the last 24 years at least. Judging by the dirt between the chassis and bent mount, it happened before that. The dampers aren't the best and one of the aluminium travel limiters on the shock was jammed into the bump stop. She bottomed out hard at some stage.

[rgh0]

I brazed reinforcing plates on the outside and inside of of the top bracket sides with an upper return flange to the inside reinforcing plates of the upper bracket. I straightened the bulged side plates a couple of which had significant cracks. I did this is 2014 after 34 years of racing with a new standard replacement chassis fitted in 1980


Cracked and staightened bracket with cracks drilled out at end

Inside and outside reinforcing plates, 4 of each made

reinforcing plates brazed into place

cheers
Rohan

[LOTUSTEVE]

Nice Rohan. Thanks.