Stag Struts?

[Warner Bigend]

My (pre facelift) mk2 2000 has very worn out struts, and I can\'t really stretch to new ones <br>
<br>
Was wondering if Stag ones fit, or ones off another model? I don\'t want
to mess up the ride height or spring rate too much (although a little
higher and a little harder would be good ), but I\'ve got to get this
sorted asap as I\'m not happy with driving on poor dampers and the MOT
is due in a couple of months. If anyone has a pair in good condition
they want to flog cheap then please let me know, would save me a lot of
hunting <br>
<br>
I\'m a little annoyed as the car had only done 150 miles since the last
MOT when I bought it, and I\'ve only put about 80 miles on it - Goes to
show just how little use an MOT certificate really is.<br>

[Alec]

Hello Warner, <br>
<br>
if it is the dampers that are not working, then replacement inserts are available at resaonable cost.<br>
I would say if you want to go the second hand route then 2000 struts
are probably more common than Stag ones, but I don\'t know if they are
interchangeable. Try someone like Winns and Co.<br>
<br>
Alec<br>

[Warner Bigend]

There\'s signs of leakage on my n/s damper, but I also have no gaiters
on either, and one of them has a worn out top bearing. So it\'s not just
the inserts <br>
<br>
I\'m also not entirely sure what is required to change the inserts,
having never had to replace struts (I\'ve only had a handful of strut
sprung cars, and killed them long before the suspension broke ) but
I\'m guessing it\'s a job that needs tools I probably don\'t have.<br>
<br>
I was thinking a pair of cheap but serviceable s/h ones would do the
job for now, and also leave me with my old pair spare in case I wanted
to get the parts and learn how to recon them at some point in the
future (or just send them off to be reconned). Asked about Stag ones as
there\'s a pair on Ebay at the moment, and from what I can tell the top
and bottom mounts are the same, as is the damper, but I wasn\'t sure
what the spring rate and length might be. My car does seem to sit
rather low at the front, which I\'m not sure is standard, or a sign of
weak springs, or simply the uprated (fitted by a previous owner)
standard length springs on the rear. So I don\'t mind if I get something
with slightly harder and taller (no more than an inch though) springs,
but I don\'t want to go stupidly lower or taller or hard, if that makes
sense? <br>
<br>
Also wasn\'t sure what springs were fitted to the 2500, or later cars. I
might know of a pair of 2000 struts alledgedly in good condition
locally which I think would be ideal, but like above, I don\'t want to
really mess up the ride height, and I don\'t know what years had what
fitted <img><br>

[Alec]

Hello Warner, <br>
<br>
OK, I understand, Stag ones may fit but I cannot be sure and looking at
a few things I have been unable to find any reference to swaps. Rimmers
catalogue has the same part number for the 2000 and stag replacement
strut except for one letter (suffix). That could be down to a different
rate damper insert. Certainly the top mount is the same.<br>
<br>
As far as 2000 struts go, I think only the S is significantly different in spring rate and height.<br>
<br>
Alec<br>
<br>

[Warner Bigend]

So what\'s the difference between \"face lift\" and \"pre face lift\" then,
as I\'ve read these have different ride heights? I don\'t really care so
long as the nose isn\'t dragging on the floor or pointing at the sky <br>
<br>
As the Stag has a heavier engine I was worried Stag struts would cause
the nose to sit too high, but my rough workings out suggest about 40kg
difference, split between the two springs so 20. So that shouldn\'t
effect the attitude too much, and if anything will result in the front
being a bit stiffer (less weight on springs designed for more), but
that\'s all theoretical. I\'d really like to get my hands on a pair of
2000 units, but if the seller of the Stag ones ever gets back to me
(mailed on Friday) and can guaranty they\'re in good condition I\'ll give
them a whirl.<br>
<br>
Will take height/ clearance measurementsbefore and after, in case anyone\'s interested <br>

[Alec]

Hello Warner, <br>
<br>
the face lift had softer springs and higher ride height and is generally not favoured.<br>
<br>
If the Stag has stonger springs then it will stiffen and slightly raise
your car. If it is too high you can always swop the springs putting
yours on the Stag legs.<br>
<br>
Good luck, <br>
Alec<br>

[Alec]

Hello Warner, <br>
<br>
if it is the pair for £19.99 then the price is worth a go. A pair of gaiters from Rimmers wouldn\'t be much less i would guess.<br>
<br>
Alec<br>

[Warner Bigend]

Hello Warner, <br>
<br>
the face lift had softer springs and higher ride height and is generally not favoured.

<br>
<br>
Ah, righty, whatever happens I\'ll try to avoid them then, thanks I
don\'t have an anti roll bar, so a bit extra front stiffness doesn\'t go
amiss (although my car doesn\'t feel exactly stiff, dread to think what
it would be like on even softer springs!)<br>
<br>

If the Stag has stonger springs then it will stiffen and slightly raise
your car. If it is too high you can always swop the springs putting
yours on the Stag legs.<br>

<br>
<br>
The Stag certainly has a different part number on Rimmers site, but
looking at the Witor price list I see some uprated lowered fronts
listed as for fast road, Stag, and non PAS rally. So he thinks they\'ll
fit all, but I\'m not sure why the differential between fast road for
PAS, and rally for non-PAS (mine hasn\'t got PAS). I\'d think rally might
mean taller, but why would power steering make the difference I wonder?<br>
<br>
As for Stag ones raising and stiffening the car, that\'s what I\'m
keeping my fingers crossed on It just looks \"wrong\" to me as it
stands at the moment, and there\'s signs the bottom arms have hit the
bump stops from time to time. Although I suppose poor/ shot dampers
migh contribute to that, as the corner would be able to shoot up a bit
quicker (makes sense in my head anyway).<br>
<br>
Thanks for the input, now to see if I end up getting them <br>
<br>
Edit - Yup, it\'s the 20 quid ones. I know, worth it for the gaiters
(well, just about after 15 quid P&P - A tad pricey I feel) alone.
But as I might know of a good pair of 2000 ones (won\'t see the chap
till Wednesday) I really want the seller to actually reply to my mail
before going ahead.<br>
<br>
My Ebay finger is getting a little itchy though, I must admit...<br>
<edited><editID>Warner Bigend</editID><editDate>38621.5921064815</editDate></edited>

[Warner Bigend]

Having second thoughts now - After sending the seller a mail asking
about condition and any sort of returns policy, I get back a bit of a
vague and less than clear english reply...<br>
<br>
I think I\'ll keep my fingers crossed nobody goes for them before I\'ve
had chance to speak to someone who recently broke a 2000 on Wednesday,
can\'t afford to throw 35 quid down the pan if the Ebay ones aren\'t up
to the job <br>

[Warner Bigend]

Stag ones now fitted. Haven\'t driven on them yet as such, but a quick
back and forth shows them to be very hard - I think I must have
miscalculated spring rates &nbsp; We shall see what they\'re like to
drive on, if they\'re stupidly hard then I\'ll save up to get the springs
change over (tempted to get some mildly uprated ones from Chris Witor).<br>
<br>
The steering is still very heavy, although I\'m not convinced the struts
I\'ve fitted are all that good, still they\'re better than what came off
as my n/s one was obviously leaking copiously, neither had gaiters, and
the top metal plate seems to have completely seperated from the rubber
cup on both sides. So it\'s been worth getting these I reckon, even if
it doesn\'t end up being the fix all I\'d hoped for.<br>
<br>
Ride height wise I think I must have mis-measured before taking the old
ones off. The tape says the car is now roughly an inch higher (and sits
better due to the silly uprated rear springs fitted before I got it)
but to me it looks more like 2\". So for the lowering crowd they are
totally useless, but if it turns out the ride isn\'t too harsh (I think
it might just be though) this might be a quick n easy off the breakers
shelf way to firm things up. I certainly get the feeling I won\'t be
hunting down an anti roll bar if I keep them! <img><br>