Torn up rear suspension housing

[GTV-GR]

I got a new issue with the GTV , been hearing this noise for a couple of weeks now , thought it was the rear side window loose banging around didn't pay too much attention , well checked it thoroughly today...the rear right suspension housing the one the shock bolts into has stripped one bolt from the chassis with a tiny piece of the chassis...what the hell???? The rear suspension is unbelievably soft , oh why god why???? I hate having the car fixed by someone else, i can't do that though , i don't have the space , how do i cope with this damage -what's the best way to approach this?

[GTV-GR]

There seems to be an old weld spot right there, and the car when bought had super soft rear suspension...it still has.
The metal seems very thin for this particular stress spot, why? I understand many guys here have bilsteins and race suspension setups on super hard , how does the metal cope with this?? Do you have to weld extra plates in order to have stiffer suspension and be trouble free?
Akitaman - how do i fix this?

[Andrew]

This is not unusual, especially if you install stronger than stock shocks. The sheet metal is pretty thin there. I'd think cutting the whole section out and patching with a reinforced piece cut from another car would work fine.

Andrew

[darth dino]

gas pressurized shocks, such as Bilsteins, are notorious for doing this.

[GTV-GR]

Darth - but i'm running the SOFTEST shocks in the world at the back

[Rob K]

not to panic, but does one want to think preemptive reinforcement here if running stiffer shocks?

[darth dino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTV-GR Darth - but i'm running the SOFTEST shocks in the world at the back

[GTV-GR]

"do you make the appropriate sacrifices to the Alfa gods, to keep away the unexpected breakdowns ?"

-3 young virgins every day

There is no rust at the back , i only can trace an old spot weld...
I don't race it , i snap a couple of times but thats it
If you add metal sheets on top doesn't that change the height of the cup where the shock attaches to?

-Of course my immediate reaction was to pm Akitaman ,hasn't replied yet as i think all you lucky US guys have turned your cars to his shop and i think we gonna start missing him from this forum due to loads of work

-

[darth dino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTV-GR If you add metal sheets on top doesn't that change the height of the cup where the shock attaches to ?

[Andrew]

This are is subject to rust, and is relatively thin to begin with, so I don't think stiff shocks are always the culprit. Also, amount and type of driving can affect it. Rough roads, potholes, track use, etc., would all cause more stress/flex in this area.
Andrew

[rogerspeed]

bad luck, to add to andrew's list of probable causes: lack of rebound straps, bad shock bushings, frozen shock, bad trailing arm bushings, the shocks not tightened in the upper and/or bottom mount, the upper shock mount not being tightened to the body. As you noted the problem had been building, you hear heard the noise as the metal fatigued from movement over time. On a karmic (carmic?) basis, somewhere, the pretty girl with stuck car is laughing

[GTV-GR]

"bad trailing arm bushings, the shocks not tightened in the upper and/or bottom mount, the upper shock mount not being tightened to the body."

Thanks Roge i think it's got to be one of these , i'll take the -not tightened upper shocks for 500$ Alex
As for the girl ,she is definately laughing naked on top of her Gt

Where are you Daron????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????

[GTV-GR]

Come on Daron check this before i take the car somewhere and they skin me alive

[akitaman]

When we deal with this, we tend to do two things. One, we cut out the defect to a point where the metal is of quality. We make that cut squared too. Next, we then bead roll the perimeter of the replacement steel to stiffen the metal. In any case of how this is handled I would absolutely repair this with replacement metal. And it would be 18 gauge steel.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

[GTV-GR]

Found some money AND balls, got a MIG , i'll do this by myself

Akitaman 2 Questions:

1. Do i cut the spring housing top off and weld in the inner tube a new heavy gauge circular piece?

2. I need to cut the top sheet metal near the inner wing and at the corner of inner wing- backseat plate , the angled grinder doesn't reach there , oxygen ,plasma or something else perhaps?


Thanks in advance Man