5g front struts - handed?

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 5:26 pm

Recently changed shocks/springs all round. Stock 4g for stock 5g.

I believe I've put the L front shock on the R side of the car, and vice versa. Labels were almost unreadable, although after piecing together visible bits of the part number on one of them just now, I think they're on the wrong sides.

Does it make any difference?

106pete · Post by **106pete** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 5:30 pm

Only difference is the brake pipe bracket I think.

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 7:28 pm

5g struts don't seem to have the brake pipe brackets. I'm hoping not to have to swap them round (unless it's a nice evening one day this week, in which case no probs

), though I'm wondering why they're different part numbers.

Only thing i can think is the bottom spring-stop would face the opposite way if positioned nearest to the body (or furthest, come to that), and may be open to more splash on the end of the spring.

I just wondered whether there was anything else inherently different about the two sides ...

NCCMUR · Post by **NCCMUR** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 8:04 pm

i think the forks on the front shocks are handed and the locating tab on each shock therefore should go on the correct side

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:13 pm

Aye, the forks are handed - there's a hump on the front tine to go round the driveshaft. But, as you know, they're separate.

One of the shocks fitted perfectly into the fork, the other was about 5mm out, so I hacksawed the tab off.

I could have loosened the top nut and compressed the spring to turn the strut to fit, but destruction is usually quicker and easier.

Both struts are now snug in the forks and everything tightened up straight. Logic says there shouldn't be any problem, but the different part numbers thing is bugging me a bit. I notice that some aftermarket struts are quoted as handed, too, though apparently not the Koni ones for 97-01.