Front strut spacers on US CS

ccr2002

ccr2002

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How many of you have removed your front strut spacers that lifted the front bumper about 1 inch to comply with US bumper height regulations? I've been advised to remove them and wonder if anything other that just "taking them out" is required. I'm assuming an alignment afterwards will be necessary but anything else?

thanks
ccr
 
I removed mine when replacing the struts. The only warning I read was
to make sure the bolts at the top of the struts don't hit the hood before lowering the hood (?).
 
Removed sometime in the early 90's. But watch out for the bolts hitting the underside of the hood as Arde pointed out.

I actually thought that they were inserted to raise the center beam of the headlights to comply with regs not to raise the bumper height to comply with regs.

Anyone out there know for sure?

Shawn
 
Re: Front strut spacers

How many of you have removed your front strut spacers that lifted the front bumper about 1 inch to comply with US bumper height regulations?

This post begets several questions that never seem to have a definitive answer. The only knowledge I have on this subject is what I have seen. This includes the apparent fact that all e9's (including Euro - home market vehicles) were equipped with front aluminum spacers. Could someone please confirm this?

Did the rear suspensions of US models also get a lift from taller spacers or spring perches?One might expect the the shop/parts manuals might offer some guidance.

Assuming all e9's were equipped with a spacer of some kind, can one assume that these glorified washers served some purpose integral to the suspension/steering or even posture of the vehicle? Spread the load on the fender apron? (Guessing)

For the record, I have removed even the thinest of spacers without any obvious ill effects - trying to achieve less of a riding high in the water look.

In the US market, were the "taller" spacers included to meet bumper height requirements? Headlamp height specifications? or even both?

What were the specifications of the various spacers? The thickest I have observed is approximately 1.5 cm or about 1/2 inch. Are they all marked?

 
When I took the bucket apart to rebuild it the front struts had the spacers fitted. My car is a RHD UK supplied car. The spacers are approx 15mm thick, but I would need to confirm (If I can remember where I put them :roll: )
It also had 3 domed nuts per strut with washers fitted, so If the spacer was left out then the nuts would not tighten up.
At the rear it had rubber spring "pads" or "seats" both top and bottom. from memory they are approx 10mm thick.
Reading the official workshop manual, Europe only, there appears to of been various rear pad and front spacer thicknesses used, along with different spring lengths and poundages.
Why I don't exactly know but I would suspect it would depend on the supplier at the time and quite possibly to compensate for variations in the bodyshell build process, application, customer requests, preference, market supplied etc etc.
However I do know I made sure I labelled all the parts to ensure they went back in the right place just in case they were used to "true" the ride hieght up!

Malc
 
Hey Malc, were the spacers rusted? Or only the useful parts of the car rust?
 
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