Going to Tour De Vin... in an Audi. :(

289fia_cobra · #1 (**permalink**) 07-24-2009, 04:14 PM

This morning, I was getting fuel and money for this weekend when BANG! My left-rear shock broke! It's a Koni unit and fortunately, it was going into a driveway, not on the freeway.

AFetr removing it, and talking to the vendor, we both feel the problem is geomerty related. I'm having it sent back to Koni for repair but I'll be doing a few things different the next time. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the lower-A-arm spacers that Factory Five provided. The last photo shows a dent on the lower mount. This is because it's twisting into a portion of the lower A-arm; that is due to one spacer being shorter than the other. This was supplied this way by FFR but IMO, this design has broken the original shock (Bilstein) and now the second shock. When I get the shock back, I"m going to "center" the lower mount; I'll have to fab up my own spacers or possibly use hardened washers (so long as they don't interfer with the movement.

Got the Bug · #2 (**permalink**) 07-24-2009, 06:58 PM

Herman - Like you said, lucky it happened going into a driveway and not at speed on Hwy 9 or Skyline Blvd. Hope you get it squared away and you're back on the road soon.

tkb289 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-24-2009, 07:16 PM

Herman,

Sorry to hear your rear shock broke ... but as Doug said, at least not on HWY 9 or the freeway

Question ... while you are at it ... any issues with the fronts?

- Tim

Randy Rosenberg · #4 (**permalink**) 07-24-2009, 07:54 PM

Herman, ditto what the guys above said...

A few years ago, I did the TdV in my daily driver, and I was really glad I did, 'cause is was like 115 in the Livermore valley. I had a blast, eventho I was in my Cobra.

You'll have a great time as well. I'm sure you'll get your Cobra fixed soon and back on the road.

See ya tomorrow!

289fia_cobra · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2009, 06:06 AM

Tim:
in the FFR's it's "mostly" been the rear shocks with the T-bird IRS.

PANAVIA · #6 (**permalink**) 07-27-2009, 12:17 AM

I second the above sentiment , glad it was as un-eventful as possible.

Curious -- is there a technical update from the FFR guys that appropriately addresses this >?

--if you need help milling, cutting or welding -- let us know.

Steve

289fia_cobra · #7 (**permalink**) 07-27-2009, 07:44 AM

Steve, I think the critical issue is plain to see in the last photo.
With the lower shock being restricted in it's movement, new spacers is the first step to alleviating this obvious problem that FFR seems to have overlooked? Not sure; it was a huge issue addressed in 2007-2008 but don't recall if anyone brought up that particular issue.