Stag Steering Rack Noise!

[peterjfox69]

Screen Shot 2021-07-25 at 07.50.17.png has anyone fitted one of these Chris Witor top mount modification?

[jbuckl]

Jack it up see if it’s the same.
thinking it might be a creeky top mount.
+ more than +1 for chris witor suspension / driveline parts
’surely there must be better etc ’ is as easy as asking here first…. No assumptions. Sorry if that sounds glib / trite / pious, but it’s true.
many of us already felt your pain.
makes SOC very useful resource for avoiding the pain
Example:- Never fit shot blasted & powder coated cam covers without having cut out cleaned and replaced the fire trap gauze in the breather…. Better off living with manky cam covers just saved you a £000’s in rebuild costs.
Never trust the refinisher who says no media will get in there , we seal it all off with this magic tape! It can probably or possibly be done, but it really isn’t worth the risk.
Blast if you must; replace gauze & clean only then refinish.

[KOY 23]

The top mounts must be utter rubbish to last such a short time. Surely there must be another way to get better quality parts?

They are and have a strong connection with Indian takeaways in that they take a similar time to turn to s**t.

[sujitroy]

there's an outfit in Australia called Kmac who make top mounts. not cheap and not cheap to post

[sujitroy]

i have buddy who bought crap mounts and had to spend extra money to have them machined. Told him to use Chris Witor ball bearing version or source NOS

[MandM]

I think you will find that Chris witor sell, modified top mounts that have bearings, but someone might confirm that?

[peterjfox69]

The top mounts must be utter rubbish to last such a short time. Surely there must be another way to get better quality parts?

[MandM]

but there's is definitely a problem with the supply of good quality parts for the stag as you will learn to your cost, after a few years and many wasted pounds and hours , where to buy what and what not too, the club is not interested in supplying you with details of what is right and wrong, so best to ask here before you waste your money!

[Lingen]

Dave.
There is nothing more to add really. It has been Stuart's private business for many years now, but SOCTFL keeps in touch, as he has such a wide knowledge of parts and their availability-or otherwise!
Mike.

[022Dave]

Are socspares.co.uk not affiliated to the club then?

Not anymore. I believe the Club was involved in originally setting it up, but Stuart Souter now has it as a stand-alone enterprise, although keeping the name. Mike Allen (Lingen) will be along soon with the definitive.

Dave

[DJT]

Are socspares.co.uk not affiliated to the club then?

No. I am sure Mike (Lingen) could give a potted history of the background to SOCspares.

[Floyd]

Are socspares.co.uk not affiliated to the club then?

[DJT]

The car is being collected and original BL parts being fitted as like you say, the current products available are crap. Mine lasted a week!
Surely the parts dept of the owners club can start producing parts of a higher quality?
The cars are starting to appreciate now so it must be time for the parts to improve too.
It will mean we pay more but you pays your money...

The SOC does not have a parts department. It does have SOCTFL (Stag Owners Club Tooling Fund Limited) which can provide funds to enable research and tooling to assist with the remanufacture of obsolete parts. Details are in the magazine every month.

There used to be a section on the main website, but this is now missing whilst the website is being rebuilt. Perhaps a. SOCTFL section could be added to the SOC Club Business section of this forum?

[peterjfox69]

The car is being collected and original BL parts being fitted as like you say, the current products available are crap. Mine lasted a week!
Surely the parts dept of the owners club can start producing parts of a higher quality?
The cars are starting to appreciate now so it must be time for the parts to improve too.
It will mean we pay more but you pays your money...

[Sculthorpe]

Have them check the top mounts. I replaced mine with the current pieces of crap on the market and one strut would not swivel. It just twisted the spring as the lower strut moved. I reverted to the original 48 years old top mounts.

Mel