adjustable top mounts

[sambb]

I've done a fair bit of research and can really only find K-mac as a company that supplies adjustable top mounts for the car that can run standard OEM style springs. Before I pull the trigger on those I just wanted to throw it out there in case anyone knew of another type that will fit (looking for bolt in not having to fabricate)?
eg the ground control site has a listing for early audi A3's - anyone know if they would fit??

[h100vw]

I've done a fair bit of research and can really only find K-mac as a company that supplies adjustable top mounts for the car that can run standard OEM style springs. Before I pull the trigger on those I just wanted to throw it out there in case anyone knew of another type that will fit (looking for bolt in not having to fabricate)?
eg the ground control site has a listing for early audi A3's - anyone know if they would fit??

A3 is the same as MK4 Golf so they wont fit.

[sambb]

sigh - thought as much. Alright K-mac it is. thanks

[seangti]

Hi sam, perhaps put a post on facebooks 9n3 GTI Owners Club, see what anyone else runs around the world. It's mostly UK based people.

Also, I haven't forgotten those control arm measurements, just haven't had time. Tonight or tomorrow I should be right.

[sambb]

Hey Sean don't worry about looking at the control arms. I've worked out what I'm going to do. My Weitecs have the ball joint pivot about 15-20mm higher than the LCA pivot. The control arms themselves look horizontal but the pivots aren't, and the tie rods are pointing up into the sky too. From what I can tell the H&R's I've just gotten will be the same ride height or possibly even lower than these, which is not what I want. A while back I got my stock springs tested at Eibach and they were 0.4N/mm softer than the H&R's - the same spring rate. I spoke with bilstein and they said that there will be no problem at all running the B8's with taller OE springs (they'll just be a little more preloaded), so I'm going to run with the stockers so that the geometry will be right.
I'll order the tops today - I have an event on July 10th so it'll be a rush.

[h100vw]

Hey Sean don't worry about looking at the control arms. I've worked out what I'm going to do. My Weitecs have the ball joint pivot about 15-20mm higher than the LCA pivot. The control arms themselves look horizontal but the pivots aren't, and the tie rods are pointing up into the sky too. From what I can tell the H&R's I've just gotten will be the same ride height or possibly even lower than these, which is not what I want. A while back I got my stock springs tested at Eibach and they were 0.4N/mm softer than the H&R's - the same spring rate. I spoke with bilstein and they said that there will be no problem at all running the B8's with taller OE springs (they'll just be a little more preloaded), so I'm going to run with the stockers so that the geometry will be right.
I'll order the tops today - I have an event on July 10th so it'll be a rush.

DON'T RUSH. I have some LCAs spare. Hat about slotting the holes for the ball joint? How much camber do you want to get? I felt the Kmacs were not as easy to use as the ones on my coilovers and they are pretty expensive as well.

[sambb]

Sorry what did you mean re the LCA's Gav?

I looked at doing that with the ball joints. Problem is there is not much meat left in them. I was talking to the engineers at work and they thought you couldn't add material to the edge either because they are cast and can't be welded. So for both those reasons they didn't think it'd be strong enough.
What they did suggest is sourcing another ball joint that fits the hub and has a small footprint. Bolt it to a billet/forged plate and then shape that plate to fit inside the end of the control arm and use machined slots in it for camber adjustment. Where I'm stuck with that is working out what other VAG ball joints fit our hub and would be small enough so that when they are fitted and the ball joints bolts butt up against the end of the control arm, that there won't already be way to much camber, even before you start adjusting.
I know I should wait and get into all this but a few events coming up inc a state round in august and I really want to have the car ready for that.
Even at the H&R/weitec lowered spring ride height there is only 1 degree 10min on the fronts which is less than the rears that are at 1 degree 30 min.

[sambb]

oh did you mean you have a whole wishbone spare Gav? you don't have any spare ball joints too do you? our car has castor offset bushes for left and right don't they so the ball joint would have to match the control arm. If you can send some bits I'll hold off on the tops and try and get something made.

edit: I've got you now after a re-read. You meant elongate the holes in the LCA itself. I guess that would be a hell of a lot easier if it will work. The reason I was thinking of moding the ball joint instead was that I could hopefully find an extended ball joint but looking at the price of them it'd cost the same if not more than the adjustable tops anyway. Do you know of anyone else slotting the LCA with success?