Final version of the fitting guide has been done. It can be found here: http://www.southwalessubaru.co.uk/CDFALK.pdf

 

Cheers for your patients guys,


Thank for the the final copy rich






Group buy now over guys , thanks everyone that took part

 

Has anyone installed this kit on a classic yet? I tried today but the drivers side/ right side was impossible so I didn't even try the other side. The holes are too tight, I would say I'm missing about 3mm to be able to get the bolt in. I tried to file the holes a little bit and managed to get the bolts in but it didn't feel right when tightening so I guess I will need to adjust the holes some more.

Not too happy about doing this though, don't want the holes to be in assymetric positions on the left and right side mounts (with the risk of throwing of the alignment)

The kit looks great otherwise though.

 

Do both holes need to be adjusted equally much or is it just one hole that is in the wrong position?

 

How many times have I stared at that same image. Fit the right (lower) bolt hole first, with the bracket sitting above the gearbox mount.

Next, lever the bracket downward (as per the pic) and install the left handside bolt.

I've never done a classic, but it looks similar to the newage. If you're ever in South Wales, drop me a line.

 

I actually tried doing that way first, but that didn't work either. It so clear that the holes are too tight when you have the bracket against the body even with no bolts in.

 

Not in focus, but here was mine. It fitting in the end though, no filing required.

 

Well I hate to give up so I tried it again. But there was no chance at all no matter which bolt you fitted first. So had to file of some more material and then I got it in place. But I'm still not happy, I can feel that the threads of the bolts rub into the brackets so I'll have to file of even more tomorrow.

Hopefully the other side fits better.

 

as long as you file a small amount from opposite sides of the 2 holes then you will be fine and not compromise the strength of the bracket and give you just enough movement (assisted with a crowbar) for it to go in. grease your bolts as well, and get someone to give you a hand, this makes life much easier. it is a pain but worth it. and btw, the other side, if like mine, strangely, slots pretty much straight in.

 

Guys, I will look into this to find out why the right hand side is out more, strange as both holes are even . Maybe we need to offset the drivers hole a bit..... would of been so much easier if my car was on the road

 

Fitted the other side, what a difference! Absolutely perfect fit. The other side I filed some more with a rotating file on a dremel.

Chris, if you decide to update the driver's side brackets, I would probably want one of those instead. I'm not going to use car until the spring is here anyway. Yes I got it to fit but it feels a little bit tacky after all the filing.

 

This concerns me as I do not have the facilities to do this myself so I will be paying a garage to do it therefore I don't want to be paying over the odds for labour charges for something that needs modification to fit????

 

Trying to find a way round this now peeps

 

Thanks Chris

 

Are you anywhere near South Wales?

 

Afraid not, I live in Norfolk which I think is about 5 hours away.

 

Haven't tried to fit mine yet but I have to say I'm concerned about the issues guys are having - 2 points

1 if you start filing the holes out, surely you must be removing the surface treatment and exposing al2 that will start oxidising.

2 if you file the holes out randonly until it fits the correct alignment must surely be lost. The gain on castor is very small so what effect will moving the holes have?

Need some sensible answers here please and some reassurance that fitting this will actual give us the change in castor we want and not just screw the alignment up.

Thanks

 

1. when you tighten the nut up against the bracket it should be flush and up tight against the car, so i think it would not be exposed to the air.
2. when you get your car tracked after fitting you would be able to set the gain surely

getting mine done tomorrow so will post findings. tbh if there was an issue i think chris would not leave everyone in the lurch and take steps to resolve.

 

As above,

I am trying trying to find a way round this without having to recall them as there is nothing wrong with the passager side.

cheers

 

I would just like to add that mine fitted perfectly 1st time! Overall the kit took me no longer than an hour to fit.

The car has been in for its alignment check and everything was in order there. I have also completed a trackday at Cadwell yesterday with no issues at all.

Buying a new and untested product is always going to have an element of risk and possibly throw up a few issues. There were a few minor teething problems with my bolts/spacers but these were promptly sorted.

I have bought several items from CDF racing and would definatly buy from them again.

(Just wanted to put my views across as it's not all negative!)

 

You're misunderstanding the issue. Its the classics that seem to have a fitting issue at one side, not the newage cars.

I'm happy to let Chris take a look at resolving it first before making any comment.

 

Are the Whiteline kits for the classic the same at each side?

 

Guys, the newage and classic kits are the same, All that is different is the newage kit comes with the spacer kits ..... as C8 HC 04WRX , redwards , my06 ppp silver have all said ..... they are buggers to fit but DO fit , the classic kits will be the same,




Basically these holes do need to be offset more than they are, we are talking 1.5mm each way

Now as I have said before, I would of fitted these to my car but was unable to .... as you all know we do make quality parts and as dan said they are new untested products that are prone to a few teething issues, I am sure once we get round this you will all have a very nice part ,that does the job at a bargain of a price. Plus most of you know I wont walk away from our parts so lets get this sorted,


Rich is looking to get a classic kit fitted soon, But I can't see it being fitted any different.




Solution....


Now I know what to do change for the next batch, but this doesn't change things for the kits already been sent.

Option 1 :

If you guys are not comfortable with the kits as they are,or not happy .... please send me your right hand bracket back.... I can skim 1.5mm from each hole neatly . This will take a slight layer off the inside of the hole off but will not let the part corrode as it will still be airtight.
A refund for the postage will be send back with the part


Option 2:

Keep the kit and give fitting ago, following the fitting instrutions,

Option 3:

Send us back the whole kit and wait for the new batch, approx 5 weeks.


Option 4 :

Send back for refund




On another note, Alk from other brands are also not easy to fit, I have been told 2-3 hours labour from someone we deal with that fits them day in day out. They DO have to be tight .



PM me your questions or what you would like to do

 

Btw, I think the picture in post 184 shows the hole out more than it actually is, as Rich pointed out the spacer and nut is not fitted, if it was I am sure it will press the bracket on more

 

well ill go for option 2.but will not be fitting it for 6-8wks.if when it comes to fitting im not happy with it can i exchange it then?.out of interest...how meny folks have got the newage alk fitted so far?..would like some feedback.

 

Three that In know of on here, yes that is fine to exchange.

I am ordering material for another 30 kits tomorrow so new batch should be ready in April


Chris

 

ok.sounds good to me.

 

Rich (redwards) is fitting mine for me as he only lives 4 miles away so I am happy to keep the kit and let Rich sort out any minor fitment issues as he does seem to be a old hand at this now.

It is a good quality kit and just as good as kits I have seen from Whiteline and Perrin.

 

Chris: As I live in Sweden I won't be sending anything back because of the Swedish post office's ridiculous shipping prices. But I still would like one from the new batch, can't you send me a half kit with only the driver's side bracket?

You can pm me a solution/price if you prefer it.

Thanks

 

I'd like to send mine back and wait for the new kit