Strange bang!

[alfiebeard]

Originally Posted by janandchris

Sorry about photo quality...took on my phone.

Taken from rear of car, showing where the bolt came from that broke (the others are out too in the photo). And the seemigly poor design of the spacer between the diff and subframe. Which I am going to put tubular inserts into (indicated by the yellow arrow) to stop it from bending. Which should allow me to tighten the new, heavier duty, high tensile bolts properly.

This morning we just replaced the broken bolt and pinched the others up a bit, but the spacer bends at the corners. Having said that, even this has made an unexpected difference to the handling. The back end now feels much more positive around corners.

So I can't wait to get it sorted properly tomorrow!!!

Good result then eh, so good can come from bad eh, especially on a Pilgrim lol.
Alfie B

[janandchris]

....fingers crossed!

[stu e]

I also have a MK2 with a Granada back axle, the spacer on mine is 4 pieces of tube one on each bolt. They are different lengths front and back.
HTH Stu.

[TONYC]

The exact same think happened to my MkII a few years ago and I ended up with very low rear suspension and loads of negative camber as the two rear bolts had sheared. Speak with Pilgrim and they should send you the spacing tubes as they are different lengths front and rear and the lengths are critical as they affect the camber/caster angle. It was a design fault and they should have really contacted everyone at the time who had purchased a MKII kit. Luckily it happened to me in a supermarket car park but could have been very nasty. The problem was in the design of the spacer which stressed the bolts which eventually gave way. I would suggest that all those with a MkII carry out a check to make sure they have the tubular inserts between the plates in the spacer and if not contact Pilgrim for them. Also make sure they send new bolts as the old ones will be very stressed.

[janandchris]

Well, weve bolted it up with my home-made spacers and new heavier bolts....


Feels soooooomuch better.

Will contact Pilgrim and see what they say...Thanks for the advice!

[v8pete]

Hey this is quite interesting....on my Mk II I just have the tubular spacers & I made a plate myself to 'spread the load' at the cast flanges on the diff. I've never heard of the Pilgrim Spacer Plate - didn't know it existed ! - so would be interested to hear more about this and how others with the Mk II have mounted their diff. !
Cheers,
Pete.

[janandchris]

Originally Posted by v8pete

Hey this is quite interesting....on my Mk II I just have the tubular spacers & I made a plate myself to 'spread the load' at the cast flanges on the diff. I've never heard of the Pilgrim Spacer Plate - didn't know it existed ! - so would be interested to hear more about this and how others with the Mk II have mounted their diff. !
Cheers,
Pete.

I think it's another one for the 'Sumo Essential fixes' Thread. As it makes ALL the difference to how your car handles.

[Gilbert Keenan]

Hi Janandchris

Had the same problem last year!
Was out on our first run in the Cobra.We were miles from nowhere going round Loch Lomond
went over a large bump in the road (could'nt miss it) and heard a thud. It was the bolts that had sheerd holding the rear subframe. Replaced with high tensile bolts and hav'nt had any more probs with it. Could be a common fault.

Gilbert

[janandchris]

Sounds like it is a common fault, so if you have a Mk2.....and haven't looked at these bolts for some time.....


Check them now!!