Aluminium, rose jointed top mounts

[podd37]

Hi folks. Does anyone know where it would be possible to get Aluminium, rose jointed top mounts for a 128?

[Guy Croft]

Hi,

saw this lonely post and thought I would reply.

Rose Bearings is a company - not a part - name in fact, although of course everyone refers to these bearings as such.

You won't find this off the shelf I guess - and actually most members (incl me) won't have much idea what you're referring to with 'rose-jointed top mounts'. I have always considered that if you are fitting a vehicle with 'rose joints' (that is to say suspension members fitted with 'spherical rod end bearings' rather than bushes to achieve the ultimate level of control) then you have to make them up yourself. I know how this is done of course, but I'd never use aluminium on a suspension member though, far too prone to fatigue and fracture - thus potentially life-threatening and a no-no. Cross-braces under bonnet etc sway bar and anti-roll bar links and other non-critical parts well maybe yes, that's another matter, but anything to do with major suspension component control (especially with rose-joints because there is no compliance in them at all) you should use steel.

If you want to discuss further please publish some good photos of the area you are talking about,

GC

[Walezy]

When you install rose joints on the top mounts make sure the struts are strong enough. Do not install the bearing in the area where the theaded section is(mostly about M10-M12 thread). It may be too weak and it can shear when you hit something hard. Try to put the bearing a bit lower on the strut, just below threaded section. I used to have this problem and I broke 2 struts in my rally car.
It is possible to mount almost any top mount from other car to Fiat. I have in my Fiat 131 top mounts from Opel Astra GSI. All I did is I welded on top of a bit modified Fiat suspension "tower" top section of Opel tower. This means that you may try to look for some product made for example for Escort MK2 which should be quite popular in UK.