Questions for st205 Owners Options

[jordisonjr]

What's up guys. I finally have all my student loans paid off, and was starting to think maybe a 205 would be right for me.
However, I have some concerns, and some questions for current st205 owners.

My main concern with purchasing a gt four would be the super strut suspension in the front end. From what i've read, when it wears out, its pretty hard to find (correct me if im wrong) if you live in a country that the gt four was not produced in (im in canada). and also, if you can find the parts, its really exoensive.

How have you guys found the super strut on your cars. Are they hard to diagnose issues, when parts wear out? Has it been extremely difficult to source parts when needed? and how was the cost on doing work on the front suspension?

My next question would be mods. Of course, I wouldn't be able to keep it stock. From my understanding, theres no coilover manufacturer that makes coilovers for SS, except for Tien, but those are either discontinued, or once again, extremely hard to find. Is this true?

I know there was a mod floating around here, where you can cut and weld BC racing (I think) coilovers, to work with the super strut suspension, however, I don't really have the knowledge to do this. Running lowering springs on the stock struts would probably cause them to blow out quickly. Is there any replacement struts that work directly on the SS suspension?

Has anyone ever had issues with dealerships/shops refusing to do work on their car (timing belts, clutch jobs etc.) because it is RHD ad has not been produced in that country? Thats another thing I would be worried about.

I guess the super strut is really the only thing putting me off from bringing one in, as I don't want to be stranded without a car for long periods at a time, while trying to source out parts.

Hopefully some of you st205 guys can enlighten me on this, and I'm sure ill have a couple more questions to post up in here.
Thanks!

[Nial]

Superstrut isnt the pain that people think it is, diagnosing which joint is worn is simple and takes about 2 mins.

You need a couple of friends to help you and no tools what so ever.

With the car on level ground and the handbrake (e-brake) on get a friend to try and rotate the wheel forward and backwards.

While your assistant is doing that you need to hold your hand across the link between the shock and the figure 8, if you feel movement here then the figure 8 is worn and needs replacing.

Then whist your assistant is still moving the wheel back and forward, hold your hand across the joint between the lower arm and the figure 8, if you feel movement then the lower arm bush is failing and the lower arm needs replacing.

Obviously if you feel movement at both locations then both the lower arm and the fig8 need replacing.

If the wheel moves alot within the wheel arch then check the crush tube on the banana arm.

This method of checking movement can be done on all suspension joints on a faff.

If you have gone a step further and have taken the front wheel off then you can grab the brake calliper and try to rotate it around the disc, this gives even more movement on the various joints and is the best method for testing worn bushes, but obviously you need tools for this.

This post has been edited by Nial: Apr 7, 2013 - 4:26 AM