MatraSport Forum

Spring is coming and my murena havnt seen the roads for almost 2 years  ::) (poor girl)
My front suspension is old. Including everything. Is there something I should be aware of when pulling everything
down for refurbish? Ive got new spax dampers coming on without spring( for now).
im guessing all rubber will be pretty dry and cant be reused?

is there anything I can replace with POM?  :)

I have noticed that, on my Murena, the shims that are used to allign the camber angle are very rusty. I doubt they could be reused after I take it apart. I am talking about the shims under the axle that the top suspension arm mounts to, under the hood. The edges that are not compressed by the bolt, have fanned out due to rust. They could never be seated the same way again, so I will make new ones.
The same had happened to the shims used under the hinges on the frog eyes. I had to replace those (stainless now of course  ;D )

I attached this photo. It is a cut-out of a photo I took when I first got the car. It is not clear, but shows which shims I talk about. (It is not this rusty looking any more  ;), but the shims still are :()

@ Jon,
Be careful with demounting there and measure everything out.
It is important for the lining of the car.
Because of galvanizing where heat misform the chassis the amount of metal plates can be ridicules.
Not much people can or will  help you out if lining is disturbed.
(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5014/p1020268medium.jpg)

@ Oscar.
I replaced anything called rubber in the front.
After 30 years it is needed.
It makes a big difference in driving.

Hi Oscar.

I know what you mean and that is why I haven't started this project yet.

But if you haven'ty taken yours apart, as I can see in the picture, how would you manage to replace the rubber grommets around the axle?

I am also surprised by the big difference in number of shims on the two sides. Has your frame been 'hit'? thus having to compensate in order to align the wheel? On mine there are about the same number of shims on both sides.

The picture was taken from the car of a fellow member.
Another member did it this way by making a bush to press it in.
(http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/ss170/fjodors/matra004-2.jpg)
(http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/ss170/fjodors/matra005-3.jpg)
(http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/ss170/fjodors/matra006-3.jpg)
Pics Fjodor.

Ohh, that looks nice. :D

I would love to have the suspension arm powder coated or, better yet, warm galvanized. The axle I will have crome plated, I think. ;D

Are the original bushings still available, i.e. from Simon, or have you just found a replacement that fits?

It should be still available.
Carjoy partnumber 11029
You need 4 €25.- a piece ex 20% tax ex shipment.

http://www.carjoy.nl/webshop/artikli.asp?id=11&model=5&pageNum_Recordset2=2

wow great!
but what a price!!!  :o
Can they be done in POM instead  ?

If I have to deside, I would keep this original.
The Murena is very sensitive in roadhandling.
Changing this can give unpredictable results.
You can test the upper arm by demounting the ball joint.(put a jack under the lower wishbone).
With a lot of hand force it must be possible to move the the upper arm up.
It has to come back for a part on his own .
Then it is OK.
If it want move at all or fall back totally, replacement is needed.

well Im gonna remove it anyway to unrust it and paint it. Guess the spacers will have to me renewed  ::)

Take good measurements of the thickness of the shims before you remove them. I was thinking of grinding off one corner on each stack, so I could get down to where no rust had expanded them. That should make it possible to get a close measurement. Afterwards you have to have a complete alignment done, so have spare shims in different thickness available. Mine will be made of stainless steel. I don't want to see such a rusty stack of shims again. ;D