What is this made of?

[Phoenix]

I'm just about really to put my front suspension back under the car. It has come down to painting a few last little things up and making a few new gaskets.

This is the one that I am wondering about. It cushions the body on the front suspension crossmember. At first, I thought that it was made of multiply cardboard but now I'm not so sure. Is it wood?

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5.../Gasket001.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5.../Gasket002.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5.../Gasket003.jpg

[hrcollinsjr]

All I can say is that it is some type of fiber resin board. It felt like it would break if you bent it much. I wouldn't worry about painting them, just clean them up. They are sandwiched in between where they won't be seen anyway and you know they won't rust.

Harold

[namba209]

There are two words that describe those shims. One is "Micarta", the other escapes me. Ah, just remembered it's "Phenolic" Vey hard stuff and not flexible at all. Harold is right, just put them in between the "frame" and the suspension beam and tighten up the bolts.

[Rionart]

They are made of Opelidium, make sure you wear gloves when you handle them, if you allow Opelidium to come into contact with bare skin it increases your susceptibility to advanced Opelitis....
How do I know this....my Dad thought one would make a good teething ring for me....

[tomking]

I replaced mine with conveyor belting I cut to the same size.

[kwilford]

I seem to recall reading that the phenolic spacer was simply a way to slightly raise the front end in order to meet US bumper height requirements. True or not? In any event, I can't see that it provides much functionality other than that, so couldn't it just be left out, thereby lowering the front a full 1/8 of an inch ?

[opelgtworld]

Originally Posted by kwilford I seem to recall reading that the phenolic spacer was simply a way to slightly raise the front end in order to meet US bumper height requirements. True or not?

I vote for not true

In any event, I can't see that it provides much functionality other than that, so couldn't it just be left out, thereby lowering the front a full 1/8 of an inch ?

It absorbs vibrations.

[markandson]

Phenolic is a hard resin based material, with a cloth weave inside. I agree that these things appear to be made from phenolic or a very similar material. It is way too hard to be a cushion of any sort, but I still don't know the reason that they exist in the suspension.

[namba209]

Maybe it's some sort of chafing pad, to keep meteal to metal wear out of the loop.

[Phoenix]

I'd like to replace it. If it was cardboard, I had a corner brace/protector for pallets that carry things that dont want to be impacted on the side that I could cut to match. They also have ones in plastic for the pallets of bananas. Both are about an 1/8th thick and the carboard one is not corragated. My uncle(not BSQ4, I've got 5 on my moms side) looked at it and immediatly thought that it might be fiber resin.

Opelidium, very interesting Rob. That might explain why I want every Opel that I set my eyes on.

A year in, and already I have 2 GT, and really have a Manta jonesin'.

[jordan]

I was curious about this material too and what it should be replaced with, mine broke apart despite my careful handling and fragments have been lost. Could some dense rubber or polyurethane sheet work? also for the foam rubberish sheeting that was in between the shock tower "cups" and the body; could they be replaced with craft store foam rubber?

[Phoenix]

For that piece, I was just going to use rubber gasket material and cut it to match. Everyone that I've seen was junk and came of in pieces, so I cut it to match the top shock piece.

The spacer is hard, so it shouldn't give. Can't use rubber.
It's load bearing, so it can't crack. Can't use wood.
It's exposed, so it needs to be somewhat water resistant. Can't use the multiply cardboard.

I'm going to ask my uncle about the fiber board, and also get one of the plastic corner pieces from the banana pallets.

[opelgtworld]

The damping element between the front suspension cross member and the body
original was made of pressed gasket paper. After 30 years it can look like
wood

The gasket for the damper ring retainer (rubber) in the wheel housing could be replaced with cut out rubber shoe soles from your shoe repair shop.

This was done to keep unwanted vibrations away from the body.

[opelspyder]

The original spacers do not go bad, so why replace them? Just reuse them. If you use another material, it might make the ride stiffer. I would run them again as I cannot see any performance upgrade here.
Keith

[jordan]

Originally Posted by opelspyder The original spacers do not go bad, so why replace them? Just reuse them. If you use another material, it might make the ride stiffer. I would run them again as I cannot see any performance upgrade here. Keith

The reason is because for many of use they broke apart when removing the front suspension unit so we are trying to find a suitable replacement, I don't think anyone here right now is trying to replace them for a performance upgrade or for the heck of it.

[markandson]

Just go to McMaster.com and buy this product number 9322K13

[Phoenix]

Jordan, I was just going to cut some thick rubber gasket material available at ACE Hardware in the Plumbing section. But here are two places that sell it.

Lenk item 5/110

Geman Ebay

My rectangular dampning elements are decent but aren't evenly flat anymore. They came off whole. But I have just about everything else new, might as well have new of this item as well. Better to replace it now, then have to replace it if it were to go.

I'm going to look in to the fiber board and the garolite piece.

[Ooooner]

Opel GT Source sells these upper shock tower gaskets now. I just got mine and they are made of some sort of rubber product. They said that they just started selling these gaskets so I doubt they will be in their catalog. You will probably just have to ask for them.

[Ricky Slade]

I think the Phenolic idea is closest to correct. The original material I beleive is called Bake-O-Lite and yes it was a phenolic type plastic. It is still used in the electric industry today and has a very high resistivity. Other words a darn good insulater. I rebuilt a pair of leaf springs on my 1956 Chevy and replaced similar pieces with products supplied by Classis Chevy International. Better known now as Eckler's. I found the same rebuild items on page 197 of there recent catalogue. Item number 21-39 thru 41. Cost is around thirty bucks. This stuff is now made, I think from a Teflon type product and works kinda like a urethane bushing. Dry lubrication. No metal to metal and thus no hanging up due to rusting and pitting and also no squeeks. Most likely a good investment.

[markandson]

Bakolite is VERY brittle and I think would crack too easily for this application.

[opellane]

I got my Front Axle Spacer Plates from Suselbeek in the Netherlands, Reproduction plates brand new. I think they were about 15.00 Euro's, a pair.
Bought two pairs the part # is 105090. They take a bit of time to get, but well worth it. I think they wait to ship when the euro to US dollar is on the rise, anyway you got to get their FULL COLOR CATALOG it's awesome. I order online at opelgtparts.com and parts come in about 5 to 6 weeks. Unless they are away on Holiday. I hope that helps.

[heimue]

I found your dampers at Splendid Parts in Germany. The black seals are 7 Euro each, the green dampers 4 Euro each, The set (2+2) is 19 Euro. It doesn't specify what it's made out of, though.

Dieter

[jordan]

Originally Posted by heimue I found your dampers at Splendid Parts in Germany. The black seals are 7 Euro each, the green dampers 4 Euro each, The set (2+2) is 19 Euro. It doesn't specify what it's made out of, though. Dieter

Green stuff, and black stuff, duh

[jordan]

Originally Posted by markandson Just go to McMaster.com and buy this product number 9322K13

Jeff, This "Garolite" stuff that is that mcmaster part number seems to carry many of the same propertys as phenolic and I thought that it was decided that phenolic is far too hard and brittle for this application. I have lots of phenolic from previous projects if it is determined that it is suitable, I believe that this material is placed between the "frame rail" and the front suspension mount to create a conforming surface for both components ie "gasket." Though I could be way off in it's purpose, in which case I think it needs to be determined before a material can be decided. (I still think we are getting way too far into this, but it's the way I am to pick everything apart and I guess it is the same for others )

[namba209]

Jordan, IMHO, it's nothing more than a pad to prevent rubbing between the suspenson crossmember and the "frame" rails. It, (phenolic) is used for that purpose in the aerospace industry. You'd have to see what happens to the panel structure on an aircraft when a panel with a zillion screws holding it in place vibrates against the structure to understand the importance of using it as a chaffing pad. Without the pad, the panel, made out of aluminum will eat through the steel structure and the panel as well.