MX6.com - View Single Post - 2nd gen Illumina to 1st gen conversion(and other things) HOW-TO

**gavin** · 7-2-05, 3:24

One final part to all of this.

Should you be so bold and want to go even further, there are upper camber plates. This will regard the fronts only because it deals with the strut bearings again.

Cusco makes(made?) a set of direct fit camber adjustable upper strut mount plates.

If you cant find those, the 2nd gen RX7s plates(pictured above) will fit with only slight modifications(the holes have to be punched out in the camber plates to fit the 1st gen studs as the RX7s are smaller) other than this they are a dimensional fit to the 1st gen strut towers.

You have the illumina, you have the coilovers….the only thing left is the interface between the camber plates and the upper spring perch of the coilovers. Ideally this "interface" would transfer the leads to the spherical bearing of the camber plate. However there is another solution.

If your car came with the METAL strut bearing this solution will not work.The metal bearing seats in the upper strut mount. Since you will be replacing the the stock upper strut mount for a camber plate there is nothing for the metal bearing to seat in. Youll need either the platic 1st or 2nd gen bearings.

If you have the 1st gen plastic bearing, you may modify it as noted above to be use in this solution.

The best bet however is to get the 2nd gen plastic bearing and use that item. This is the most straightforward way of getting the illuminas /coilovers/camber plates to work together. There are other ways but they may prove more challenging.

This will be the assortment of parts youll be using

(note the camber plate and 2nd gen strut bearing)

Assemble in this order

Assembled item

and a close up of the coilover spring perch/2nd gen strut bearing/camber plate sandwitch

The loads from the spring are focused on the upper spring perch then to the strut bearing, then to the underside of the camber plate. the bearing can take quite a bit of force and doesnt compress easily(just remember to keep it well greased). It will maintain the pivioting motion between the fixed camber plate and the strut/spring assembly when the wheels turn(so you dont get that annoying popping noise when the spring catches and then releases)

That’s about it then. Hopefully this covers the installation of 2nd gen illuminas on the 1st gen MX6. Hope this will be of use to others.

Rants? Raves? Omissions?

Gavin

7-2-05, 3:24	#5 (permalink)
gavin Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: santa cruz.ca iTrader: (1)	Illuminas with coilovers and camber plates One final part to all of this. Should you be so bold and want to go even further, there are upper camber plates. This will regard the fronts only because it deals with the strut bearings again. Cusco makes(made?) a set of direct fit camber adjustable upper strut mount plates. If you cant find those, the 2nd gen RX7s plates(pictured above) will fit with only slight modifications(the holes have to be punched out in the camber plates to fit the 1st gen studs as the RX7s are smaller) other than this they are a dimensional fit to the 1st gen strut towers. You have the illumina, you have the coilovers….the only thing left is the interface between the camber plates and the upper spring perch of the coilovers. Ideally this "interface" would transfer the leads to the spherical bearing of the camber plate. However there is another solution. If your car came with the METAL strut bearing this solution will not work.The metal bearing seats in the upper strut mount. Since you will be replacing the the stock upper strut mount for a camber plate there is nothing for the metal bearing to seat in. Youll need either the platic 1st or 2nd gen bearings. If you have the 1st gen plastic bearing, you may modify it as noted above to be use in this solution. The best bet however is to get the 2nd gen plastic bearing and use that item. This is the most straightforward way of getting the illuminas /coilovers/camber plates to work together. There are other ways but they may prove more challenging. This will be the assortment of parts youll be using (note the camber plate and 2nd gen strut bearing) Assemble in this order Assembled item and a close up of the coilover spring perch/2nd gen strut bearing/camber plate sandwitch The loads from the spring are focused on the upper spring perch then to the strut bearing, then to the underside of the camber plate. the bearing can take quite a bit of force and doesnt compress easily(just remember to keep it well greased). It will maintain the pivioting motion between the fixed camber plate and the strut/spring assembly when the wheels turn(so you dont get that annoying popping noise when the spring catches and then releases) That’s about it then. Hopefully this covers the installation of 2nd gen illuminas on the 1st gen MX6. Hope this will be of use to others. Rants? Raves? Omissions? Gavin Last edited by gavin : 7-4-05 at 2:36.