After some time with the bench grinder, I finished cleaning up the front VW bug/MR2 strut mount tops. I now have to fit them to the spherical bearing mounts. I plan on welding some grade 8 bolts through the holes and then put nuts on the other side. I have to design these so I can take them on and off in the future for maintance.

I now have my spherical MR2 strut mounts in. I am starting to build the top structure to hold these bearings in place. I cut out 2 pieces of 3/16″ steel plate from the foam template I made. I now have to grind them down and make them look good and then through bolt them to the bearings.

Now with the MR2 steering knuckle modifications complete, I can reinstall them. I have removed the wood boxes from around the tires so I can test the movement of the steering. With this initial fitting I have discovered that spherical bearing strut mounts will be required. I explain that pieces of wood are supporting the strut tops but they are actually thin pieces of sheet-metal. Anyway it looks as if everything is going in the right direction.

I am now ready to finish the front MR2 steering knuckle modifications. I know I say I am adding a 1/8″ piece of steel tubing but it is actually 1/4″ thick. These half pieces of tubing will be used to prevent the reworked mounts from crushing due to the strut bolt. After everything is welded together I smoothed it off with some bondo and paint. They are now ready to be refit.

The newly modified MR2 front steering knuckles are now ready for trial strut fitment. I have ground down the welds so the struts can be mounted as well as have some adjustability. I still need to add some steel to the center of each strut mount to avoid crushing the assembly with the strut bolt.

Now that I have the steering knuckle tabs built, I need to weld them in place. I calmped the tabs to the MR2 front knuckles and wrapped everything up in my welding blanket. I then welded everything together. I will have to gring down the welds where they line up with the strut mounts.