Lancia Beta Forum

I am currently researching alternative parts or suppliers of replacement items for the Beta.

1.  Rear brake light foam/rubber seals. 

I'm talking to a few suppliers who are searching out the right profile seal that stops water from leaking into your car through the hole that the brake light assembly fits into.  Usual Lancia fun, its an over complicated item rather than just a simple square profiled seal.  I think this is more important than folks think as water in the boot is always good for making rust!

2.  Alternative steering damper.

To my knowledge nobody has found an alternative shout if you have) and I think that most likely very few dampers fitted to peoples cars actually work as originally designed. Oily deposits around your steering gaiter is a dead give-away that the seals gone and the hydraulic fluid has escaped.

3.  Please feel free to ask me if you can think of something else that would be useful for all Beta owners.

I understand the steering damper from the BMW E30 320 can be modified if you cut the eye off the Beta one and weld it to the threaded BMW end.
I haven't done it, but I have found a suitable BMW today in a local breaker's and I understand they are of similar dimensions so I will remove it soon and see.
I will update this when I know more.

This is what I've been looking at doing but finding the suitable steering damper is the trick! 

Many thanks for the tip Frank I'll pop into my local factors and put the Lancia version next to it.

I've ruled out Mercedes, LDV, Ford and all the universal motorcycle dampers.

I have ordered a new steering damper today, the toughest part is fining one the right length so that the damper sits in the middle and provides maximum damping in both directions.

It will have to be modified as it has an eye with a rubber bush at each end and this has to change, plus it will have to be extended a little.

Watch this space :-)

I've found two possible alternative parts now for the steering damper, one has arrived and the other should be here on Monday, the one I'm waiting for is 5cm longer than the one I already have but both will require a modification.

I have a spare steering rack out and ready for test fitting when either an adapter will be fabricated or the modification is made to the new dampers.  This should take a week or so, so I will keep you all updated with progress and results.

Finding replacement rear light seals has been put on temp hold while I focus on the steering damper work. but that will kick off again once the dampers are sorted.

Has anyone made any progress with finding or modifying alternatives yet?

I’ve ordered a damper from another car which looks like it might work with a fabricated bracket.

Just wondered if I’m wasting my time as it’s already been solved by someone?

Ian

There was a group buy of engine dampers that Matt initiated and oversaw, but that was a few years ago now and all have been sold. Also since Matt moved to France with his family he hasn't posted much.

In the absence of a replacement steering damper I decided to give it a go myself.
This is what I Found.
The purchase of a damper boxed by Febi and made by STABILUS. Febi part no. 1263. Cost is sub £25
It is a few centimetres longer and has a 10mm mounting bush both ends, but most importantly has enough travel.
Then I fabricated a bracket to suit and bolted it all together.
Seems to clear everything nicely and gives full travel lock to lock.

Before and after

Excellent work there. My earlier message was misleading - I thought you were referring to the engine dampers; in fact I was blissfully unaware of the presence of a steering damper. As a matter of interest, what are the symptoms of a worn steering damper? Does the steering action go excessively light or excessively heavy?

I've taken note for when my engine next gets removed from the car.

Hi

Please let us know how successful that is as looks to be a great solution. From an Ebay add the list of ref nos is as follows

   BENDIX: 045992B, 060323HB, BILSTEIN: 18-002461, BOGE: 22-794-9, CHRYSLER: 05097971AA, 5097971AA, FEBI BILSTEIN: 1263, KRAFT AUTOMOTIVE: 4011010, KYB: 341001, 341002, 441021, 551016, LEMFÖRDER: 1075101, LTM: C22050, MERCEDES-BENZ: 0004632032, MERCEDES-BENZ: 0004632732, 0004633532, 0004633932, 0004634332, MERCEDES-BENZ: 0004634832, 0004635132, 0004632032, 0004632732, MERCEDES-BENZ: 0004633532, 0004633932, 0004634332, 0004634832, MERCEDES-BENZ: 0004635132, 1934630032, 1934630032, A0004632032, MERCEDES-BENZ: A0004632732, A0004633532, A0004633932, MERCEDES-BENZ: A0004634332, A0004634832, A0004635132, MERCEDES-BENZ: A1934630032, MEYLE: 0260227949, MONROE: R1592, OPTIMAL: AS-1002H, RUVILLE: 945105, SACHS: 170581, STABILUS: 363952, SWAG: 10520008, TRUCKTEC AUTOMOTIVE: 02.37.007, VAICO: V30-1227-1, VITAL SUSPENSIONS: 101534.0, 101555.0, VITAL SUSPENSIONS: 111534.0, 201534, 201555, 211534, 01263

The part is originally from a Mercedes 190 W110 2.0D 61-65 according to the ad.

All we need now is a bracket made up to reflect the bracing seen in the original as the one shown may have some flex as appears to be just a flat piece of steel. No offence intended to Ian, just thinking it may be a good idea to have a group buy given how much of an issue this has been over recent years?

Peter

Hi Peter,

I’ve got the Pattern of the of the bracket which I will draw up with dimensions.

The bracket I have made is plenty strong enough despite its looks. The original bracket has to be constructed the way it is due to the stud end fitment trying to push and pull the damper bracket at 90 degrees to its mounting on the steering arms. This creates a significant bending moment.
The new bracket has a very minimal bending moment due to the new damper having an eye mounting which is working in single sheer with only 10mm offset from the mounting at the opposite end. Also, the original bracket is only @2.3mm pressed steel whilst my bracket is @3.6mm and has an 8mm steel rod welded along the back side. It will not flex as much as the original.

Here is the pattern with rough dimensions. I think it would be worth someone making a basic prototype to check I have measured everything correctly as I'm not a draughtsman. The spacer (not visible in the picture) that is between the bracket and the new eye mounting is 10mm thick with a 10mm hole for the fixing bolt.
If a group buy is organised then I think having one pressed and cadmium plated like the original would be a nice way to go. It could look very original.
Also worth mentioning, are all models the same damper and bracket? I ask because this is for my '79 saloon and I don't know if it will be the same for all? Am I correct in thinking the saloon models have a different ratio lock to lock from the coupe/hpe etc?

Hope this is of some use.

Ian

I think the purpose of the steering damper on front wheel drive, is to control sudden movements coming back through the steering wheel. Such as torque/bump steer when accelerating hard especially when on uneven surfaces. Also to slow the steering straightening up too quickly when accelerating out of tight turns, junctions etc. Generally giving better manners overall.

Thanks Ian. I suspect the damper on my Spider, having done nearly 60k miles, is well past its best, so very timely.