Page 1 of 1
Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:21 pm
by cliffybabe
Hi guys
Im gonna take my front struts off my cab tonight.
Any tips or tricks??
Any advice would be great
Thanks
Neil
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:28 pm
by E30_Aza
yeah , .........dont. only jokin dude
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:29 pm
by buster
dont forget to put them back on !!
Get a good ball joint splitter so that you dont damage them with the fork type splitter.
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:29 pm
by 320Touring
cliffybabe wrote:Hi guys
Im gonna take my front struts off my cab tonight.
Any tips or tricks??
Any advice would be great
Thanks
Neil
Plenty of WD 40 on the 3x 13mm nuts at the top, and the 19&17mm on the balljoints.
TAKE THE BOTTOM BOLTS OFF FIRST- saves any hassle trying to relocate them when pulling it off the rack and control arm.
You'll need a splitter and a hammer to get the bottom balljoints off.
Have a mate hold the strut when you loosen the top bolts-its freaking heavy

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:31 pm
by cliffybabe
Hold on im only taking off th efront suspension struts, DO i need to touch the ball joints??
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:31 pm
by Ant
loosen the top nut on the struts 1st ( middle of topmount ) do not remove it yet !!!!!!
if you're changing the inserts, loosen the locking collar with a large hammer/chisel combo before taking them off the car, its a lot lot easier than struggling later on
enjoy

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:37 pm
by cliffybabe
Im changing the springs over

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:40 pm
by Ant
you'll need to pop the track rod and the bottom balljoint , caliper etc to get the legs off M8
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:46 pm
by 320Touring
cliffybabe wrote:Im changing the springs over

in that case dude
WATCH YOURSELF!
those front springs can do plenty of damage to you.
get good quality spring compressers or dont bother
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:16 pm
by Chris-W
320Touring wrote:get good quality spring compressers or dont bother
Think 'loaded gun'.
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:13 pm
by stuartgallafant
neil, what is wrong with you?!
you do my freaking head in!!!
i been tellin' you for the last 6 months, i will do the lot for you at work, as there is no way that you'll be able to do it on your own, but all the time, you keep doing other stuff, meaning i cant get round to take the poxie struts off your car
leave it before you injure yourself. i'll come round this weekend, or next week in the evening, take the struts, do all the work at work, then put them back on the following evening
the worst thing is, your gonna put lowering springs on, without even changing all the mashed bushes thats also on your car...
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:25 pm
by cliffybabe
Stu i dont think the bush's are mashed mate, I just wanna have ago at doing it myself

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:35 pm
by TheRealest
its an easy job to do, reckon a set of spring compressors is only cheap (£10-£20) from car spares! ur gonna need an allen key to get the abs sensor off if ur car has it! whilst doin the job may b worth replacin top mounts to, again cheap enough part and whilst its off...
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:10 pm
by stuartgallafant
cliffybabe wrote:Stu i dont think the bush's are mashed mate
the front end still doesnt feel right. you said you're gonna keep the cab, so you might as well do a lot a once, than little bits and pieces here and there. when you lower a car, it upsets the geometry, and puts extra strain on the other components. just trying to keep you safe mate
cliffybabe wrote:I just wanna have ago at doing it myself

nothing wrong with that. thats why i said i'll come round and HELP. so i can shine some light on it for you.
my advice was just not to lower it yourself. i've seen/heard of so many accidents when lowering cars, even with the proper springs compressors, let alone the cheap sh!tty ones that you can buy
like i said, just trying to keep you safe...
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:23 pm
by cliffybabe
stuartgallafant wrote:cliffybabe wrote:Stu i dont think the bush's are mashed mate
the front end still doesnt feel right. you said you're gonna keep the cab, so you might as well do a lot a once, than little bits and pieces here and there. when you lower a car, it upsets the geometry, and puts extra strain on the other components. just trying to keep you safe mate
cliffybabe wrote:I just wanna have ago at doing it myself

nothing wrong with that. thats why i said i'll come round and HELP. so i can shine some light on it for you.
my advice was just not to lower it yourself. i've seen/heard of so many accidents when lowering cars, even with the proper springs compressors, let alone the cheap sh!tty ones that you can buy
like i said, just trying to keep you safe...
See he does luv me

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:36 pm
by DanThe
Raise both sides of the car before taking the leg off, if you jack one side at a time the ARB is in twist and will cause havoc when you try to remove/replace the bottom ball joint.
Unless, like Stu says your joints and bushes are mashed, it wont be as difficult then

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:37 pm
by Morat
Fancy popping up to Yorkshire and helping me change my front end then ... free beer!!

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:37 pm
by DRIFTBOY
TheRealest wrote:its an easy job to do, reckon a set of spring compressors is only cheap (£10-£20) from car spares! ur gonna need an allen key to get the abs sensor off if ur car has it! whilst doin the job may b worth replacin top mounts to, again cheap enough part and whilst its off...
Instead of struggling with a cruddy old seized-in abs sensor can't you just unplug it from the engine side of the inner wing and feed the wire through ?
That's how I've done it on mine.
I agree it is worth doing any other parts that might be worn while it's apart though - saves a lot of time, effort and hassle in the long run.
Good luck though!

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:17 am
by stuartgallafant
Morat wrote:Fancy popping up to Yorkshire and helping me change my front end then ... free beer!!


not really up for going a few hundred miles just for a beer!!!
neil, it looks like i'll be helping you this saturday then?!
you can do my stereo, and i'll do your struts??? deal???
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:05 pm
by cliffybabe
stuartgallafant wrote:

not really up for going a few hundred miles just for a beer!!!
neil, it looks like i'll be helping you this saturday then?!
you can do my stereo, and i'll do your struts??? deal???
hmmm saturday??? Im getting new tyres fitted first thing with duffs and then im ur's

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:55 pm
by stuartgallafant
sweet!
i'll talk to you later about over a ruby!!
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:36 pm
by cliffybabe
stuartgallafant wrote:sweet!
i'll talk to you later about over a ruby!!
ur coming, wicked
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:48 pm
by stuartgallafant
hell yeah, i cant miss my favourite food!!!
Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:29 pm
by cliffybabe
I have no front suspension
No control arm's,roll bar or struts Stu has been a busy boy, Ill put some pic's up tonight
Tomorrow she will be lowered, with new bush's all round.
Cheers Stu

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:43 pm
by Morat
/me looks at pile of beer.
ah well best make a start on my own then

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:48 pm
by 320Touring
Morat wrote:/me looks at pile of beer.
ah well best make a start on my own then

not to far from scotland dude, esp with beer

Re: Any tips for Removing Front Struts??
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:49 pm
by dazleeds
Morat wrote:Fancy popping up to Yorkshire and helping me change my front end then ... free beer!!

what needs doing fella??
sure i could find some time to lend a hand