FAO suspension Guru

[LOOPYLEE1965]

have got a set of lowering springs and i just want a estimate of how long i have got to set aside to do the job . you know the score you get one spring changed and the fookin missus decides she wants to go shopping . i am in engineering (building marine gear boxes) so have a decent knowledge of what to do. but any tips to do the job right would also help cheers in advance

[Turbo-Brown]

I did one leg yesterday. The problems I had were:

Getting the top nut undone requires a 19mm socket through which an 8mm socket can be used to stop the piston rod turning.

I resorted to cutting the rod in the end as I couldn't find anything suitable.

The next problem was the collar which holds the strut insert in the leg. To remove this I had to weld a lonf bit of metal to the collar. I guess it was a combination of the heat and extra torque that let it free in the end.

Anyway, depending on the condition of all the bits I'd allow a day per side.

Getting them off the car's quite easy as the legs are only held on with 5 bolts/nuts plus the brake connections

[E30Adam]

I think you'll be plenty safe if you give youself a day for the whole job. I've changed an entire kit (shocks and springs) in about 4 hours.

First thing is that the rears are sooo easy, just get the car up on stands and remove the wheels and undo the link arm using a jack to support the trailing arm. Also undo the 19mm bolt that holds the shock onto the trailing arm. You might need spring compressors to get the old ones out but the new ones should just slot in.

Fronts are a different kettle of fish and can cause some nasty problems as turbo-brown states. With regard to the top nut, it's best to loosen this with a deep 19mm socket while the car is still on the ground and the suspension is under load. 90% of the time it will losen this way but if not all you need is a cranked 19mm ring spanner, then you can get an 8mm socket on the end to hold it still.

Also be very careful when you separate the ball joints. It's all too easy to ruin the threads and end up stuck without a car!

You won't need to undo the retaining collar that turbo-brown talks about if you're not changing the shocks. If you are undoing it then put the strut tower in a vice and use a big hammer and chisel to knock it round using the notch in the collar. If there's no notch then just cut one. The other way of undoing them is to get a big pair of stilsons on them.

Hope that helps.

[LOOPYLEE1965]

thanks lads for the info i think ill be leaving that till the weekend then was going to try and tackle it after work one night weather permitting typical british crap weather cheers again lads