Changing Rear Springs

[Davenotouring]

To change rear springs, does this sound ok?

1. Jack up rear of car.
2. Remove Road Wheel.
3. Undo single bolt - bottom damper mounting.
4. Pull out old spring, and replace with new one.
5. Reattach damper and do up bolt.
6. Replace Wheel.
7. Drop car to the floor.

Anything I need to watch out for? Is it really that easy?

[Jimbob]

Yea, I remember me and Adam do the dampers as well and it took about 30mins in all for the rear!

[Davenotouring]

Nice one, I need to use the car later, but I might quickly bang these new springs in before I drive it.

No speed bumps for me!!

[Davenotouring]

Right,

So I did all the above, and even with the damper undone, it's still too tight by quite a way to remove the old spring. The little connecting rod thing which connects to the lower arm, does this need to be undone as well?

I've put it back together now, but I'll try again Friday.

Or do I just need a big breaker bar to open the gap and pull out the old spring?

[Geeman]

Either get a (heavy) friend to weigh down the arm more so you can prize the old spring out, or undo the ARB link arm (that little arm you mentioned), which should allow a little more movement...

You shouldn't have too much difficulty removing a 40mm set in the first place! Pansy!

[Toby_Unna]

dave, i had the same problem at the scrapyard on monday when i was removing the rear springs and dampers from that iS. as Giles says the ARB is the problem - i removed the damper mounts on both sides so both trailing arms sagged right down, then got some of my weight on the side i was working on and the spring came out ok.

getting the 316 springs out was more difficult as they're longer as it rides higher. you can use a pry bar or crow bar but be careful!

[E30WEZ]

Dave what springs have you got on your's at the moment and are you going to be changing the whole set Plus what are you putting on it.Would like to get the front of mine down a bit.

[woodysjw]

Hello mate,

If your on your own undo the ARB its just easer but even with ur 40mm you will need to stand on the arm a bit to get the spring out.
Its so much easer just to get someone to stand on the are 4 u saves so
much time. when i took my mega low rear spings out i didnt even have to undo the shock they just pushed out, had to undo the whole lot to put a
-60mm back in though.

[Hammer1]

A tip from Mr Haynes..Wrap a chain tight (use a bolt and nut to join the chain ends) through the loaded spring and once the axle is unloaded the springs should come out pretty easy, that what it says in the manual anyway

[Brianmoooore]

One more thing. - When reconnecting the bottom of the damper, drop the car back on the ground and settle the springs before you torque up the damper bolt, otherwise the rubber bush will be twisted.

[Davenotouring]

You shouldn't have too much difficulty removing a 40mm set in the first place! Pansy!

The problem was mate (!) that it was only on the emergency jack so I didn't want to be yanking and pulling all over the place incase the car fell on it's arse!

I weigh over 18 stone , so I think this should be enough if I stand on it and get a mate to pull out the old spring, with the ARB undone as well of course!

Thanks for the tips chaps, and Brian Moore, a useful 'trick of the trade' as well.

Cheers.

[Jhonno]

i used a breaker bar to pry my rear 1.6 springs out.. the m-tech ones went back in fine, cant understand how your strugglin with -40mm springs Dave

[charlE30]

I've always thought (well haynes & bently) that you should undo the ARB links and drop the rear diff slightly so that you don't damage the drive shaft joints!!! I take it from this thread you don't then?