changing springs

[Cloggy Saint]

How many hours roughly would a competent mechanic need to change front & rear springs? I want to make sure i don't get fleeced!

[iKst]

Im not a mechanic at all (in fact im a total beginer) and i can change rear springs in 1 hour max and fornts in 2 hours.

A mechanic with all the right tools and some skills should be able to do everything in 1.5 maybe 2 hours. Just my estimate.

[Chris-W]

It'd take me 2 hours, most would probably quote 3.

[jonbuoy]

Depending on there being any problem's i'd say.........

Front's = About 1 - 2 hour's
Rear's = 10 mins max

From start to finish, i'd say about 3 - 4 hours

[Cloggy Saint]

Ten minutes for the rears? Really? Don't forget there's more interior panels to be removed from a touring.

[jonbuoy]

You only said spring's

Rear spring's are easy!

Drop the bottom bolt out of the shock, jack the car up and you will be able to pull the spring out.

I would do this yourself and just put it into the mechanic for the front's

[Cloggy Saint]

you're right, ignore the interior panel part! So it's that simple eh?

[jonbuoy]

Yer!

The front's is a little more complexed and you need the aid of an air gun to get thing's moving and they are a little orckward(sp) but mine did'nt take long to do

I don't think it even took me that long as it goes but that's just an average for you to go on for a garage

[Cloggy Saint]

Cheers, thanks for the advice people!

[jonbuoy]

No prob's mate

[Simon13]

u don't need an air gun say 3 hours for a good diy mechnic to do it at home with no ramp or power tools

i've managed to swap springs on my own on 2 cars in around 6 hours

[wildeian]

On my sport I had to lower the diff and clamp the rear springs

[jonbuoy]

u don't need an air gun say 3 hours for a good diy mechnic to do it at home with no ramp or power tools

i've managed to swap springs on my own on 2 cars in around 6 hours

Have you got a magical long swan neck spanner then?

I tried at home with a socket but only had impact socket's which were too fat and it were'nt having none of it
Done it at work instead, alot quicker

[jonbuoy]

On my sport I had to lower the diff and clamp the rear springs

You nutter!! LOL!

[Cloggy Saint]

Hmm, opinions are ranging from 1.5 hrs to 4 hrs!

[wildeian]

I took the bottom nut off the shock and jacked it up, but there was no way they were coming out!!

[wildeian]

MTEC suspension

Different isn't it?

[Chris-W]

Need to unbolt the ARB. Driveshafts as well to make life easier.

[jonbuoy]

Forgot about the ARB but you should'nt have to drop the half shaft's?
Never had to do that

[Chris-W]

You don't have to, quite right. Damn sight easier to get a stubborn spring on if you do, though.

[Simon13]

lowering springs come out easy on the rear but standard ones don't i've found

u can get a spring clamp on them enough to get them off. yes don't forget yo undo the ARB drop links!

[wildeian]

If you lower the diff you dont need to unbolt the driveshafts

[stuartgallafant]

if i did it at work on my ramp, it would probably take me an easy 1.5 hours. at home, 2-2.5 hours

ive never undone the ARB links when doing rear springs

[Simon13]

i find it does help sometimes i've found i can't get the spings out on the back and for the sake of 2, 13m nuts it's not alot of extra hassle

[wildeian]

ive never undone the ARB links when doing rear springs

Me neither

[stuartgallafant]

furry muff!

[Chris-W]

ive never undone the ARB links when doing rear springs

Me neither

Probably why it's taking you so long ;)

[Bob_S]

I've changed front shocks in 2.5 hours from centre caps on on the floor and back again

then about 5 mins each for the rears!

[wildeian]

Has anyone actually changed the rear springs on a Mtec 2 sport?