Refitting Front Dampers - Any Tips?

[silent_running 0]

We're in the middle of refitting a front damper to a 1.6 GTi. It's slipped in most of the way into the hub but won't go the last cm or so. The top mount's pretty much done up, the ARB link is also back in place. All we need to know is how to encourage the damper to slip into the hub that last bit. I can't really see anywhere that I can get at it and whack with a club hammer apart from the bottom ball joint. Jacking it into position has got us this far but no further.

 

Any tips? Thought of sticking the wheel back on and dropping it down to let it settle? Then jacking it back up and putting the retaining bolt back on again?

 

Help!

[Pugnut 9 1 Cars]

a jack under the hub usually does it unless 1, the strut isn't going into the hub squarely or the locating lug//pin isnt lined up with the slot in the clamp. while the jack is under the hub you usually need some gentle knocks with a hammer (try not to hit the main strut body) around the hub,strut area to help it rattle down into position.

[Jrod 7]

8mm sump plug tool in the gap on the hub, turn it so it's diagonal and it will hold the hub open just enough for it to slide in and out easily.

[silent_running 0]

Brilliant! A combination of the two tips worked perfectly - the locating lug was slightly misaligned and I couldn't quite get the right leverage to open up the gap. Now Atari Boy's GTi is sorted and looking nicely lowered on the front. Next project - adjusting the torsion bar to match...anyone know who can do this in East Anglia at a decent price? Looking at it just now, it's not the kind of job I'd fancy tackling.