Coil Spring Compressors - Aaaahhh!

[Rupertfinch 6]

Right, she's been sitting in the garage for about 5 months. So yesterday I cleaned the afm and throttle body then I took her out for a sneaky blast to the petrol station. Hilarious, sun's out, windows down and she's just growling very nicely.

 

Today, I decide that she shall get the new bilsteins, SBC springs, BBM top mounts and SKF bearings that have been sitting gathering dust for a while. Oh it wasn't to be.

 

I can't get my Sealey AK3841 spring compressors to grab the springs! There's simply not enough room under the arches to get any kind of purchase on the coils and it fouls the top of the inner wing. Has anyone any ideas on how I can get the springs out? It's made me feel a little like a gimp.

[Dan Ingram 1]

Take the complete strut assembly out and then remove the springs.

[sonofsam 5]

Take the complete strut assembly out and then remove the springs.

 

 

I've never done it any other way than that, then you can put the whole assembly in a vice and work on them is so much easier.

[Rupertfinch 6]

You see, that's why this forum exists! Does Haynes tell me to do that? No! Does that 'rare as frig' Autodata book say that? No!

Genius.

 

Now I'm gonna seem a clampit.

So should I remove wheel, jack up pug, take off droplink, undo all top nuts including bigass centre one, pop out the strut and all that crap then use the compressors to compress it? Don't need the shocks or springs again but was planning to use some of the other bits.

[Dan Ingram 1]

I've found the best way is to jack the car up, wheel off then the drop link. The undo the nut on the hub that clamps the shock. Tap the hub down and should drop off. Then you can remove the 3 nuts on the strut top and the whole strut comes out in one piece. Clamp the spring up and then remove the big nut from the strut top

[Rupertfinch 6]

Dan, many positive thoughts are currently travelling your way.

 

Many thanks, Mark.

[sonofsam 5]

Yes make sure you loosen the main top strut nut before taking the strut off, makes it easier in the long run .

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

Is it really that easy on a 205? On my 405 you haven't got a hope in hell of getting the strut out of the hub unless it's compressed a bit first.

[welshpug 1,657]

you're right there Kriss, the 306 and 405 seem to have such long uncomressed lengths that its quite a task to remove them without compressing the springs, lowered 205's dont have that problem.

[Rupertfinch 6]

Now that's something that interests me - has mine been lowered? I haven't a clue about that - it is running odd shocks though so really a change to anything proper up front can only be a good idea. Perhaps it will start to handle more like I think a 205 should.

There are fewer coils than I was expecting (about the same as the new SBC springs and they're -25mm). Will have a go tomorrow, I fancy I'll be dreaming about it tonight.

 

I've just spent 30minutes looking at Lancia Delta Integrales on pistonheads while waiting for all these responses - I've got a semi!

[Dan Ingram 1]

You should still be ok even if its got standard springs. Worst case take the lower ball joint out.