Changing Shocks

[reuben205 0]

Stupid question but the spring compressors i have seem to be well long and foul the inside of the arch when compressing the spring.It there a method or should i hack some of the length of the threaded rod.I there a method to where to compress the springs etc.

Thanks in advance Just need to change the complete struts rather than remove the spring

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

You don't need to compress the spring to remove the strut. With the car jacked up, disconnect the drop link, remove the pinch bolt that secures the strut to the hub, and then hammer the hub downwards to release it from the end of the strut.

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

to be fair it makes it a bit easier if they are compressed as it takes less heaving to get the strut out of the hub carrier i recon. can you turn the compressors the other way up?

[Dan Ingram 1]

The easiest way to do is the way tom suggested. Another handy tip that I nicked of gti-si is to tap a flat headed screw driver in to the clamping bit of the hub that the pinch bolt goes through. That opens it up and the hub just drops off

[gti-si 0]

Just tap in a screwdriver with a large taper, that opens up the clamp nicely and the carrier will just drop out . DO NOT however, do it with the wishbone balljoint clamp, otherwise you could crack it, if not you've a pretty strong chance of ovalling it

 

Edit: Beat to it there

Edited July 7, 2008 by gti-si

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

I've got a wheel bolt that I filed flat on two sides which fits between the hub & opens the jaws when you crank it thorugh 90' to get the hub off the bottom of the shock.

 

I agree, you don't need any spring compressors to remove it though, fully built up unit should still come out easily using Tom's method.

 

Base models are a different matter though due to the different wishbone antirollbar fitting.

 

Graham.

[reuben205 0]

will try that guys thanks,got two s16 front struts to fit just got to remove the hubs off them if anyone wants them when im finished