Uprated Springs for 172 Woes :/

[MrStabby]

Right got myself a set of Apex 40mm springs for my Mk1 172. Was speaking to mobile mechanic I use, as had to change my throttle cable, and he reckons it would cost be about £50 per front wheel and around £50 for the rear. I told him that from what I heard off here that the 172s dont need the use of a spring compressor. This made him puzzled. He said he didnt think that was right. So I said how much if this is teue and he said £25 a wheel for the fronts.

Now I wanna do this myself but havent a clue. Got the Haynes for some advice. So can someone tell me do the 172s need a spring compressor?

Also is it owrth me paying him £100 to drop the car, or shall I attempt it myself? And can anyone email me the guides because Im not a member yet (although been waiting about 6months to join).

Much Appreciated.

 

[badinvincible]

Where are you based? Fred, Loony and Smokey have been known to offer their services.

 

[edde]

Its quite easy get a Haynes manula or get somoene on here to do it.

I paid £90 for my coilovers to be setup and that was overprices however it was profeshionally setup.

 

[Fred@BTM]

NO NEED AT ALL FOR SPRING COMPRESSORS ON 172s FACT

i charge £40, 1hr 30 (including fag break!!!)

im in birmingham

oh and get a new mechanic!!!!

 

[MrStabby]

Based in SE, Kent

 

[MrStabby]

Cool cheers for info. Think ill atempt this with my mate. Can anyone send me the guide off the front page, as still not a member. Justr dont wanna balls this up.

Bit far to visit ya Fred. Yeah he was a mobile renualt specialist. Let him do me cambelt, funny thing hed never done one on a 172, and quoted me £300, shame he was there the whole day!

 

[Fred@BTM]

tools needed

trolley jack + axle stand

various sockets

21, 19, 18, 17

various ring spanners

18mm and i think either 16 or 17mm (for the rear)

the hardest part is getting the top caps off the struts, you may need an impact gun


even if youre a complete numpty with the spanners, you can do it in under 4hours

 

[Fred@BTM]

rear will take you 30min max

undo the 2 18mm bolts on the bottom of the rear shocks (1 each side)

jack up car, old springs will fall out

put new springs in, ONE SIDE AT A TIME (a mate will have to gently lower the car whilst you hold the spring in place BE CAREFUL!!!!)

put 18mm bolts back in (again you will have to piss about with the jack to help you line up the shocks as you put the bolts in)


now front

spray some WD40 onto the 21mm nuts in the engine bay (one per side, cant miss them) (do this 24 hours before)

now you might be able to get these off using a deep 21mm socket and rachet, but if you hear a banging noise, youll have to use an impact gun (if you get stuck, pop down a local garage, and get them to air gun them off)

DONT TOTALLY REMOVE THESE CAPS/BOLTS

now jack up car and remove wheels

youll see the 2 18/19mm bolts at the bottom of the struts, youll need some brute force to get these off

once the nuts are off, youll have to hammer the bolts out, because theyre splined in

once bolts are out, remove top cap completley, supporting weight of strut with your other hand

now to get the strut out, get the bottom part over the steering arm

once off car remove 17mm top nut, spring will "pop" a tiny bit, but dont worry it wont take your head off!!!!!

put new spring on strut (make sure its located properly) and re assemble strut (pull the shock all the way up, put top mount on, and spin the wee nut back on) this bit can be fiddly, so have a mate on standby

thats about all you need to know, if you need any assistance over the phone feel free to ring me on 07769712624

cheers FRED

 

[Turkish]

to echo what Fred said you DONT need a spring compressor on 172s or 182s. Ive had 172 and 182 suspension off now several times and never used them and theres really no need.

 

[MrStabby]

Cheers for the heads up Fred. Sounds a bit complicated, willing to have a go. But is there anyone around kent way that might be able to assist $$$ avaliable. If ya fancy coming to Kent Fred, ill pay ya

 

[Fred@BTM]

its really easy!!!

in total you have to undo 6bolts, and 4 nuts (plus 8 wheel bolts, only need to remove the front 2 wheels, you dont have to take the rears off!!)

on and DONT jack the car on the sills on the front, they bend, use the main chassis legs under the car (look under the car, youll see a box section running the length of the car, jack off this, and place axle stands here)

the rear sills are fine to jack on

 

[Darren555]

Just make sure your allen keys are nice and strong

 

[The Bear]

Quote: Originally posted by Fred2001Dynamic on 07 September 2005

now you might be able to get these off using a deep 21mm socket and rachet, but if you hear a banging noise, youll have to use an impact gun (if you get stuck, pop down a local garage, and get them to air gun them off)

I can vouch for that. Mine were seized/rusted on completely when Fred did mine. Caused a lot of annoyance trying to get them off until he managed to get hold of an electric gun.

 

[The Bear]

Quote: Originally posted by Fred2001Dynamic on 07 September 2005

rear will take you 30min max

undo the 2 18mm bolts on the bottom of the rear shocks (1 each side)

jack up car, old springs will fall out

put new springs in, ONE SIDE AT A TIME (a mate will have to gently lower the car whilst you hold the spring in place BE CAREFUL!!!!)

put 18mm bolts back in (again you will have to piss about with the jack to help you line up the shocks as you put the bolts in)





FRED - What else is involved with the above in order to replace the rear struts completely at the same time as the springs?

If I can do that then I can do the lot myself after seeing you do the fronts.

 

[Fred@BTM]

you need an adjustable spanner and a 16 or 17mm ring spanner

remove top rubber caps

place ring spanner on nut, and grip shock shaft with adjustable spanner

undo and remove shock, very easy!!

 

[The Bear]

Cheers.