182 REAR SPRING - CHANGING

[MRBILLYUK]

I've read a few posts about changing the rear spring on a 182 . One jack to jack the car up and a second jack onto the rear beam to support it when you remove the 18mm bolt from the damper .

First question , is it just one 18mm bolt , undo and pull out like the arrow in the pic . Is there a nut that the bolt goes into and if so how do i get the nut back onto the bolt when reassembling it ?

Also . Where is the best place to put the jack to support the beam . Yellow dot or green dot or maybe another place ?

Any help would be much appreciated

Andy .

 

[fizzy_drink]

Hiya,

I've supported the rear axle at both points, but green's easier (for accessing the suspension) IMO.

Check that you don't have the auto-headlight levelling thingy attached (on non cup models) as you can break it if the axle drops too far.

Undo the bolt, like you pointed out, and you'll find that it comes out. It's quite long, and there's nothing to worry about on the other side of it.

Once you've unattached both dampers, you can gradually remove support from the rear axle... and you'll find that it drops quite low (provided the rear of the car is jacked up high enough).

You might get away with just pulling the rear springs out... without needing to use spring compressors.

 

[James.f]

Ye thats the correct bolt to remove to change the springs, its best if you remove both bolts and then rest one jack in the yellow point, so when it comes to jacking it back up you can make sure the springs sit properly.(bolting back is easier when you have the jack in the yellow spot, can lower/lift to fit bolts back in)

As for resting the axles stands i wouldnt use the green parts because when you lower the axle it wont budge because you have the axle in place, therefore put it on the sill, it wont be for long and it wont bend,

& you dont need springs compressors,

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Cheers , thanks for clearing that up . Just wanted to make sure i'd got it right

 

[DrR]

You need one jack and 2 axle stands.

Won't be able to do it with just 2 jacks?

Jack car up in the middle of the beam, place 2 axle stands under sills/jacking point, lower onto axle stands.

Undue dampers, then lower the rear beam with the jack used to jack it up.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Oh right . From the posts i read i understood you could use one jack to raise the car , a second jack to support the beam when you took the bolt out then lower the beam and remove the spring .

Is the beam ok to the lift the car with the jack ? Strong enough ?

 

[DrR]

You need to have both wheels off the ground to it, can't do one side at a time, so both sides of the car need to be supported at the same time, then you need a jack to lift the axle back up to do up the dampers.

I just wack the jack in the centre of the rear beam and jack it up high, then place the 2 axle stands under the sill.

 

[James.f]

^ ye the beam is strong enough to jack onto, just dont place stands there because you wont be able to drop the axle down then. just do as what me and DrRollo said and youl be grand.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Cheers lads , thanks once again