Clio 200: Front strut removal. Fred/Steve etc.

[Christopher]

Does anyone know if this is as hard a job as people say?

My Renault mate that normally helps me with this stuff is away at present and I can probably call upon some friends to help if the job's not a nightmare.

They don't know yet...

I need to remove both front struts to fit H&R springs but I've heard that the hub setup on the 200 is difficult.

Can this be done on a driveway easily with enough people/tools?

The back springs are dead easy, so that's not an issue.

Thanks!

 

[Budgie]

Jack up. Take wheel off. Take pic.

Then we'll all be able to tell you. x

(I'd be amazed if it was much trickier a job than anything other French car I've worked on. Worst case I bet is that you have to undo the hub nut etc and take the whole assembly out, a la 106 etc.)

 

[Fred@BTM]

^nope, you have to compress the springs ON THE CAR to get the struts out, wipers have to come off too (seriously!)

tw*t of a job, do not attempt TBH mate, i wouldn't even attempt it on the floor even in my workshop!

 

[Dan519]

Proper dick of a job. Have to disconnect tie rods to get the arm to swing down far enough to get the strut in and out. Painfully anger inducing. 2 post ramp is an absolute compulsary item to even attempt it

 

[Budgie]

What the f**k?!

This is exactly the reason I have a job! To stop design engineers making jobs like this a pig!

 

[Budgie]

I'm still baffled that its wipers off, loo

 

[not normal dan]

I'm still baffled that its wipers off, loo

Wipers off because you have to remove the plastic scuttle panel cover to gain access to strut tops. I did this job on the floor an was a right w**k job!

 

[Scrooge]

Flop note to self. Don't offer to lower someone's 200.

 

[Budgie]

Flop note to self. Don't offer to lower someone's 200.

Bingo!

Looks like Fred/Danny's careers are safe for a while yet, lol.

That'd get a big fat 'Are you on crack?' from me should i be asked to sign that off, lol. Imagine if they have a recall/run of warranty changes on anything like that. ££££££ gone.

 

[Fred@BTM]

on the meganes they have perforated a line in the plastic so you can "snap off" a piece to access the top mounts to save removing the wipers, i s**t you not

 

[Dan519]

The megane perforation/flap is a good idea. Always feels wrong cutting them though, lazy french should have made it a proper flap to start with

 

[Dan519]

Oh and FWIW Meganes are harder to work on the front suspension in general, it's a basically the same setup, but worse designed and badly thought out.

 

[Budgie]

f**king hell.

Properly mental.

If ever of you two work on something i've had an input into, you're going to be laughing! (;

 

[Naith]

If u don't go to Fred to have it done my mate Tom will do it on his ramp, I can vouch for him as the only person to touch the meg and rocco bar Hopkins. I'll make him sort it, let me know.

 

[Ian_R]

I'm going to go against the grain here, me and my mate done the 197 on the floor/garage, and the first one was 2 hours to do, next one less time, not going to lie its a pig of a job, but as long as your not a novice with tools and have enough / correct tools, then i'd say give it a go. Altho it's getting much colder now outside to be doing.