Fitting Lowering Springs

[C.slicker]

I replaced my rear springs with 60mm lowering springs yesterday but I now need to do the fronts...

Is it essential to have a spring clamp to get the springs off with?

Sam

 

[Pep]

^^ yes mate i think so, i nearly killed myself from not clamping them properly so definately need to get some!

they are only about £12 from screwfix or somewhere similar.

 

[LRTom]

£15 from halfords, essential

 

[Ali]

Don't need them at all!!!

 

[Pep]

^^ how do you get the shock tops off without compressing the springs?

 

[donsrno1]

I've not done them on 172 but by the time the nut is almost off at the top of the strut you can probably compress it by hand for the last bit and then release the pressure slowly once you have the nut off. If you just keep unscrewing the nut from the top of the strut then it will probably come flying at you as you described, lol.

 

[bmh.01]

You can get away with not using them on the RS iirc, but you won't do it with a normal clio. That and i'd never attempt it without compressors, just not worth the risk.

 

[Pep]

^^ yeah, when i did my fornt ones without the top of the shock on the spring was a good 50ish mm over the top of the shock, they need a fair nit of compressing so you dont get parts thrown in your face!!

 

[donsrno1]

Yeah sorry I should have said that I would only recomend the way I mentioned if you know it can be done without spring compressors - as with the RS. Any other time you should definately use compressors.

 

[Matta_88]

Aye i think you need to compress the springs whilst they are on the damper before taking of the top nut as with the non rs clio's that one nut holds the strut to the car and the spring to the damper lol

yay put in my rear fk's on in 1 hour just finished! gotta do the fronts now :| but i need to bolt the new hubs on and i cba might just take it to the garage lol

 

[vavazoom]

spring comps can be dangerous so just be carefull! alot of energy in a spring when clamped!

 

[edde]

Yopu should always use them.

Once you've done it a bit you'll pick up how to not do it but unless you've done it loads don't bother trying to save a few quid.