Guides for removing front shocks ?

[sammyhale22]

Happy new year everyone!

I`m desperate for a thorough guide on removing front shocks and springs on a 172 cup. + I`m not a member so i cannot access the guides on here. Can anyone help?

Cheers,

Samuel

 

[Sam]

The best bet to do, is pay £10 for a membership.

It will be one of the best 10as you can spend!!

 

[fil_b]

3 bolts if i remmeber right

2 behind the brake disk and 1 at the top

prob need an air gun

 

[chrispy.clio]

I made a guide on how to fit Coilovers and i showed how to take the shocks off.
Pay the 10 quid and take a look

 

[mattjk]

Pretty much what fil-b says but if you undo the top bolt first before you jack it up, your probably get away without using a gun. Also if you search around a bit it might help.

 

[pritchard182]

top mount can be a right t**t. take it to a garage and have them loosen it for you before you start

 

[DrR]

If you have done anything like it before it's easy, don't need spring clamps either.

Just remember to have both wheels jacked up.

 

[r8byb]

just get the top mount wizzed by a garage quickly with an air gun to loosen it, usually free.

Then its easy

 

[sammyhale22]

As silly as this sounds i dont have a direct debit or credit card lol, otherwise i would pay that tenner! Is there any way i could send you cash then you give me access? lol

Samuel

 

[caister]

How the hell do you pay for anything?

 

[Stava]

If you have done anything like it before it's easy, don't need spring clamps either.

Just remember to have both wheels jacked up.

how do you do it without spring compressors? i changed mine last week, think you kind of need them, otherwise when you take off the top nut.....PING? or am i wrong?

 

[Fred@BTM]

^you're wrong

the spring "pops" a little bit, but by no means is it going to fly off at 1000mph and kill your mum

 

[Stava]

ah right, what about when you put the new one on? i compressed mine down to get the nut and everything back on easier. cheers for the advice though pal. noted!!!

 

[Whiteley]

Did mine without the last time I did them. Aslong as the strut is fully extended then the new springs will go on without being compressed. 21mm for the strut top, I made this to help.

 

[sammyhale22]

Ok i have fitted the 40mm lowering springs, when i was tightening the compression nuts up there was a twang lol, i dunno if thats bad or not. I`ve also noticed when the car is stationary and i get to full lock you can hear the spring twang. I figured this might just be because the springs are stiffer than the standard ones i had on and they might just be moving a bit in the dampers?? The compression nut is a right b**ch to get back on without rounding it!! lol. This was my first attempt though. How much of the threaded top of the shock should be showing out the top ?? I`ve managed to get about an inch of it showing above the compression nut, dunno if it should be more??

Samuel

 

[Russy B]

is the spring sitting properly in the top strut cup

 

[sammyhale22]

I shone a touch underneath and it looks ok. It only happens when you get to fulll lock :/

 

[Russy B]

is it more of a creek than a twang

 

[Fred@BTM]

sounds like you've fucked up

i'll bet £5 you've tried to over tighten the strut caps (the 21mm caps in the engine bay on top of the struts)

you only do them up until you feel a small resistance, and then stop, i bet you've kept going and thus the twang which = springs popped out of top mount plates

 

[sammyhale22]

Ah right yeh it was a scary twang noise. So what have i done wrong?? Have i got to take the springs out and redo it all? When it twanged i found the compression nut went loose and i was able to screw it on alot more. Before though i was struggling to get enough of the threaded suspension rod to show to screw the strut tops onto...

 

[Fred@BTM]

i think you're getting mixed up with the various parts here

the small tiny 17mm nut that holds the top mount to the shock is the compression nut, the 21mm cap that hols the strut to the car is known as the top cap

you will have popped the springs out of the top spring plate which is what is causing the noises

 

[sammyhale22]

Do you mean the spring has literally gone over the top plate or the end of the spring isnt seated properly in it? Can i just loosen it all and turn the spring so it sits correctly? How far do i need to go with that compression nut? At the moment about an inch of the shock is showing above that nut. Do i need to do anything different seeing as these are 40mm lowering springs too?

Samuel

 

[Fred@BTM]

you'll have to take it all off mate, by over tightening/rotating the top cap you will have rotated the spring plate and the spring will have popped out of its seat and possibly past the spring plate

 

[sammyhale22]

I need to go and pick my brother up from work in a bit, is it too dangerous too use for a 6 mile journey?

Sam

 

[Fred@BTM]

just don't be doing a nigel mansell impersonation

 

[sammyhale22]

LOL, take it steady then ?? Your not telling me i`ve got to drive like a sunday driver?? :/

 

[Fred@BTM]

yeah Christian motoring mate i'm afraid

 

[sammyhale22]

OK finally sorted the front springs. All dandy now. Does it matter which way up the rear springs are on the cup or can they go in any way ??

Sam

 

[Fred@BTM]

normally with the writing the correct way up

what was wrong with it?

 

[sammyhale22]

im just gettin a knocking from the back, not suggesting its the springs. They seem to be located OK. I just wondered if it makes any difference, like can i put them in the wrong way around , or are they symmetrical ??

Sam

 

[Fred@BTM]

i was on about the front mate

are the rear shocks ok?

 

[sammyhale22]

oh right lol. The rear shocks look ok. Are my rear springs ok either way round then ?? Would my springs cause a knocking or is it my shocks??

Sam

 

[sammyhale22]

Just checked my rear springs and the writing on them is upside down. Anyone know if this is a problem??Visually looking at the rear springs they look the same both ends, but there might be a difference i am not aware of, i don`t want the springs to flick out whilst i am driving along!!

 

[sammyhale22]

To add further to my above comment i have noticed Fred that when sitting idle the lower coils on my rear spring are very close together, in fact i have noticed some rubbing already where a couple of the coils are coming into contact. Is this a normal occurence with the rear springs when lowering the rear on these cars?

Samuel