Replacing rear shocks

[chaski]

I've searched and decided I'd like to have a go at this myself.... but have additional questions. This thread says you can do this job without even jacking up the car. I just want to double check, if I undo the bottom 18mm nut and the top of the strut under the rubber seal in the boot and then remove the shock, the car's not going to slump on one side and potentially crush me is it? Hate to be a bearded H&S hard hat but I quite like not being crushed!

Other question is whether or not you can change the springs over in a similar fashion, without jacking the car up? How will I know if I've done the bolts back up tightly enough? I'm concerned about under tightening or even over tightening the bolts and this later causing an issue.

I've nothing against jacking the car up. I have some axle stands and would happily buy a trolley jack tomorrow but my drive is stone chippings and I genuinely can't think of anyone/anywhere locally that has a flat concrete/paved drive I could do the work on. My current best option is to drive to a nearby industrial estate and use one of the massive car parks there, but it's a long walk home and a long walk to work Monday if I somehow **** it up and can't drive the car!!

 

[DrR]

CLues in the name, dampers damp, they don't support any of the cars weight.

It really is easy job.

 

[jesus]

No you need to jack the car up to change the springs. They support the car's weight.

Undo the bottom bolt from your dampers, jack the car up (not using the rear axle obviously), springs will fall out, replace them and screw the dampers back in.

 

[DrR]

Oppps I should probably have read for than the first paragraph, defo need a jack is doing springs as above.

 

[MickyWelsh172]

Off Topic/Hijack Thread

Is there any difference in standard 172 shocks vs 172 Cup shocks??

Are the Cup shocks stiffer at all? Had a quick search on here and Google and never really came up with a positive answer?

thanks

 

[DannyR]

Rears are same part number

 

[chaski]

Thanks for such quick replies guys - I think I'll have a crack at it tomorrow.

Is there any way to measure the torque I'm putting on the bottom bolt? Have read figures of 20-30n for top of strut and 105-130n for bottom. I have no experience with torque settings or anything to know how tight that feels or even is!

 

[mad in general]

The bottom bolt is in the region of a wheel bolt torque range, well upper range.

As long as you can judge when to stop just do it up nice and snug. I don't believe it takes a lot of load.

The top one is pretty much just to stop it moving around, again nice and snug for the thickness of the bolt.

If my advice is incorrect then someone please correct me.

Either that or go to Screwfix or Halfords and buy just a basic decent range torque wrench. You will get use out of it. I feel good when I know my nuts and bolts are secure.

 

[chaski]

I feel good when I know my nuts and bolts are secure.

Don't we all! I sees what you did thar!

Yeah, realised most people probably already have a torque wrench like that - the one I have doesn't show any torque levels!