Suspension Change - Am I being completely stupid?? Please Help!

[cstarby]

Hi Guys,

As some of you may have seen I have been getting my 172 Cup back to standard(ish) mint condition. Part of this was changing the coilovers back to 172 Cup shocks with cooksport springs.

Have the car on axel stands and removed the coilovers. Have built the new suspension and the top nut is wound all the way down to where it needs to be. However it’s so much longer than the mounting points?

Am I being stupid or do I have to somehow use compressors to put it back in and if so how would I get them off after. I have watched several videos online and nobody seems to use compressors to put back in but it’s so far from the mounts.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Brigsy]

Notmal, lever the track control arm down with a bar. Might be worth slackening wishbone to subframe bolts, get wheels on and drop on the floor/retorque the bolts.

 

[JamesBryan]

Are you fighting the anti-roll bar? It's usually the case.

Need to get someone to stand on the hub or something to lever it down.

 

[RIC172]

Yep stand on the wishbone or lever as mentioned. Just don't get your shoe stuck in there like I did at the weekend.

 

[cstarby]

Ahhh I was scared I had to be gentle with it!

Will give it a go and change the flip flops to shoes lol!!!

Thanks everyone.

 

[DrR]

Both wheels off the ground?

 

[JamesBryan]

Both wheels off the ground?

Still does it with both wheels off the ground.

 

[DrR]

Granted it's been a good few years since i've done it, but it's far easier with both off the ground?

 

[JamesBryan]

Granted it's been a good few years since i've done it, but it's far easier with both off the ground?

Oh yeah definitely much hard with one wheel on the ground, but with both off the ground you still have to push down on the lower arm a bit.

Have on all the ones i've worked on anyway.

 

[cstarby]

Only one side is up; if i cant do it ill bring up the other side as well and try that.

Thanks again.

 

[Usr117063]

I struggled to get one of the strut bolts through because of this so managed to put a screwdriver through then got one of the bolts through

 

[Usr117063]

Thats a lot of throughs, but it made it much easier ?

 

[cstarby]

Whooooooops; there is now a huge pool of oil under the car ?????

Time to call a mobile mechanic! Any recommendations? I am near Stansted Airport.

 

[Crayola]

Stick a bar in between the lower rail and the arb and push down like a proper bloke. It should sort your issue


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[JamesBryan]

Whooooooops; there is now a huge pool of oil under the car ?????

Time to call a mobile mechanic! Any recommendations? I am near Stansted Airport.

You've popped the passenger side driveshaft out of the gearbox!

 

[16v_er]

Ouch...

 

[cstarby]

You've popped the passenger side driveshaft out of the gearbox!

Oh dear!!

Is that a simple fix for a mechanic? I will need to call someone as its wayyyyy beyond me lol.

 

[JamesBryan]

Oh dear!!

Is that a simple fix for a mechanic? I will need to call someone as its wayyyyy beyond me lol.

Yeah, just needs popping back in and the gearbox oil topping up with 75w80 gear oil.

I should have warned you about it before when saying about standing on the hub to lever it down to get the bolts in.... ?

The plastic wing nut is on the front of the box, if you fancy topping it up yourself.

 

[oreA]

Doesn’t the rubber boot bolted to the gearbox prevent the oil from leaking out ??

 

[cstarby]

To be fair it’s all part of the fun. But I’ll get someone to do it for me so I know it’s done right as I have zero experience!

Been quoted £250 by a mobile mechanic I use for tyres for fixing that plus fitting the suspension on each side, fitting a new exhaust and fitting a Brembo conversion. Obviously with me supplying everything.

Thanks again.

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

Classic DIY job where you end up spending more by trying it yourself first. Did that many a time on my 172!

Though I did smile at the bit where you said "making your car original and mint" and then dropped gear oil on the floor!

 

[JamesBryan]

Doesn’t the rubber boot bolted to the gearbox prevent the oil from leaking out ??

Yeah, although you could rip the boot.

Is it in two parts that boot, I can't remember.

 

[masekwm]

I'd be finding @AlexW and getting him to sort it out, he'd do the job well and you'd save some £ I'm sure.

 

[cstarby]

I'd be finding @AlexW and getting him to sort it out, he'd do the job well and you'd save some £ I'm sure.

I will drop him a message as he lives around the corner, thanks.

 

[JamesBryan]

Alex will help I'm sure.

 

[oreA]

Is it in two parts that boot, I can't remember.

I don’t think so, I recently did my n/s driveshaft (twice ??), I only remember it being one piece....so probably ripped/torn like you said.

 

[STEVE.M]

Yeah, although you could rip the boot.

Is it in two parts that boot, I can't remember.

https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/gen...E01XRCtV$&vid=1247&cid=2042598650&uid=3233&q=

 

[cstarby]

Got under and had a proper look and it had just literally popped out. No rips or tears etc so oil has been ordered and Alex is popping by next Saturday to reattach and fill the oil back up.

Thanks again for peoples help