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An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:06 pm
by martnin
Can anyone decribe briefly how to replace the suspension springs? I am about to replace lowered springs with standard, and I just need to know how to go about it. I have the use of spring compessers, any other special tools needed? thanks....Martin
Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:15 pm
by bigdaddycain
Sorry martnin, the garage did mine for me, but as a tip, try not to drop the nuts that hold the top of the shock absorber in, chances are it will hit the middle tray, and roll all the way to the back of the bongo, trapping itself between the bodywork! I found it 3 or 4 hours after dropping it!

Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:27 pm
by andya
Hi Martin,
if you are interested i will help you do it in exchange for the lowered springs,
i am near East Grinsted, should take about 2-3 hours if all goes well,
Andy.

Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:31 pm
by martnin
Thanks Andy, but the lowered springs already have been sold.
Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:01 pm
by cheffy34
Did mine with it up on axle stands, i used a second jack to support, raise and lowering the rear axle/front wishbones etc

Spring clamps are a must rears took about 30 mins a side, fronts aren't so easy

i was lucky got the front struts and shocks together so was a matter of dropping the whole lot down in one and replacing

not so sure you don't need a special clamp and compressor for fronts to stop the shock turning around

but don't quote me on that

it would certainly make life easier

my best input would be to buy a long heavy impact bar those nut have been on a long time, plenty of wd40 nite before aswell

and don't forget the gentle pursuader

Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:26 pm
by cheffy34
Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 3:05 pm
by martnin
Cheffy 34, thank you for that. Very useful.....Martin
Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 7:50 pm
by dandywarhol
A wee tip Martin - don't finally tighten the pivot bolts (front or rear) until the full body weight is on the floor - or jack up the suspension til the wheels reach their natural height in the arches. It's important to do that to avoid the metalastic bushes in the suspension arms failing prematurely by shearing. Some of the bushes are void bushes like in the pic (rather than a Bush to be avoided - Kinda topical eh??

)

Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:01 pm
by bigdaddycain
Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:24 pm
by cheffy34
dandywarhol wrote:A wee tip Martin - don't finally tighten the pivot bolts (front or rear) until the full body weight is on the floor - or jack up the suspension til the wheels reach their natural height in the arches. It's important to do that to avoid the metalastic bushes in the suspension arms failing prematurely by shearing. Some of the bushes are void bushes like in the pic (rather than a Bush to be avoided - Kinda topical eh??

)

AH HA
Where were you when i needed you dandy

strangely enough i had to replace my rears for the mot 6 months later

but they weren't the best to begin with anyway as i remembered

Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:39 pm
by martnin
Won't have to put up with him for much longer.........

Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:54 pm
by dandywarhol
Where did you get the new bushes from cheffy??
Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:11 am
by cheffy34
Bongo bits dandy

but i think were talking different bushes

sorrry i meant droplinks and anti rollbar bushes n brackets
Re: An appeal to anyone who had replaced suspension springs.
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:39 pm
by alphabetter
dandywarhol wrote:Where did you get the new bushes from cheffy??
They breed them in Texas <shudder>