Wahey Kris Fcuks Up His Spring Change

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

Task: Take off 25mm Ventura Lowering springs and replace with standard springs.

 

Spring compressors were too long - i.e when the spring was compressed there was no room to lift the strut out of the hub. So then I hacksawed the compressors' threaded shaft down a bit and finally got the whole thing out. But now they're too short to compress the standard springs (cos obviously standard springs are higher) enough to get it all back together!!

 

I wanted to shout "f***ING CARS!!!!" really very loudly. But didn't.

 

 

Anyway, the cause of all this grief is not realising that I had to have a certain type of compressor - I didn't realise I needed to have spring compressors that have a square/hex section on the bottom of the thread.

 

This is the type I bought: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-PIECE-SPRING-COMPR...1QQcmdZViewItem

Edited February 20, 2007 by KRISKARRERA

[sonofsam 5]

Er, lol

 

On 205's I generally take out the strut complete(once the the top nut has been cracked)

Then take it into my nice warm garage and strip... the strut with the compressors, the rebuild with compressors, once you have a good few threads on the top nut, you take off the compressors and go refit to your car, the re-tighten the top nut.

Thats the way I was taught anyway.

 

The two sets of compressors I have, have a hex on both ends and the other set have a hex in the middle!

Both work equally as well as each other.

[inferno 1]

yer ill go with sam on this,remove the complete assembly then dismantle it. although spring compressors are one tool i hate working with!

[pug_ham 242 3 Cars]

Those are the worst kind of spring compressor you can get, they come of the spring when things get tight. I could've sold you mine for less than the ebay auction as I replaced them with some decent ones;

If anyone can do it, Kris can't.

 

Graham.

[sonofsam 5]

Draper ones are nice to use.

Link

[max0 5]

I got these from ebay

 

nice/easy/safe to use, having 3 really helps as does the hole to get your wrench in and tighten/loosen them. Did you make the same school boy error as me, pulling the drive shaft out?

 

You live - you learn

Edited February 20, 2007 by max0

[pug_ham 242 3 Cars]

Draper ones are nice to use.

Link

Thats what I bought to replace the rubbish ones I had previously & are pictured above).

 

Graham.

[Gibbo GTI 0]

i've got a pair of the Draper ones. Not had any probs using them on the 205 or any other car for that matter.

[Jer309GTi 3]

Anyone used one of THESE?

 

Make the job so much easier. Used to have that set at a garage I worked at. Got a set of the Draper ones as above for my own use though, and do the job well enough

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

I should have consulted Miles really, he's now explained that lowering the hub isn't deadly .

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Can Kris fix it????

 

 

 

 

 

NOOOOOOO

[Dream Weaver 2]

Ooh good thread, i'm about to buy some compressors and was going to buy those eBay ones.

 

So are the Draper ones the better option?

 

And is it worth cracking the big strut top nut on the car before removing the full strut/spring assembly?

 

Hoping to do mine this weekend, and I need to dismantle the std assemblies and fit the top bits on my new SBC setup.

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

Finished it!

Now sits on stilts lol, ride's nice and comfy though.

 

Task ruined by crap spring compressors. Not only are they crap but they are lethal.

 

You don't have to undo that nut before taking them off, still comes off easily with struts off car.

[Rippthrough 98]

Finished it!

Now sits on stilts lol, ride's nice and comfy though.

 

Task ruined by crap spring compressors. Not only are they crap but they are lethal.

 

You don't have to undo that nut before taking them off, still comes off easily with struts off car.

 

 

It's worth cracking it though, one of mine was a right tight bugger. Other came off fine.

[tom_m 0]

And is it worth cracking the big strut top nut on the car before removing the full strut/spring assembly?

 

you don't have to but it certainly makes life easier if you do! as ripp says it can be a right bugger doing em when they're off the car.

[johnrobertgordon 0]

I have a set of the peoper peugot ones. They go through the holes. Never used them though. Wonder if they are worth anything.

[pug_ham 242 3 Cars]

So are the Draper ones the better option?

 

And is it worth cracking the big strut top nut on the car before removing the full strut/spring assembly?

Yes on both counts, you can borrow my draper ones if you want Simon.

I have a set of the peoper peugot ones. They go through the holes. Never used them though. Wonder if they are worth anything.

If you mean the cables that go through the top mount & strut spring plates holes they are only any good for taking the strut off the car not for dismantling it.

 

You still need some proper compressors as they use half of the parts you need to take off to change springs to hold the springs compressed. I made some out of an old handbrake cable for use on my old diesel as the springs are massive on those & getting the strut out of the hubs was a nightmare without them held compressed.

 

Graham.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

I'm just waiting for; Kris F****up his rear torsion bar's

[niklas 1]

I wouldn't mind one of these

http://www.nationalwholesaletools.com/inde...&ProdID=653

[jackherer 543]

I wouldn't mind one of these

http://www.nationalwholesaletools.com/inde...&ProdID=653

 

thats interesting, I've already got half of that in a body repair kit, I wonder if the spring compressor attachment is available separately?

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

I'm just waiting for; Kris F****up his rear torsion bar's

You rudling!

Anyway tis ok to make mistakes the first time you do something.

I don't know if they even need adjusting though because the back was higher than the front with the lowering springs on.

[johnrobertgordon 0]

If you mean the cables that go through the top mount & strut spring plates holes they are only any good for taking the strut off the car not for dismantling it.

 

 

Graham.

 

yeah, dems the buggers.