Springs (Easy or Hard)

[naf536]

I am picking up some lowering springs tonight and just wondered if the are easy or difficult to fit?

I can get hold of spring comressors and a mate who has some knowledge of mechanics

I dont know if anyone here has tried to do this themselves. If not how much have people been paying to have them fitted ?

[Shamrockez]

They're around £80 to have them fitted. The back ones aren't too bad apparently but with the fronts you have to take the wipers off, the plastic water tray then undo the top bolt things and drop the whole suspension downwards to get them out.

It took my garage a whole day to do it.

Plus, if a spring escapes they have enough energy to break through the roof of a garage.... dread to think what would happen if a body part got in the way.... :-/

[naf536]

Plus, if a spring escapes they have enough energy to break through the roof of a garage.... dread to think what would happen if a body part got in the way.... *:-/

:o

Sounds like fun

Might take it to a garage then i think.

[Pure]

rears are a piece of wee.... I did mine with the wheels left on... You just drop the shocks on both sides and the springs just drop out and then you put the new ones in and do the shocks up again. You need axel stands, both sides in the air and a jack to help get the preasure on the springs to do the shocks back up.

Fronts were a fuxing night mare for me... You'll most likely need the air gun on the top mounts to buzz the bolts off. you'll also pretty much need it up on the lifts so you can smack the bollocks out of the bottom where the shocks connect. They basically slide out with no slide!

[naf536]

you'll also pretty much need it up on the lifts so you can smack the bollocks out of the bottom where the shocks connect. They basically slide out with no slide!



not meaning to sound dense, but what does this mean? :-/

[Shamrockez]

I think he means it needs to slide out level, but there's no runners to slide it on.

[Pure]

you'll also pretty much need it up on the lifts so you can smack the bollocks out of the bottom where the shocks connect. They basically slide out with no slide!



not meaning to sound dense, but what does this mean? :-/



it means this... The shocks are pretty much clamped at the bottom... where they join the bits that hold the wheels and the breaks. They are fixed by a bolt. once this bolt is undone, the therory is that you have to slide out the shock. However, after a few thousand miles of use this is easier said than done, and you bascally need to bash the bit the shock slides into hard with a hammer to knock it off. Its a lot easier to do this with the bug on the lifts they have at garages rather than lying on the ground.

A bit cleater I hope... Its the sort of thing you will see if you do it.

[Pure]

Take a look at this... its some guys how to for coilovers on his jetta.... same set up as the bug... lots of pics!

http://www.nclh.org/car/coilover_howto/

[naf536]

Cheers

I have got a mate who works for nationwide auto centre (AA) who said he can do it for me on saturday but at his house because it is his day off.

He hasnt give me a price yet but i was thinking of offering him £50 to do it.

He said the back will only take him ten minutes so its only the front that is likely to take the time

[Pure]

http://www.noahlh.com/car/coilover_howto/img/15.jpg

Thats the result you want... bottom of shock out of what it is held in... See the rust and dirt though? That make it hard.... Mine moved but never got it to come out when I tried to do it... garage did it though.

[naf536]

Yeah, i understand now

BIG hammer needed ;D

hopefully it will come out easily.

do you think it can be whacked whilst it is on the car like in the photos because we can just put it on the axle stands outside his house?

[naf536]

I have noticed the pictures show a spreader tool being used to "open" up the joint where the shock is inserted.

I can see that you wouldnt need to hit it as hard after doing this

[Pure]

It needs to be on the car... if you are planning on whacking it whilst not on the car then you will be doing some serious over engineering!

Mine would just not come off how ever hard I hit... the garage did it by applying a bit of heat. they also moved all of the breaks and stuff out of the way which I didn't do... Basically they gave themselves more room to hit and were able to hit it standing up... I was on the ground trying to miss break lines and sensors.

At the end of the day it all depends because we were able to do it on a mates golf.... However, then you get to the second problem.... The top mounts.... once the shocks and springs were off we had to take them to the garage to get the air gun on them.

Those are the only sticking points I think you will find. I suggest do it sat morn and leave time to get to the garage and at an air gun!

If you read that how to, i think he says he had to go to the garage to get the top mounts undone with the air gun.

[Pure]

I have noticed the pictures show a spreader tool being used to "open" up the joint where the shock is inserted.

I can see that you wouldnt need to hit it as hard after doing this

I had a similar bit and it really does sod all... the garage won't use it.

I'd lube up the join with some spray lube for a few days before the event. That might give you a bit more joy too.

[naf536]

just spoke to my mate and he says he has got an air gun at home but it is electric :-?

I am sure we will have fun trying to do this :-/

i did say to him though that if he damages my car i aint payin him.

[DARYL_-_BMS]

Piece of piss mate. I charge £75 and do the lot in just over an hour.

[naf536]

Piece of piss mate. I charge £75 and do the lot in just over an hour.

I will bear that in mind just in case we struggle ;)

[naf536]

Well i picked up the springs last night and they will hopefully be on by tomorrow night.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[naf536]

Springs all fitted :)

[naf536]

Only cost me £50 in the end to have them done at kwik fit.

[Doodlebug]

Only cost me £50 in the end to have them done at kwik fit.

Was this "mates rates" then? :) Also..did u get your tracking done at the same time? :)

[naf536]

yeah it was mates rates, the chap that did it is a "boy racer" and goes to the "boy racer" meets i go to.

Not sure on the tracking though ?

Drives OK

[Shamrockez]

You'll want to wait for it to settle before you do the tracking anyway.

Take it on the mway at 70 and see if the wheel vibrates.

[Doodlebug]

You'll want to wait for it to settle before you do the tracking anyway.

Take it on the mway at 70 and see if the wheel vibrates.

I thought the vibration was the wheels needing balancing? Tracking is when the steering wheels is pointing one way but the car is going another? Could be wrong offcourse :D

[Shamrockez]

It means both. When the tracking is out and you get to a decent speed, the wheel which isn't quite pointing 100% straight is forced straight but tries to fight it - hence the wobbling.

Correct tracking is when all 4 wheels are straight. Sometimes one (or more) wheel can be out very slightly, so (say) 3 wheels are going straight and one's very slightly off centre.

[Doodlebug]

It means both. When the tracking is out and you get to a decent speed, the wheel which isn't quite pointing 100% straight is forced straight but tries to fight it - hence the wobbling.

Correct tracking is when all 4 wheels are straight. Sometimes one (or more) wheel can be out very slightly, so (say) 3 wheels are going straight and one's very slightly off centre.

OK thats cool, i didnt realise, my tracking on Noodle needs sorting out, but im just gonna leave it till i get him lowering then do it :)

[Shamrockez]

Good plan :)

Just remeber that incorrect tracking causes uneven wear on tyres - hence my front one ;)

[Doodlebug]

Good plan :)

Just remeber that incorrect tracking causes uneven wear on tyres - hence my front one ;)

Yeah tell me about it lol

[Shamrockez]

Ah well, you have new wheels/types to go on Noodle anyway :D

[Doodlebug]

Ah well, you have new wheels/types to go on Noodle anyway :D

Yeah, new wheels, tyres are pretty new :D :D

[Shamrockez]

Always good :D