omega0684
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 posted on 18/1/06 at 01:48 AM |
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spring compressors
hey there everyone, i have a bit of a dilemma, im at the stage now where i need to take the axles out of my donar car, but i am worries about removing
the suspension, do i need spring compressors to remove them, if i do are these draper ones any good that i found on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-2-PIECE-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-SET-NEW_W0QQitemZ8030823348QQcategoryZ30928QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
thanks a lot
Alex
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ed_crouch
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 03:46 AM |
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Shouldnt do.
If its the same as just about every other car, the suspension strut comes off as 1 unit, with the suspension springs held between the lower spring pan
on the damper body and the upper spring pan, bolted to the top of the damper shaft.
When you remove the struts, DO NOT release the nut in the middle of the top mounts. These nuts (1 per corner) are the nuts that hold the upper spring
pan (and hence the spring) onto the damper, and even with the donor car wheels off the ground, those springs are under enough tension that you dont
want them pinging around if you accidentally undo the aforementioned securing nut.
Instead, undo the (normally) 3 nuts that hold the top damper strut mount onto the inner wing, and the whole strut will drop down as 1 unit (then undo
the bottom mountings).
the draper spring compressors aren't great, but OK.
To remove the front srings on my Audi A4 i needed 2 pairs per spring(!!!), i.e. 4 per spring, as 2 would have snapped, releasing a scary amount of
energy in my direction!
HTH.
Ed.
I-iii-iii-iii-ts ME!
Hurrah.
www.wings-and-wheels.net
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gazza285
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 06:10 AM |
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If you want to take the springs off, undo the aformentioned nuts with the weight on the car, then jack the car up. But why bother if you don't
need the complete units?
DO NOT PUT ON KNOB OR BOLLOCKS!
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emsfactory
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 02:58 PM |
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You can use ratchet straps.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 04:22 PM |
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You shouldn't need spring compressors -- if for some reason you do need to get the tension off the springs just cut through the spring with an
angle grinder.
As for big nuts at the top of struts --- on many modern car such as the Mondeo they have another nut underneath which keeps the spring captive
but check first strut top mount designs vary
[Edited on 18/1/06 by britishtrident]
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jos
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 05:37 PM |
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Ive got a pair you can borrow if youre local to me??
.: Motorsport / motor racing circuit / track wall art Apex Traxs :.
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mark chandler
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 09:54 PM |
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I guess you are binning the springs....
In that case just cut them in situ. When I got my cortina front axle I just pointed the gas axe at them until they collasped.
Alternatively just run a bead of weld in a few places, as the metal heats up it the spring will sag, just do this in a few different spots, again
until it stops being a danger.
Regards Mark
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 10:01 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
You shouldn't need spring compressors -- if for some reason you do need to get the tension off the springs just cut through the spring with an
angle grinder.
As for big nuts at the top of struts --- on many modern car such as the Mondeo they have another nut underneath which keeps the spring captive
but check first strut top mount designs vary
[Edited on 18/1/06 by britishtrident]
Not wanting to be a health and safety nanny, but if you do cut a compressed spring with a grinder, do the last bit at arms length whilst wearing a
crash helmet, a cricket box and welding gloves - oh, and kiss you wife and kids before you do it and make sure they know where the will is!
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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Peteff
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 10:06 PM |
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Just remove the strut complete, you don't need it anyway. You only want the stuff off the bottom and that will come off without removing the
spring, just undo the pinchbolt on the back.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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jos
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| posted on 19/1/06 at 09:11 AM |
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quote:
Not wanting to be a health and safety nanny, but if you do cut a compressed spring with a grinder, do the last bit at arms length whilst
wearing a crash helmet, a cricket box and welding gloves - oh, and kiss you wife and kids before you do it and make sure they know where the will is!
ROTFPMSL
.: Motorsport / motor racing circuit / track wall art Apex Traxs :.
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omega0684
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| posted on 20/1/06 at 02:08 AM |
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thanks for the help guys, i managed to get the whole rear axle out, undid the dampers and when i dropped the axle out i found out that the spring
wern't even bolten in! now for the front suspension.................................now where did i put my hard hat, gloves and
grinder.................................
?
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NS Dev
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| posted on 20/1/06 at 04:11 PM |
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I've cut plenty of springs with the grinder, not nice but not too bad and very quick, saves a 5hitload of time!!!
Just watch out cos the disc sometimes shatters when it gets clouted by the spring, so yes, don't skip the safety gear (gloves and goggles) on
this one!
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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