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Got the springs, got the compressor, got the strut nut kit, (That took me a bit of tracking down to find locally.) got all my fingers.
Work starts tomorrow, hope I've still got my fingers and my hair at the end of the day.
I got a quote for £600 quickfit. So if all goes well it will cost me £150 including the tools. I only paid £2000 for the car two years ago so I don't think
it is cost effective to pay someone else to do this for me.
What compressor do you have... without the correct one, you're in for a bad/dangerous time.
The strut nut kit, do you mean the tool to remove the small thin locking ring? or to top / bushing bearing (which usually fails) but if you replace one side then its weird to not do the other
Do you need the WIS instructions for torque specs?
They quoted you £600 ($1,013 in canadian) to replace ONE spring?
*tip: measure the distance above the locking ring before you remove it for when you come to assemble it + also the amount the strut sticks out above the top nut so it all matches later
these wont work. the spring needs to be compressed closer
5544 Strut Socket for lockring
I changed my struts using these incorrect compressors ... it meant i had to get a table vice + another smaller vice involved... loosen a compressor and slide it further up the spring.. tighten it down more ... and repeat.. then hammer the spring round so it seats correctly in the mount... it was not a fun time. if i have to do it again ill have to invest in the correct coil spring compressor
Last edited by DjaKRAbb; Dec 11, 2020 at 10:00 PM.
I have two sets of spring compressor so I should be all right as I can take a second bite of the cherry.
I also have another dangerous trick up my sleeve. I won't say what that is for fear of the posts that would follow.
That's a great tip measuring the lock nut and the top nut distances. Would you believe I only just bought calipers last year and don't know why I never bought years ago.
The video you posted is one of the many I have seen very good to show how to take out and replace. But had to see others for swapping the spring.
If I had time (with Christmas deliveries I would not get till next year) I would have ordered a £90 spring compressor but will have to go with what I have.
Even with this dangerous method, i still needed more compression. (the 3 springs are already touching each other) lol be careful these springs are no joke.
In the end i made it work with the incorrect tools, but, my new springs are all scratched so rust is going to get to them quicker
Last edited by DjaKRAbb; Dec 12, 2020 at 06:21 AM.
Well done. Good time to check your pads / disks. bearing wobble/play. Safety squints on. I struggled putting the 2 bolts back that secure the strut to the wheel hub , they have to be lined up perfectly so i needed to adjust the jack etc to get it lined up whilst under the car looking with a flashlight. hopefully you dont have an issue - one bolt in loose for some wiggle room to get the 2nd in
Had to stop and take the wife to the shops to pick up shopping for a friend that is self isolating. A just in case covid no symptoms.
Anyway what a pig to compress even with 3 + 2 compressors. Then they get in the way to fit on the strut so had to use plan "b"
Luckily I use to work on a farm and have copious amounts of baler string. Wrapped around four "two meter" lengths around the springs
then released the clamps very slowly. Worked a treat. The strut and spring is now back in place. But being in Aberdeen the light outside is failing
so I have decided to call it a day. I have the top nut on and the main bolt in but not the other two. I don't want to cross thread them trying to work in the dark.
So I suppose you could nearly say "Job done"
Think I might sell the spring compressors on gumtree and buy one of these when I change the other spring.
You got there in the end, safer than my method, good job!
Yes that spring compressor is probably the ideal tool, its the one i'd buy but dont tell anyone because you will have to borrow it for free to a friend of a friend and never get it back ! I suppose if you went to a garage with the strut (is what others advise on doing) and asked how much to let them compress it for you... how much would that cost? less than the cost of that tool? lol who knows.
Job done. Ordered the above and will be selling the other compressors on Gumtree. I think I will sell the new one after the other side is done. But then again what if the shocks start leaking. Mmmmmm
let me add that there is a catalog from Sachs where we can look at what springs we need and we can regulate the vehicle with even higher ones if we want a more comfortable ride. When replacing, it is also recommended to replace new shock absorbers. namely when I bought the W203 with elegance, the car in the front was too low because someone missed the right height of the spring and thus upset the balance of the whole vehicle, making it too hard and lower in the front.
Last edited by cylaptor; Dec 15, 2020 at 06:16 AM.
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