HnR Spring Orientation - coupe

[Rusty]

Just managed top get a mate to fit the rear springs on the alpinweiss and noticed a funny with the springs, the front and rear springs I had sit in different orientations. By orientation I mean the location of the close coupled coils. On the front they are lowermost and on the rear they are uppermost. Very strange

Anyone who's not fitted the springs, the top of the spring requires a helix angle to sit in the top spring cap properly, the lower is flattened to sit on the strut correctly, it's essential to get them in the right orientation. The top feature was at different ends of the front and rear springs! Not fitting the front springs with the correct feature uppermost leads to the spring unseating and at best clunking loudly, at worst coming out for the seat completely! Not so critical at the rear as the strut doesn't turn but still seemed a little strange.

[mcandmar]

Well spotted, and just to add to the confusion the part number is the other way around on the avant springs

[Rusty]

Avant springs are as I've fitted my fronts. Crazy non

[Error404]

WTF? So which way up does which go? I thought progressive springs always had the closely wound coils at the top?

[Rusty]

I'd have thought that they both went the same way up but checking the springs before fitting indicated otherwise, very strange. Worth looking at springs before fitting them as getting it wrong could be a problem.

[s2driveruk]

Hmmm....Andy can you confim the orientation of the s2 avant front springs then, you saying te close wound needs to be in the strut perch. I have put mine on over the weekend and have twanging and clunking sounds kinda reading this suggests they are up side down????

[s2spike]

Hmmm....Andy can you confim the orientation of the s2 avant front springs then, you saying te close wound needs to be in the strut perch. I have put mine on over the weekend and have twanging and clunking sounds kinda reading this suggests they are up side down????

thats what mine were doing, car felt like it was going to fall to bits, they was catching on the inside edge of the spring cup on the strut, turned them other way round and that sorted it,, changed them round then next day a different clunk started,the strut insert caps needed nipping up so off with everything again

[s2driveruk]

thats what mine were doing, car felt like it was going to fall to bits, they was catching on the inside edge of the spring cup on the strut, turned them other way round and that sorted it,, changed them round then next day a different clunk started,the strut insert caps needed nipping up so off with everything again

Yeah its a horrible sound will give you that. so to confirm the open winding needs to be at the top and the close would section needs to be in he strut cup then?

Wierd, i installed the same orientation as my coupe front H&R's before one snapped thinking it would be the same.

[s2spike]

just had a look at mine, the tighter coils are at the top now and all is ok, it may be your strut caps need an extra nip if you have them this way already, I ended up using stillies with a scafold tube on to tighten mine up some more.

My springs had rub marks on them so I could see where they were catching the perch and the perch did too so you may be able to see some signs of contact on inspection if this is your problem.

[s2driveruk]

thanks thats really useful...same way up as yours already then....hope its the cups

Cheers
David

[mcandmar]

Avant and coupe fitment are the opposite, strange but true. Basically fit them so the writing is the correct way up.

[s2driveruk]

hmmm interesting this....As mine were powder coated there was no markings on them. I have installed them the 'normal' way i.e. the same as the coupe and after nipping up a couple of bols ono the tie rod ends and arb drop links, all is tight and silent

Are you 100% sure they should be the opposite way? seems wierd to me that the close wounds coils are in the perch and the open wound end is up in the strut tower with the cap on?

[Rusty]

Mine were fitted correctly, the ends are different. Fit the springs with the right ends top and bottom and you can't go wrong.

[s2driveruk]

so as i have them is correct then ????

[mcandmar]

Nope not 100% on that, but that is how they fitted and worked for me. I know from experience the coupe springs (blue ones) dont work that way around, they move in the top mount and also bunch up at the bottom and hit the outside edge of the strut seat. But i have a distant memory of having to remove the 29909VA's from the rear and turn them upside down, but with the HA's i didnt have to

It confuses the hell out of me every time i fit them, just work out which end fits best on each seat and make sure they dont foul anything. Then forget all about it till next time.