Replacing suspension... How simple?

[Rusty]

Looking at replacing my old knackered shocks with Koni top adjustables all round along with new top mounts and possibly bump stops, depending on current condition. How difficult is the job and has anyone produced a definitive guide?

BTW it's a '94 ABY coupe.

Cheers

Andy

[porkkis]

Simple.

Definitive guide:
Jack up the car, remove wheels, unbolt brakelines from strut, unbolt ARB links and steering arms from strut, unbolt strut from hub carrier, put something under the wishbone so that the brake hose don't get stress, unbolt strut tops (front inside the covers, rear remove boot side trims - can be twisted out without removing the tweeter covers), use spring tool(s) to press the spring enough for it to be loosely in the strut, remove strut top nut nr2 (2 lug socket or similar needed), remove top mounts and spring, hammer the shock upper nut cap, try to loosen the cap, hammer, try, hammer, try, hammer, try, remove the shock, refit as per haynes way using new nyloc nuts only (note that some are non standard threads)

Prepare to replace the shock cap nuts as they tend to be hard to get out, might need a saw. And the 2lug nuts too as if you don't have proper tools you need to hammer them out too.

HTH

[91_S2]

Simple.

Definitive guide:
Jack up the car, remove wheels, unbolt brakelines from strut, unbolt ARB links and steering arms from strut, unbolt strut from hub carrier, put something under the wishbone so that the brake hose don't get stress, unbolt strut tops (front inside the covers, rear remove boot side trims - can be twisted out without removing the tweeter covers), use spring tool(s) to press the spring enough for it to be loosely in the strut, remove strut top nut nr2 (2 lug socket or similar needed), remove top mounts and spring, hammer the shock upper nut cap, try to loosen the cap, hammer, try, hammer, try, hammer, try, remove the shock, refit as per haynes way using new nyloc nuts only (note that some are non standard threads)

Prepare to replace the shock cap nuts as they tend to be hard to get out, might need a saw. And the 2lug nuts too as if you don't have proper tools you need to hammer them out too.

HTH

That was pretty definitive. One clarification. By spring tools, he means a "spring compressor".

You will also need to get or make the simple tools to loosen the locknuts on top of the shocks. People have written this up somewhere else on this list. I took the opportunity to replace all the bolts on the strut. But I think they can be reused.

The job is pretty straight forward.

[Stick Insect]

[QUOTE=91_S2] You will also need to get or make the simple tools to loosen the locknuts on top of the shocks. QUOTE]

The tool is only cheap, I have one from Laser tools and it was £3 so isn't worth making!.

I got mine from a trade warehouse but your friendly local car accesory shop will be happy to order it for you. The bloke doesn't have much to do apart from wear a brown storeman's coat and smell of cats.

HTH

David

[91_S2]

[QUOTE=Stick Insect]

You will also need to get or make the simple tools to loosen the locknuts on top of the shocks. QUOTE]

The tool is only cheap, I have one from Laser tools and it was £3 so isn't worth making!.

I got mine from a trade warehouse but your friendly local car accesory shop will be happy to order it for you. The bloke doesn't have much to do apart from wear a brown storeman's coat and smell of cats.

HTH

David

Cheers David,

I wish things were as easy to source here. If I could have found one for 3£ you can bet I would have done it. I spend 15 minutes grinding away parts of a cheap 14? 15? mm hex with my Dremel. Where again did you find the little nipper?

[towerhurst]

Looking at replacing my old knackered shocks with Koni top adjustables all round along with new top mounts and possibly bump stops, depending on current condition. How difficult is the job and has anyone produced a definitive guide?

BTW it's a '94 ABY coupe.

Cheers

Andy

andy if you want to have ago yourself ,drop in i"ll tell you how to do it,you will need my spring clamps (jon allaudi)

[porkkis]

Rich, Hazet has one. Way more expensive than £3 but still decent ~15e. I try to remember to check the number for it if you're interested.

And yes, spring compressor or clamp is the word. The definitive guide was written in about 3 minutes from memory so I had to take some shortcuts and not get stuck in thinking about the correct words

[porkkis]

Tiny web surf session tells me that it's probably Hazet 2593-4

[Martynf]

pretty sure www.justoffbasetools.co.uk had one for less than ten quid.