How do you take the top off the front shocks?

[WorldClassAccident]

I have the shock off the car and spring compressed


Okay, the spring isn't fully loose but there are only three coils to squeeze and my spring compressor is maxxed out

I thought I would just undo the bolt on the top but that just spins the whole shaft. Short of sticking some grips on the silver shaft and hoping, is there a better way of getting it apart?



There is a 22mm bolt with the little 8mm sticking out the top. It is the 22mm one that spins the shaft. I can't hold that still and turn the 8mm because the 22mm socket cover the 8mm bolt

Getting frustrated now!

[WorldClassAccident]

Found it!

http://www.bavauto.com/newsletter/20...newsletter.pdf

[WorldClassAccident]

No 1/2 in socket in 22mm so still no way to stop the shaft spinning while I try and undo the 8mm. Grrr!

[WorldClassAccident]

Given up. Getting beer.

Any better suggestions?

C'mon Chris, tell me how you did yours please

[Scottie22]

Does'nt a ring spanner hold the 22mm while undoing the 8mm?

[mobilerobbie]

Since you will not use these shocks anymore, put a gripper on the piston and unscrwing is easy....

[Chris-87]

I know 2 ways to open it - The first of all ist the mechanic way - u take an air pressured tool Wheel Gun? and put it on the 22mm

or the 2nd way u use a extra tool to open that screw. In Germany it costs about 80 Euro
http://www.ebay.de/itm/like/37130302...pid=106&chn=ps

hope it is usefull for you

[Tribute Automotive]

I made a special tool for the job, weld a ring spanner to the top of a 22mm socket leaving the square section hole free to get an 8mm socket onto the centre shock shaft.

If you shear the hex head off the centre shaft you can carefully (you may need to look that one up Nick) cut the top coil off the compressed spring with an angle grinder to give you enough room to grind a flat section on the shaft and use mole grips to hold it whilst undoing the 22mm nut with a socket.

[Plastic Porsche]

The 8mm is the shaft, the 22mm nut is the one to undo

8mm Allen head socket with a small extension bar through the socket and grip the 22mm nut with mole grips

If you don't have a socket that the extension bar will go through, try wedging some pliers either side of the nut, it shouldn't be that tight

I used an 8mm socket with shaft that cam with some decking bolts

Good luck

[WorldClassAccident]

And today I will be borrowing a 22mm socket with 1/2 inch drive.

The only 22mm socket I have is on 1/4 inch and I don't have a ring spanner to fit.

Anyway, at least I have a plan now.

[Mister Towed]

...or, if you're not planning on reusing or selling the old shocks, just cut through the piston with an angle grinder (once you're sure the separated bits that will fly apart aren't going to damage windows/vehicles/limbs/eyeballs) then you'll be able to grind flats on the stump and hold it in a vice while you undo the 22mm nut. Fast, safe (?!!) and simple.

[GazDavies]

Keep up the good work WCA and please keep the updates coming. I have just ordered myself a set of coil overs for the SWB build so its good to read the potential problems before I tackle the process myself.

[WorldClassAccident]

Gaz - I am sure I will find ALL of the potential problems

;-)

[WorldClassAccident]

I do not feckin believe this

I was waiting for my mate to turn up with his socket and thought I would give the 22mm one more go and it came of easy!

God only knows why it wouldn't move yesterday, perhaps the spring was pushing against it but I haven't changed a thing and now it is loose.

Anyway, the build progresses

[WorldClassAccident]

I reckon the spring must have been pushing against the plate a bit because the second one came off real easy.

Spring compressor doesn't fit the smaller diameter springs. Grrr.

Mate turned up with his 1/2 in socket set (too late) and was able to push the spring down enough for me to stick the bolt on a tighten a bit. Yay!

Off to machine mart to pick up the spanner as hitting the collar around with a bit of wood is tedious

[WorldClassAccident]

Finished.

Looks like this


Had to remove a bit of the wheel arch from this


to this


To achieve this use a 4cm gap between the top of the bottom plate and the bottom of the locking adjustment

[y cymro]

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

Finished.

You're probably used to the well impressed expression shown by your on-looker

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

To achieve this use a 4cm gap between the top of the bottom plate and the bottom of the locking adjustment

I hope you've locked the two nuts together or we'll be reading about that in a later episode

[WorldClassAccident]

The bottom one is fixed. There are two at the top that lock against each other. Will be checking all is still tight in a few days time before ragging it too much

[WorldClassAccident]

Quick blast around the New Forest confirms that I haven't cocked up the handling, the ride height is fine and nothing fell off!

Happy daze :-)

[redratbike]

Looks nicer lower down ...def. enhances the car