Seicento Sporting yr 2000 67K miles
High folks...
Done a lot of work on my little Sei over the past couple of years but now it
needs new struts.
Have ordered new struts, top mounts, springs and knuckle bolts/nuts.

To be honest, this job fills me with fear but I want to do it for the experience.
Any gotchas that I might come across?
Read the info on here and watched a few UTube videos.
Just the spring compressing that worries me.
Been looking online for a suitable set of spring compressors but there are many.
Looks like the two prong ones are the safest but what would anybody recommend
for a first time spring compressing numpty?


Phil

g4jvf said:

Seicento Sporting yr 2000 67K miles
High folks...
Done a lot of work on my little Sei over the past couple of years but now it
needs new struts.
Have ordered new struts, top mounts, springs and knuckle bolts/nuts.

To be honest, this job fills me with fear but I want to do it for the experience.
Any gotchas that I might come across?
Read the info on here and watched a few UTube videos.
Just the spring compressing that worries me.
Been looking online for a suitable set of spring compressors but there are many.
Looks like the two prong ones are the safest but what would anybody recommend
for a first time spring compressing numpty?


Phil

Click to expand...

Only thing I can say is take your time and do not buy cheap chinky made spring compresses because trust me a spring flying out of the compressor is frightening and will send you white

g4jvf said:

Seicento Sporting yr 2000 67K miles
High folks...
Done a lot of work on my little Sei over the past couple of years but now it
needs new struts.
Have ordered new struts, top mounts, springs and knuckle bolts/nuts.

To be honest, this job fills me with fear but I want to do it for the experience.
Any gotchas that I might come across?
Read the info on here and watched a few UTube videos.
Just the spring compressing that worries me.
Been looking online for a suitable set of spring compressors but there are many.
Looks like the two prong ones are the safest but what would anybody recommend
for a first time spring compressing numpty?

Phil

Click to expand...

I changed my springs a few weeks ago, don't be afraid, it's easy

A few issues I did have was the lower shock absorber bolts, they will probably be orange. It took a 700mm breaker bar and a lot of sweat, tears and some newly invented swear words to get mine off. I just replaced them with new ones, a couple of quid each from www.eurocarcare.net, don't forget the nuts. I put some copper slip on the shaft (lol) in case I need to take them off again. Also, count how many threads are exposed on the current bolt, so it gives you a rough guesstimate for the replacements.

As for the spring compressors, I echo what Hensey said. You get what you pay for. £15-£20 will get you a decent set, I found that I had to clamp one side onto the round base plate of the shock, and the other onto the spring itself. Tighten each side equally to avoid the spring bowing to one side. Rat-ring spanners come in really handy here rebuild the shock in the opposite way. Also a good time to give it a wire brush and clean down, if you're that way inclined...

Hope this helps!

Yes, a big help, thanks guys...

Was looking at these that Halfords sell..I like the idea of the double prongs..
http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/tools-diy/tools-tool-kits/laser-coil-spring-compressor

Got a set of new nuts and bolts coming and I've been Plus Gassing the old ones for
the last few days.
Bought myself a Ryobi 18volt impact driver when I started the car repairs.
I already had some Ryobi tools so have a good supply of batteries.
It has a 1/2" drive and it's got me out of a lot of struggling so I reckon it
will remove or at least beat into submission the big bolts.....

At least unlike when I changed the rear trailing arm bushes, this job is easier to get
at for an old numpty like me....

Phil

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New...r-Extractor-/291505037403?hash=item43df0de05b

this is the type of spring Compressor id be looking to buy i know its alot more then the ones you was looking for but i've had that type of compressor strip its threads when compressing the spring

g4jvf said:

Was looking at these that Halfords sell..I like the idea of the double prongs..
http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/tools-diy/tools-tool-kits/laser-coil-spring-compressor

Click to expand...

Those are the ones I used, quite big and cumbersome, hence why I had to use the plate at the bottom, but it worked for me. Just point it away from your face when tightening it up lol.

Max724 said:

Those are the ones I used, quite big and cumbersome, hence why I had to use the plate at the bottom, but it worked for me. Just point it away from your face when tightening it up lol.

Click to expand...

Definitely don't have it near your face I had a spring pop out on me at work if I was stood if front of the compressor it would have took my head clean off not a nice experience

henseyseries3 said:

Definitely don't have it near your face I had a spring pop out on me at work if I was stood if front of the compressor it would have took my head clean off not a nice experience

Click to expand...

Now you're really scaring me...

Quite right too I guess...

Phil

g4jvf said:

Now you're really scaring me...

Quite right too I guess...

Phil

Click to expand...

You'll be alright doing to mate the springs on a cento dont need a lot of compressing to get the shock out my little scare was on a big e class merc

The bits are coming in slowly...
Got the struts, springs and rubber dust covers along with a set of compressors.
Just waiting for the top mount bearings to arrive...

Been looking at the "how to's" again..
Would I be OK just cracking (not removing) the 17mm strut top nut whilst its
on the car rather than fighting it when the spring's compressed...


Phil

g4jvf said:

The bits are coming in slowly...
Got the struts, springs and rubber dust covers along with a set of compressors.
Just waiting for the top mount bearings to arrive...

Been looking at the "how to's" again..
Would I be OK just cracking (not removing) the 17mm strut top nut whilst its
on the car rather than fighting it when the spring's compressed...


Phil

Click to expand...

I tried that when it was still fitted to the car, to no avail as the whole lot just spun. You'll have to put it in a vice to crack it mate, and keep it to undo through the "stiff" part of undoing it to stop the silver plate thing moving. Personally, just save yourself some time and do it in one go.

g4jvf said:

The bits are coming in slowly...
Got the struts, springs and rubber dust covers along with a set of compressors.
Just waiting for the top mount bearings to arrive...

Been looking at the "how to's" again..
Would I be OK just cracking (not removing) the 17mm strut top nut whilst its
on the car rather than fighting it when the spring's compressed...


Phil

Click to expand...

You could crack it but I'd just whiz it off with an impact gun if you've got one when it's off

henseyseries3 said:

Definitely don't have it near your face I had a spring pop out on me at work if I was stood if front of the compressor it would have took my head clean off not a nice experience

Click to expand...

The trick/good practice is to always keep the spring pointing away from you/face it side on. Firstly its much easier to undo the nut, secondly, if something goes wrong the spring/nut doesn't fire into you, it goes away from you.

Cento springs aren't really that stiff though, so any half decent compressors should cope no bother. Still best to be safe.

Have heard stories of springs going through workshop roofs etc firing off with such force.

g4jvf said:

The bits are coming in slowly...
Got the struts, springs and rubber dust covers along with a set of compressors.
Just waiting for the top mount bearings to arrive...

Been looking at the "how to's" again..
Would I be OK just cracking (not removing) the 17mm strut top nut whilst its
on the car rather than fighting it when the spring's compressed...


Phil

Click to expand...

I always crack the top nut before i even jack the car up to take the strut out.

Unless you have a vice available, it's the only real practical way to go about it.

Got the old struts off....

The bottom of each old spring has the perished remains of rubber pipe...
Haven't got anything to replace it with, does it matter if the new springs go on without it?


Phil

All OK
Slit what was left of the old one with a blade, peeled it off and slotted it
onto the new spring...

One side done, one to go

Scary but not too bad, worst job was getting the knuckle bolts out.
One had to be cut off :bang:

Onwards and upwards...

Phil

Another job done....
Both sides struts,springs,top mounts,gaiters and bolt/nuts replaced.
Disgusting state the old struts and mounts were in as I knew. Removed some
front end knocks and groans

Managed to hold the top domed plate with a pair of large plumbers stilsons
I had in the shed. whilst tourquing up.
Halfords spring compressors worked well and showed no signs of slipping

Very pleased.....thanks for the guides, help and encouragement on here guys

g4jvf said:

Another job done....
Both sides struts,springs,top mounts,gaiters and bolt/nuts replaced.
Disgusting state the old struts and mounts were in as I knew. Removed some
front end knocks and groans

Managed to hold the top domed plate with a pair of large plumbers stilsons
I had in the shed. whilst tourquing up.
Halfords spring compressors worked well and showed no signs of slipping

Very pleased.....thanks for the guides, help and encouragement on here guys

Click to expand...

Did you replace the shocks for Sachs?

Max724 said:

Did you replace the shocks for Sachs?

Click to expand...

Yep..
Thats the ones they had at a local factors.
Don't know anything about shocks brands so hope they are OK...


Phil

Sachs are good mate, German engineering