Hi Folks,

I'm currently mid way through replacing springs and shocks on my JTD Multiwagon, went for Monroe reflex shocks and KYB springs, the cars done 174K miles so not too fussed about high quality/expensive fiat parts..
Anyway, after dismantling, I have now assembled one strut making sure the spring is seated correctly on the bottom of the strut and that the top cap and bearing assembly are correctly aligned.. My question is, is it normal for the spring to sit compressed on one side and slightly expanded on the opposite, like it's being squeezed out the back of the assembly (if that makes any sense)... It feels like it's correct as the shock absorber is off centre to the spring by way of the mounting cap, it just doesn't look quite right to my untrained eye.. Just wondered if anyone can advise if it's normal with new springs..

Cheers
JK

Pics would help mate.

I did think that when I posted this morning, don't have any at the moment will take a couple tonight and post..

Cheers
JK

your springs are correct they are called banana springs ( side loading springs on front springs ).

Have a read here. http://www.partinfo.co.uk/files/Kilen_A4_Technical_Bulletin_01.pdf

Hi bri1232,

Thats great thanks for the info.. I will still take a couple of photos for reference.. and piece of mind..

Cheers
JK

Hi Folks,

Images now (hopefully attached) of the assembled strut.. just looking for a sanity check really... Any advise greatfuly received..

Cheers
JK

The spring is not seated correctly in the bottom mounting plate on the shock absorber.

Also, just noticed that the two parts of top rubber mounting are not aligned correctly. That could explain why the spring is in the wrong position. The cut-out in the lower rubber part should be aligned with the small hole in the top rubber part.
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Hi Davren,

When I dismantled the drivers side (the non broken side), the end of the coil was located at the little folded up tab in the bottom mount of the shock absorber, the rubber pad also has the correct radius for the spring to sit in in this area..

I am now officially confused.. the diameter of the bottom coil/pigtail fits into the rubber and to the tab, but isn't big enough to sit at the step in the mounting plate..

I take your point about the top cap fitting, however it's not clear from the picture that the alignment is actually within limits (ie it's not exactly centered but the hole does line up with the slot, albeit towards the edge.. (fig. 2b)


Anyone got pictures of newly assembled struts/springs for reference...
(my cars an '04 192 1.9JTD Multiwagon)

Cheers
JK

Ahh yes.... I forgot about the folded up tab in the bottom mounting plate.

There's definately something wrong though. Your spring looks as though it's coming off the mounting plate, and the spring shouldn't be bent as much as in you pictures.

These are the only pictures I have of how it should be.
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Thanks for the reference pics Davren.

When the spring compressors are on, the spring isn't bent and looks similar to your picture and the spring seats on the bottom mounting plate nicely. It's when the tension is removed with the compressors that it starts to bend out, it's like there is too much tension or length in the spring, but it's the correct parts... Will it straighten out when it's on the car with the weight on the wheels?? I have compared the KYB spring specs with other manufacturers (Kilen etc.) and all the dimensions are pretty much the same, give or take a few mm...

Might take them round to the local garage for advice..

My second two pictures are without the compressors or weight on the wheels, so the same situation as with your pictures above. They look completely different.

Your assembled spring looks like the "Incorrectly fitter top plate" picture in bri1232's link. However I can see that your top mounting is not fitted 180º out. Could the top part of your top mounting be damaged or worn allowing it to bend too much?
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Davren said:

Could the top part of your top mounting be damaged or worn allowing it to bend too much?
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Click to expand...

It's used, but not worn beyond use as it's still solid... Theres no evidence of it bending to the spring that I can tell... The spring is correctly seated in the top mount also..

I know what you mean about it looking wrong, hence the reason for this thread...????

I just can't figure out why it's bending out so much, unless it's an issue with the KYB springs..

I've replaced Stilo springs, shock absorbers and both several times. I would have been just concerned if they looked like yours when released from the compressors as you are.

I would be inclined to remove the new spring and compare it with the original unbroken one. Check that the end points of the top and bottom coils are in the same positions relative to each other.

Also, I'm not sure if the top and bottom coils are the same diameter or angle. i.e. do they need to be fitted the correct way up. All of the genuine Fiat springs I've removed have had the grade marker coloured dots at the bottom, so that's the way I've always replaced them.
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Thanks for your advice... It seems what was thought to be a (relatively) simple job has just turned into a nightmare.. :bang:

Your spring is not sitting right at bottom + rubber pad is not fitted correctly spring should sit in groove of bottom plate. Tip if your top mount isnt aligned you could use a plumb line to centre it with bottom of shock plate small hole.just checked my Kyb spring and top and bottom looks diffrent there is writing on spring it says KYB your spring could be wrong way round.

Everything was sitting fine in the bottom mounting plate until I released the tension in the compressors, when fully released from the spring compressors the spring and rubber move. The top cap moved slightly when tightening the top nut, possibly because I didn't have enough compression?? anyway, it's all coming apart again to check that the spring is not upside down (although it looks identical from either end, and the manufacturer text on the spring reads the right way up)...