General lowering springs....

[mase]

ok people i am in need of some help, i have bought lowering springs, and kinda know how to change the fronts, but how the bloody hell do u go about changin the rears?

can it b done at home or will i need a garage to do it?

 

[gaz.d]

it can be done at home, my mate did it for me, i will get u some pics

 

[mase]

it can be done at home, my mate did it for me, i will get u some pics

good man, how easy / long did it take ya?

the fronts seem easy ish, HUGE thanks to bush boys guide!

and the center exit exhaust is goin on as soon as i get a new rubber holder thingy from FIAT... hehe it has started already!

 

[arc]

the rear ones are very easy compared to the front. Loosen the lower shock bolt, then jack the car up. remove the lower shock bolt and let the wheel/arm drop. The spring should just fall out, or might need a lil bit of pulling to get it out.

remeber to cut the bumpstops

 

[gaz.d]

it took bout 15 mins for the back an that was with takin the wheels off too, u dont really need to take the wheels of but we didnt have axle stands big enough

the pic below is what we needed to do

lol, the fronts are easyish just need spring clamps and dont do what i do, **** up the nut on top of the shock when u putting it back on cause it aint big nor clever , and i cant drive my car till its fixed

the red circles are where the bolts are holding the rear shock on, the top is hidden behind exhaust can

once these are off u take the shock away and the whole lot drops down, which allows u to ease the spring out, its easier if theres 2 of u to do this, 1 to push down on hub and another to pull the spring out

the pasenger side rear is the hardest of the rears to do but this is cause the exhaust was in the way

 

[arc]

if ur not replacing the shock, can you not get away with just undoing one side of it gaz? i'm not 100% as when we did mine, the spax shocks were fitted

 

[gaz.d]

i would imagine u rite, i replaced the whole lot so took the shock off, listen to arc hes rite lol

 

[mase]

ok as i am changin the exhaust as well i guess it could b all dont at the same time, would b easier to change the rears without the exhaust on as well.

anyone fancy doin a step by step for the rears?

either that or the haynes manual will have to b consulted! cheers lads!

 

[arc]

what we've posted is pretty much it mate, it doesnt need a step by step!

 

[mase]

oh right...

so u just whip the wheel off,

undo the two bolts and u can pull the shock down from there.
take the old spring off.
put the new one on.
stick the shock back up its hole.
do the bolts back up.

that it? will the springs need compressing to get onto the shocks?

 

[gaz.d]

there no need to undo the top bolts now, i thought u was chaning the whole lot, but seeing as u a cheapskate , u have just gone for the springs

heres a quick step by step

1. Jack up car
2. Place on axle stands
3. Take wheel off
4. Undo bottom rear shock bolt
5. Get someone to push down on rear hub
6. Take out old spring
---oops ...missed one, cut rear bump stops in half---
7. Put new spring in
8. Replace bottom bolt on rear shock
9. Place wheel back on
10. Remove axle stand
11. Let down jack
12. Tighten wheel nuts
13. Open a beer an marvel at wot u just done
14. Then repeat on other side

 

[arc]

thats it, yeah.

You don't need spring compressors for the rear, you'll see why when you jack it up!

 

[gaz.d]

mase - i never compressed the rear springs but i was a big girl an stood well back when the springs where getting put in

 

[gaz.d]

arc keeps beating me to posts

 

[mase]

lol cheers lads....

and yea gaz i am bein a cheap skate till i can afford £250 for FK 70/50 shocks an springs!

this is gonna sound like a real newbie question....

will i c the bumpstops an where to cut when i remove the shocks as i have not com across havin to cut them on any car before!!!!

 

[arc]

yeah, but your posts make more sense!

 

[gaz.d]

u can easily see the bumpstops when u take the old spring out, it loks like a big puffy nipple, its hard too

 

[mase]

lol most of the time!

cheers lads i will let u all kno how i get on an how she looks when finished!

 

[gaz.d]

yeah another thing it sort of looks like is a light bulb, u cant miss it, but just rememebr to cut it

 

[gadge]

.........just done a set of them myself......had a right game!!!!!!!!!!!