well i recently bought a whole new suspension kit for my car (60mm springs all round, uprated shocks all round) and im having a little trouble getting the front ones on. The rear ones went on simple but the front are being a pain in the arse!

the prioblem i am having is that once i have actually taken the frojnt shocks and springs out, i cant undo the bolt at the top holding everything onto the strut!..

in the haynes manual it says that all you need to do is hold the flats at the top of the strut tight and unscrew the bolt.. but you cant unscrew the bolt if your holding the flats as there is a fat rubber thing i nthe way which i cant get to move so i am asuming its attatched to the bolt... However.. in the diagram in the haynes manual its not attatched!.. can someone just tell me if it is attatched or not.

also does anyone have any ideas how i can get the bolt unscrewed.. ive been rying different methods for days and just cant seem to get it off!

Thanks


My Lovely Uno

No it is not attached. You will need a ring spanner ground to fit or a short box spanner with a side handle, for the nut. Put this on and then use an adjustable on the flats of the shaft. Mount the unit in a strong vice as considerable purchase is required. YOU WILL OF COURSE, HAVE SPRING COMPRESSORS FITTED before you attempt to loose the nut.
Rgds.

well the rubber part is completly stuck to the nut... i dont know why or how but i cant get it off.. i tried smashing it off with a hammer and a sproket that was too big but it would budge!... once i have got the rubber thing out of the way i can easily get it off... but the rubber thing is driving me crazy! arrgghhhhh!!

and yes, i did compress the springs beforehand

thanks!

Uno "Fire" 999cc
Lowered 60mm Uprated Gmax shock & Spring system
Fox Evo3 15" Alloy Wheels
3" Rage Backbox
E-Tech hatch Spoiler
2x 450W 12" Custom Built Bass Box
2x Pro Audio 6x9s
Sony SPL-X 500W Amp

You Like?

Been there done that, that's what you say isn't it?

What tools I had:
1. My brother.
2. An unadjustable wrench of some sort, with its head "lowered" so it would fit down and into the rubber bush on top of the shock and perfectly around the insanely fastened nut.
3. An allen key - a long one so you get high torque.

Get your brother, if you have one, to handle one of the tools, and use the other yourself, and it will get off.

As Pete says: SPRING COMPRESSORS (at least two), or you might die when the top mounting strikes your head.

Please tell us about the progress or any problems.

Morten.


Abarth alloys. Inter Alloy lowering. Phoenix Gold & Kenwood audio. Abarth steering wheel. Insane Dalmatian door and seat refurnishing

Projects: K&N induction kit, racing seats, exhaust, window tinting.

hmm ok. i dont understand what you would use the allen key for [xx(] however iu dont have an adjustable wrench that can be lowered like you say.. infact ive never even seen them heh... i will goto halfords and see if there is anything like it that will work!

thanks again!

Uno "Fire" 999cc
Lowered 60mm Uprated Gmax shock & Spring system
Fox Evo3 15" Alloy Wheels
3" Rage Backbox
E-Tech hatch Spoiler
2x 450W 12" Custom Built Bass Box
2x Pro Audio 6x9s
Sony SPL-X 500W Amp

You Like?

Hei.

UN-adjustable! Maybe it's the same as Pete says, a ring spanner. You know I'm bad at the english tool-words. The allen key, I think has 6 sides, like a hexagon, and will fit inside the nut. It is the shock absorber itself actually. This way you will be able to hold the shock's arm when unscrewing the nut, else it will just go around itself.

Here's a picture of the tool you need:

http://www.justoffbase-tools.co.uk/tools.asp?parent=2I4168P1308M0

Morten.


Abarth alloys. Inter Alloy lowering. Phoenix Gold & Kenwood audio. Abarth steering wheel. Insane Dalmatian door and seat refurnishing

Projects: K&N induction kit, racing seats, exhaust, window tinting.

also does anyone have any ideas how i can get the bolt unscrewed.. ive been rying different methods for days and just cant seem to get it off!

get anrnal swartz to pull it off!

gotta love the uno's

Spam0r.

It is a good thing to be two people. One to hold the unit and one tool, and the other one to use the second tool and unscrew with this. Use a LONG allen key, and push the ring spanner (with its lowered head) down onto the nut - you may have tp place it in a slight angle as well to hold the nut. Hence: You don't have to unscrew the nut itself, but unscrew the shock itself by turning the allen key. Springs should be compressed already and be completely loose of the top mounting.

Morten.


Abarth alloys. Inter Alloy lowering. Phoenix Gold & Kenwood audio. Abarth steering wheel. Insane Dalmatian door and seat refurnishing

Projects: K&N induction kit, racing seats, exhaust, window tinting.

Ah... Sorry. I remember now. The original McPherson struts don't have the allen key hole. It's my new Monroe shocks that have. Then correction: A ring spanner, a WRENCH and a friend or brother. Also check the ball-bearings (two-pieced) inside the top mounting for rust. One of mine were slightly rusty. If damaged by new ones, or add grease if dried out. They make you turn the wheels with less effort, and lets the steering wheel straighten out correctly when you let your hands off it when driving.

Morten.


Abarth alloys. Inter Alloy lowering. Phoenix Gold & Kenwood audio. Abarth steering wheel. Insane Dalmatian door and seat refurnishing

Projects: K&N induction kit, racing seats, exhaust, window tinting.

Don't forget to check the wheel's alignment after you've done this job...usually when you dismantle s.absorbers the angles can changeB)