Rear springs ...

Post by **JustinMinor1000** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:45 pm

Mot man has failed Mirium on the rear rear (if you understandwhat I mean) suspension bushes ..

I'm very worried about the best way to disconnect the suspension .. does anyone have any tips ?

Post by **bigginger** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:49 pm

Only got experiance of the LCV ones, but that suggests a spanner, a hammer, a drift, an angle grinder and a set of new bolts to replace the one's you'll wreck getting them free. Not a joke BTW - see Pyoor_kate's video of the job at pyoor.org

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:24 pm

Soak it all in penetrating oil for a day or two beforehand. Be glad it's the rear bushes - the front ones are much more difficult to change.

Post by **les** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:33 pm

Take your time, soak as suggested and use good fitting spanners, sometimes these bits get rusted up but wrecking things is not always the outcome.

Post by **JustinMinor1000** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:35 am

Whats a good safe way To "let them go" The "plan" was to jack the car up and then put stands under the body and a jack under the spring (at the back if you see what I mean) then unbolt/anglegrind then drift the pins and lower the suspension on the jack and then put int he new bushes and raise it back up on the jack. Workshop manual gives no real info .. on the method ...

Post by **Welung666** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:38 am

That would be your easiest way Justin, just use a good block of wood to stop the spring slipping off the jack as your working and try not to put to much pressure on with the jack and when you grind/come to take the bolt out any tension will cause it to jump and again maybe drop from the jack.

Lee

Post by **Cam** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:59 am

Justin, I would not grind the rear bolts off, but try to remove them with a sturdy socket. It's much easier to just shear the nuts off. Especially if you want to keep the shackles......

Post by **Chris Morley** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 3:45 pm

I'm very worried about the best way to disconnect the suspension

Don't be, this is an easy job compared to spring removal. I had to replace the o/s rear rubber bushes recently and managed to undo both nuts on the outer side without shearing them. As I had already bought new pins and shackles I was able to drift out both the old pins by about 1 cm with a mallet (which is not possible if you grind the nuts off). Then I prised off the shackle & pins on the other side using a large screwdriver.

The whole thing (including re-fitting) only took about 30-40 minutes. I had the rear axle on stands and took the o/s rear wheel off to get space to work. Simply undo the nuts and the spring end will drop by an inch or two. For re-assembly, use a jack to flatten the spring as necessary to line up the shackles.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:34 pm

Yes -easy job - support the car forward of the springs with the axle hanging - and then control the axle with a trolley jack under the diff.
Not to steal the thread- but has anyone used polyurethane bushes in the rear spring shackles - does it make a huge difference ?

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:12 pm

We fit 'Superflex' poly bushes in place of all rubber ones. Although not cheap they are by far the best on the market. The difference is not huge, but maybe more apparent on an otherwise standard set up. If you have modified the suspension the difference is less obvious but compliments a firmer more controlled system. The main gain is to be had in longevity, they will outlast the rubber originals. as they do not perish and are self lubricating. Always fit both rubber and poly bushes using white grease, this will make assembly and subsequent disassembly easier. Remember do not tighten the shackle bolts fully with the car jacked up, do them hand tight, lower the car to the ground then tighten them up making sure that you do not crush the bushes. A tip on removing the shackle pins is not to drift or hammer them out, as the rubber will only grip the pins, use a block of wood against the chassis leg and lever them out.

Post by **JustinMinor1000** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:26 pm

bmcecosse wrote:Not to steal the thread- but has anyone used polyurethane bushes in the rear spring shackles - does it make a huge difference ?

I haddn't considered NOT useing poly bushes .. "Easy job" it may be but I really don't want to do it again in my lifetime ..

Post by **picky** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:56 pm

Im wondering if my rear springs are worn out.. I get a loud clunking noise from the rear when going over small bumps.. and speed bumps are just not funny!! ive got a gap of about an inch between the rear bump stops and the car body... Im assuming the bump stops are hitting the body?? replacing the springs is going to be a real hassle I suspect...

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:19 pm

Dont forget to check the rear shockers as they are not that long lived and check that the link arm has not broken.

Johnathon can you be more specific about the white grease what actually is it for and who makes it.

Post by **Welung666** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:26 pm

Some website I just found wrote:It features high levels of lubricity, corrosion protection, water and heat resistance. Works equally well in both high and low temperatures, and all types off weather

http://www.carwashwarehouse.com/TEC99204.php if you wanted the link

Lee

Post by **Chris Morley** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:58 am

I just used a smear of washing up liquid to lubricate the polyurethane bushes I fitted and they certainly locate the rear end of the spring well. I used a bit of wood with the mallett to drift out the pins, but there was little resistance as the rubber bushes were shot. I wasn't too worried as all the components were to be replaced.

Picky, the clunking you hear is probably due to to the curved top of the spring (at the rear) hitting the bottom flange of the inner wing - by clunking I take it you mean it sounds like metal to metal? That might be because the worn out bushes don't hold the pins in place. However a knackered damper will mean the bumpstop hitting, which I would assume to be a dull thudding noise (rubber to metal).

Post by **Alec** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 7:49 am

Hello all,

have I missed it?, I see reference to rear shackles, but what about the front, which can be much more difficult to release than the rear. I would not consider changing rear bushes without also doing the front ones. As these are a special bolt care is required not to damage it or else have new ones to hand.

Alec

Post by **Cam** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:22 am

Well I have fitted the 'Superflex' bushes all round and am really pleased with the result. I would recommend it for those who want longer lasting bushes and 'tighter' suspension.

Post by **MrA.Series** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:56 am

Where do you get Superflex bushes from? How much for a set of 12 for the rear? All I can find is generic 'Poly-Bushes' which are usually found to be worse than the original rubbers.

Post by **Cam** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:00 am

I got mine from JLH. Can't remember how much though. I also got the rear spring to axle rubbers in Superflex too! I suggest you PM Jonathon for current prices as traders aren't allowed to push their products on here!

Post by **MrA.Series** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:13 am

Cam wrote:I also got the rear spring to axle rubbers in Superflex too!

Wow! That's quite an idea, But I thought rubber pads would help them seat better?

Cheers for the point in the right dirrection.