Hub Spreader Tool 3424 for MkIV Ibiza..

[TheCraig]

Hi guys

Does anyone in the north east region know where I can get the hub spreader tool 3424? (Im changing a snapped coil spring) Ive tried every local VAG garage I can think of, and they wont sell me it! The car has now been on stilts for 3 days and im at a stage where I cant get it apart any further, and equally cant get it back together!

cheers

Craig

 

[DPJ]

Hi guys

Does anyone in the north east region know where I can get the hub spreader tool 3424? (Im changing a snapped coil spring) Ive tried every local VAG garage I can think of, and they wont sell me it! The car has now been on stilts for 3 days and im at a stage where I cant get it apart any further, and equally cant get it back together!

cheers

Craig

A small cold chisel in the slot usually does the trick. What have you tried?

 

[mixupz]

I used a long flat iron bar to lever the cleat open

 

[TheCraig]

Im basically using this guide here
http://www.seat-ibiza-mk4.co.uk/ibiza_front_shock_absorber_change.htm

Im doing the drivers side, so its a bit of a pain. Weve tried using screw drivers, spanners, chisels, all sorts - you name it, its been in there but cant get it quite wide enough to get the strut out.

Somthing that may be compounding the problem is, that spring compressors that I have hired seem to be too long - when you tighten them, the top end goes up and starts to press at the top of the inner wing, so you cant go any further. I must be doing something wrong, I just cant get the springs to compress enough to allow it to drop..

Also tried to bang it off with a chisel, but it wont budge any further.

Am I doing somthing fundamentally wrong? Should it come out without compressing the spring?

The strut is still attached at the top mounts, I was expecting whne I spread the hub, that the strut should pretty much drop out!

many thanks!

 

[mixupz]

Thats the same guide i used to do my coilovers, the RHD side is know for being a mare to get out because of the driveshaft, as for the spring compressors im not sure what to suggest either get a dif pair or try and turn it upside down so that the long bit goes towards the ground rather than the top of the wing (towards the sky)...

Try to wedge sumthin inbetween and prize it off...

 

[TheCraig]

If i Turn the compressors the other way, i cant get the wrench in to tighten them! if they were about 3 or 4 inches shorter i'd be ok!

 

[rashcupra]

you dont need to compress the spring while its on the car

you need to

1.make sure steering lock is off (helps step 3.)
2.remove nut for arb drop link (and disconnect from hub)
3.remove nut for track rod end (and disconnect from hub)
4.COVER the hub and lower strut in wd40 or simular lub
5.find the CORRECT chizel where the sharpe end turns thick quick and isnt too long and leaver about
6.using a copper hammer/large club hammer smack the hub toward the floor maybe use a jack and wood on the stut to hold it upward so it doesnt dampen the hit
7. if this still fails do what i did with mine in the first place and take hub strut off the car and do it on the floor!

technique/lube is everything not power (not in a filthy way!)

 

[TheCraig]

Rash, when you say use the jack and wood on the strut to stop it dampening, do you mean have a bit of 2x4 vertically jacked up to the spring plate on the strut?

cheers everyone by the way, for the superquick replies!

 

[frenchy]

See PM craig

 

[rashcupra]

yeah use a bit of wood on the lower shelf of the strut just to stop it movving down when you hit the hub and it will break the seal that it holding the strut in the hub! just dont be scared to give it a good cloat!

 

[rashcupra]

looks like audi man may have sold you a tool over pm anyways but could save a few quid using your head

 

[RUM4MO]

Laser Tools (TOOL CONNECTION) do a tool - you can't buy it direct so get your local Halfords to get it in for you if you still need it. Using this tool makes opening the hub up so easy! Remember to replace the hub nut as you wreck its locking element removing it. Personally, if you have time to wait using this tool AND compressing the spring so that you can avoid removing the track rod end (mine was a pain to remove the nut was rusted on). Have you tried jacking the car up (wheel off) under the bottom of the hub so that you can get the compressors on a bit better. Then after you take the strut out use a second set of compressors to help you remove the first ones. I ended up buying a set of three from machine mart as these tapered springs are a bit messy to deal with. I'd prepare to need to replace the top bearing as well as it will fall apart when you compress the spring - quite a lot of bolts and lock nuts should be replaced and its always better to change the springs on both sides.

 

[cheshire cat]

grind up a piece of 10mm allen key and use it in a 10mm socket

 

[TheCraig]

Success!

Right - its off now, thanks to some heavy hammering and pushing the suspension up by the spring plate! Thanks for the advice everyone - I'll let you know if it goes back together!

Frenchy, i may still be on the phone for that tool yet!

 

[muddyboots]

Well the hub spreader that I used when I wrote that guide was just bought from my local VW dealer, they didn't seem to have any problem selling it, was quite cheap too

Hope you found the guide useful

 

[TheCraig]

Ive found it useful so far muddy - but im not finished with it yet!

 

[mrcoyote]

I got mine from my local Seat dealer. Shame I didn't use it in the end.

 

[RUM4MO]

That's strange that some people have managed to buy VW service tools from their dealer's parts place - I considered getting the indexing kit that lets you drop the lower cross member and replace it in the same place - but thought I'd get the "F -OFF" treatment - it just goes to show that some dealer's parts places can be helpful and procure tools for you. Any Craig, did you manage to save the top bearing assembly? Instead of a hub splitter I originally tried a cheap set of screw driver bits - mainly they all snapped (too hard). In that occasion I just removed the complete strut/hub assembly - when I finally got round to changing the N/S spring I had bought the hub splitter and it was SO easy.

Update - the Laser Tools part you need is 3396 - if anyone needs to order it try to order online from a tool place that carries Laser Tools as Halfords charge you full price and all the p&p charges so you end up waiting a while and costing more (I did not think about that at the time and the muppets either Laser Tools or Halfords lost the order and it took 3 weeks to arrive). By the way this tool - two parts - covers the TT also - just in case you find yourself owning one of them later maybe!

 

[TheCraig]

Yes, ive got it off now, but strut is still fully assembled on the garage floor - I have smashed 3 x 7mm sockets trying to release the top mount from the strut, and only got to halfords at 8.05, - it had been shut for 5 mins. I need the most beastly fat 7mm socket I can find! Gotta get it sorted tonight!

Im not going to do the passenger side one straight away, im just going to see how it settles on the new spring - if its lopsided i'll change it, but only when i have the hub spreader!

 

[RUM4MO]

I must have had a blinding dose of common sense at that point because I slackened off the top nut before starting to remove anything - and it was easy. Its not much fun chasing a fully assembled strut around the garage floor (I could'nt reach the vice!). Just watch out of the spring clamps slipping on the nice smooth spring paint - adding to your grief!!

I think that I used an allen key with an adjustable spanner (hole in the end) serving as a lever.