Replacing front driver side suspension spring

[moorey]

Hi All,

Apologies if this has come up before (I tried a search but couldn't find an exact match) but I managed to drive over a deceptively large pot hole yesterday which produced a nasty bang from under the car and a huge "twanging" sound whenever I turned the wheel full lock.

Upon a quick look having taken the front driver side wheel off, I found that the first coil of the spring had snapped at the top. Getting a replacement seems straight forward and will cost around £25 (mine is a 2003 Leon Cupra T 1.8) for a standard spring.

What I'm wondering is if its a straight forward job to replace myself. I've got access to spring compressors but wanted to check if anyone here has done the same thing and had any advice?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Law121]

very easy job defiantly a diy job aslong as you have the spring compressors your sorted and a few spanners just make sure you spring clamps are on right dont undo the center nut without them compressed

 

[Brettyboy]

Best to replace both fronts if getting new

 

[grahams81]

Not the easiest jobs to do really, i've just done both my cupra / the wifes mk4 golf.

I would agree with Brettyboy and suggest changing both springs.

You need a 21 or 22mm (depends on year) spanner / socket that you can pass an allen key (7mm) through for the top of the strut - this is to keep the shaft of the shocker still whilst you loosen the top mount locking nut. I found a large spark plug socket ideal as it has flats to turn with a spanner whilst you hold an allen key bit in the middle.

Also you need to replace the pinch bolt from the shock mount clamp (there stretch bolts and designed to be binned after there removed) so buy some bolts / nuts in advance, get them from a dealer only a couple of quid.

Best advice i can give is just make sure you have the all the tools required before you start - try and get the top mounts cracked off first, if you can't get these undone go no further and take it to a garage or make a better tool or get a windy gun oh and give every thing a good squirt of wd40 a day before you start, it'll make life easier for you.
You'll need a torque wrench for the pinch bolt and a sturdy breaker bar to turn the required angle after torquing up.

 

[moorey]

Ok thanks for all the advice chaps.