Went to fit coilovers...can someone help me?

[Hilla LCR]

Hi guys,

Went to fit my coilovers today with a few mates. Were all reasonably handy with the spanners and have changed bits and pieces before.

I was following DPJ's guide but it doesn't say how he got the existing suspension off in the first place (at least I think it doesn't?!)

I undid the ARB droplink bolt (bottom), the strut housing bolt, the track rod end and the 3 bolts underneath the disc (in a triangle shape, attached to a ball joint but I'm unsure of the name). We got the strut free (with disc and brembos still attached) but obviously it was still attached to the driveshaft and at the top of the strut so there was little in the way of movement available.

Can anybody give me some advice on where I may have gone wrong or point me in the direction of another guide? I really want to get it sorted but am at a loss as to what I'm doing wrong. We've fitted coilovers to a 206 GTI and C2 GT before, but obviously the LCR is a different kettle of fish

Cheers, Alex.

 

[james walker]

you dont need to undo the wishbone/balljoint end, or the track rod end at all to remove struts...

did you use a hub splitter/cold chisel to split the hub before you tried to free the strut??



did you get the top nut undone in the strut turret?

to remove old struts

1. undo bolt into wheel bearing housing.
2. undo top nut in engine bay
3. use hub splitter to split the wheel bearing housing.
4. undo arb link into wishbone.
5. strut will now come free, if not use a rubber mallet to push it upwards and out of the hub.

drivers side is harder as youll have less room as the hub doesnt drop as far.

same procedure, you may need to compress the springs on this side whilst still intact to get some room to remove

 

[RickC]

lcr is the same as the 206, i have both and they are pretty much the same,

i think you need to take it to a garage, you dont need to remove the track rod end or the ball joint,


jack car up front only both sides, ( relives pressure on arb)

undo the top drop link nut.

undo bolt holding shocker to hub,

push hub down, shocker is out hub

undo the top mount nut

remove shocker

strip old suspension and use top mount for coils if not buy new

then refit.


it takes about an hour and a half to do coilies on a leon.

 

[james walker]

also by removing the track rod end and balljoint to wishbone youll have shagged your tracking and geometry, so itll need redoing

 

[james walker]

remember the hub splitting rik, this could be why they cant get it out tbh.

vw use a proper tool for this, laser tools sell them and its a godsend.

strip old suspension and use top mount for coils if not buy new

then refit.

 

[DPJ]

Hi guys,

Went to fit my coilovers today with a few mates. Were all reasonably handy with the spanners and have changed bits and pieces before.

I was following DPJ's guide but it doesn't say how he got the existing suspension off in the first place (at least I think it doesn't?!)........

.

Yes it does.

 

[james walker]

no real need to remove wishbone bolts though is there dpj??

also, why the need to strip the hub, just to give you more room?

i did neither and it was a simles job tbh.

 

[Hilla LCR]

Ah ok, so track rod ends don't need doing. So it's most likely the shock to hub bolt is seized/rusted and needs opening up.

As for tracking, I'm having new tired on soon (next week) and am having full 4 wheel alignment and geometry set up at a VAG specialist.

 

[james walker]

if you got the bolt out it isnt seized...

you need to split the hub in order to get the strut out.

 

[Hilla LCR]

Yes it does.

so it does! Don't know where I was looking!

Thanks for the help so far guys, it seems to me I need to get a bigger wedge to seperate the 2 sides of the clamp, probably stiffer than I realised!

 

[james walker]

what did you use to seperate them? it isnt that big a gap so a small cold chisel will work, but theres nothing like having the right tools

they dont need moving much tbh.

but if youve tried and then undone ball joints and track rod ends then i dont know where youre going with this one tbh mate....

really is 3 bolts and a hub split then its out, no need for disc, caliper removal... id try some anti seize on the hub aswell.]]

 

[DPJ]

no real need to remove wishbone bolts though is there dpj??

also, why the need to strip the hub, just to give you more room?

i did neither and it was a simles job tbh.

No I agree, but it makes it a lot easier for first timers.

 

[james walker]

yeah easier than taking track rod ends off.....

i think back to basics prep and ensuring right tools are to hand is the winner on this one?

 

[Hilla LCR]

what did you use to seperate them? it isnt that big a gap so a small cold chisel will work, but theres nothing like having the right tools

they dont need moving much tbh.

but if youve tried and then undone ball joints and track rod ends then i dont know where youre going with this one tbh mate....

really is 3 bolts and a hub split then its out, no need for disc, caliper removal... id try some anti seize on the hub aswell.]]

Right, will go out now and spray some stuff on the hub, then will have a go tomorrow. I'll probably get a couple of chisels on it

Thanks for the quick help, I've had a crap couple of hours trying to figure it out! As I've said, I'm not too bad at doing things myself, just stumped me that the hub wouldn't move at all!

Alex.

 

[james walker]

wouldnt move which way, to split?

you wont get 2 chisels in it mate. id seriously suggest getting the hub splitter, makes life much easier next time aswell.

 

[DPJ]

wouldnt move which way, to split?

you wont get 2 chisels in it mate. id seriously suggest getting the hub splitter, makes life much easier next time aswell.

My small cold chisel is about 10mm in diameter, the taper on it fits perfectly.

 

[james walker]

i have used cold chisels also, just much much easier with the hub splitter. and for a fiver ish its gotta be worth it.

http://www.toolsheduk.com/Q/1289/2/28/Strut-Nut-Tool-2pc.html


also to the original post, are you installing new top mounts and using all new bolts replacing the oem bolts you remove?

 

[Hilla LCR]

Lol, just re read that last post, by 2 chisels I mean I'll go and buy a couple of new chisels to use!

And as for the mounts etc, that's the annoying thing. I've bought all the bolts, new top mounts, bearings to replace all oem stuff, doh!

I love this forum, I've been a member of plenty of other owner club specific sites but none compare to this in terms of help and speed!

 

[james walker]

glad to help mate....

sure youll crack it tomorrow, just start early and take your time mate.

 

[Hilla LCR]

Yeh will do. Thanks again!