HELP: changing front springs (hit a problem, need help!!!)

[a11y]

Hi folks

Needing some urgent help. I'm in the middle of changing all 4 springs on my Z4 (following both rear springs snapping). Rears are on, no problems. But the fronts, argh....

We compressed the spring, undid the top cup and the strut contracted - i.e. the strut actually shortened, and now we can't get the strut to extend enough to fit the spring over the strut, put the top cap back on, and secure it all. The strut's "natural" resting position seems to be contracted, not extended, which I've never experienced before.

Just wondering how the hell eveyone else that's changed their springs did theirs?

Any ideas???

HELP!!!!

Cheers
Ally

 

[*AL*]

Ally i had the same problem whilst doing mine, i had to source a better fitting set of spring clamps..........luckily a mate had a great set.

Just reread your post, why can you not pull the strut up?

 

[Curtis]

Try using a pair of vice grips and a rag on the damper shaft through the spring coils to hold the damper in the extended position while you fit the cap. If that makes sense!

 

[a11y]

Cheers folks

We gave up last night and went out for a curry instead... :scratchhead:

The force required to extend the strut seems to be exceptionally high, and we couldn't figure out how to hold it extended while we fitted the new spring, and reattached the top cap and bolt. We took the other side off too and I've dropped the struts and springs into a local garage this morning, admitting defeat . Fingers crossed they can manage it and I'll refit them tonight.

Ally

 

[*AL*]

Strange Ally as i never had that problem (or never noticed this). Are you sure you could depress the spring fully? My first set of spring clamp couldn't compress the spring fully so i was unable to refit the damper top. Why would your damper not extend itself?

 

[a11y]

No idea on why the damper wouldn't extend itself - I've never seen that before on any car I've owned. But the garage I handed them into this morning wasn't overly concerned with it, and checking with them 10 mins ago they're part way through doing them and not had a problem...

Our spring compressors were a bit crap too which probably didn't help. There's hardly any coils to compress on the Z4 springs compared to others I've changed.

 

[GP20]

You've got a blown strut if it doesn't rebound. Need to replace it. Probably can be rebuilt but probably not worth the money or hassle.

OEM struts/shocks fail often enough even with stock springs. That's exactly why it's not smart to combine OEM struts/shocks with aftermarket lowering springs. It's almost the same amount of work - just replace with aftermarket shocks at the same time.

 

[a11y]

Nope, definately not blown

Since starting this, I've found out that gas-filled struts (like the Sachs fitted to Z4s with the Sport suspension) don't rebound like most regular il-filled shocks. It's something to do with controlling the rebound more effectively: the damper acts against the effect of the strut to prevent top-out and chatter as you're going over rough ground (where the suspension might top-out). The bloke in the garage where I got them changed says this style is becoming more common, and are (to quote) "an absolute b*stard" to work with

They're all on now and I refitted the struts last night, car back on the road. Initial thoughts are that the ride's slightly harder than before, but I only drove about 15 miles along mostly motorway in crappy greasy wet conditions, so hard to say. Not got the alignment checked yet either.

Ally

 

[*AL*]

Get some pics up Ally! :driving:

 

[a11y]

Get some pics up Ally! :driving:

Car is soooo dirty I'm too embarrassed . Added to that there's bits where I've touched the paintwork and wheels and cleaned the dirt off them while I was working on it, so it looks horrific!!!

Hopefully get it cleaned at the weekend and get some pics then. It won't have settled fully on the new spings by then though...


Right, next up, refurb the 108s and fit my non-RFTs... :driving:

 

[jzmdeac11]

Hope you enjoy them as much as I am! :roundel: