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Location:
WA
Registered:
May 2005
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Location:
Forster NSW
Registered:
September 2004
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Re: Urgent help reqd installing springs on GZ20
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Wed, 10 August 2005 05:53
 
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How are you going to get new springs on with the strut still in the car?
I'd think you NEED to get the struts out, before getting spring compressors on (and getting the springs out). Maybe crack the bolt while the strut is still in the car if possible, though. Though that's not crucial.
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Location:
WA
Registered:
May 2005
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Urgent help reqd installing springs on GZ20
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Wed, 10 August 2005 06:13
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I've just sent this thread to my mate who has not long ago changed his springs.
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Location:
Forster NSW
Registered:
September 2004
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Re: Urgent help reqd installing springs on GZ20
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Wed, 10 August 2005 06:15
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Undo the bolts at the top of the strut tower.
Undo the bolts on the lower half of the strut behind the brake disc.
Remove any brake lines etc clipped onto the strut.
Remove strut from car.
Put strut in a bench vice.
Attach spring compressors.
Remove nut at the top of the strut.
I could be missing something, I don't know if it's the same on your car... but I'd assume it to be pretty similar.
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Location:
Perth, WA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: Urgent help reqd installing springs on GZ20
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Wed, 10 August 2005 06:43
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Hey,
I'm the mate who has recently changed his springs.
I was pretty much in exactly the same position as you, I'd removed the rears using a compressor and they came out (relatively) easy. The fronts I found were hard to get out due to the upper wishbone, but later also found that I didnt actually need to use the spring compressor at all while the suspension was on the car.
Jack the car up by the chassis - not anywhere on the lower wishbone arm (as you need the lower parts to drop as far down as possible).
Remove the cap and TEMS actuator and then the three bolts. Don't remove the centre bolt.
Remove the bolt securing the bottom of the shock to the lower wishbone.
Now, remove the long horizontal bolt securing the back of the upper wishbone to the chassis. The bolt is long and you will need to slide it toward the front of the car. It will seems as though there is no room to slide it forward but all you need to do is pull the plastic guard back and slide the bolt behind it. I found it hard to crack the bolt and required two sets of hands, one on each end of the bolt. I used a breaker bar, which was just a normal socket wrench with a metal tube slid over the end of it to give extra length and torque. Use some WD-40 or any dispersant on each end of the bolt and leave for 10 mins and try again if u have any probs. It WILL come out!
While sliding the bolt out, wiggle the wishbone to get it out fully.
From there you should be able to get the shock out past the wishbone and fully remove it.
Place the shock in a vice and compress the springs a little to take the pressure off the top seating. Then remove the centre nut (19mm i think its weird), and take off the seat.
At this point I made a nice bruise on my arm as one of the compressors came off explosively... so be careful and make sure that they are on properly. They should be set slightly diagonally so they are normal to angle of the coil and also equal on each side.
[Updated on: Wed, 10 August 2005 06:45]
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Location:
WA
Registered:
May 2005
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Re: Urgent help reqd installing springs on GZ20
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Wed, 10 August 2005 06:50
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Ahh so i have to unbolt the upper wishbone???
Thats been my problem, since it seems like the damper is "too long" for the mounting position.
How did u reinstall the struts? Did u bolt up the shock first or the wishbone?
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Location:
Perth, WA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: Urgent help reqd installing springs on GZ20
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Wed, 10 August 2005 07:08
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Just in reverse order, so shock/damper goes in, then wishbone bolt, then bottom of shock to lower arm.
Let me know how u go, and send us some pics i always love to see an old skool soarer!
I actually took my springs to a block who compressed em all by 40mm. I would say 40mm is the max you would want to go if not 30mm at the front or you'll be having probs with guard/tyre scrape-age. 40mm at the back seems ok. And, also the ride is stiff as shit (which is good as otherwise the tyre would constantly be rubbing), but I am seriously considering doing a proper job with new springs/shocks to manage the lower ride height better.
Good to hear ur getting new springs so I'd like to see how things go.
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Location:
WA
Registered:
May 2005
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Re: Urgent help reqd installing springs on GZ20
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Wed, 10 August 2005 07:19
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Hmmm,
im having a hard time explaining my problem.
Now im trying to reassemble the setup.
You know the bolt from the damper to lower arm? Well that doesnt line up correctly, iv managed to get one side of the bolt thru, but i cant get it through the hole on the other side of the lower arm becuase it doesnt line up. This is with the upper arm attached to teh suspension.
If my explaining sux i can take a picture and post up
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Location:
Perth, WA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: Urgent help reqd installing springs on GZ20
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Wed, 10 August 2005 07:25
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Nah i get it.
It's hard but take out the bolt without letting the alignment shift at all and shine a light through so you can see if it lines up. Get a screwdriver and wedge it in there while taking out the bolt. You can lever the screwdriver to move the damper slightly so the hole lines up. Then leave the screwdriver as it is and slide the bolt in from the other side and take out the screwdriver.
If the lower arm has pushed the bracket up past the damper just put your foot on the brake hub and jump hard to get it down again.
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