Changing EP91 n/a Rear Springs

[Zombie Behind The Wheel]

Hi, I got myself some lower springs for my Sportif. I've managed to change the front fine and can get the rear struts out of the car, but thats where I hit a wall.

I can't get the top mount off to replace the spring. The only way I can see to do it is to undo the nut at the top, which just turns the shock. I've tried gripping the shock through a cloth and again through a bicycle inner tube and each time only ended up scratching the shock a little.

A friend has suggested grinding the nut off and finding a replacement, but as both rear struts are doing it meaning I can't just use the other one to find a replacement nut before hacking away at it, I've decided not to do that just yet.

So, can any of you help me with this? I feel a bit foolish driving around in hot rod stance.

[Shahzad]

How did you get the rear struts off. I cant shift mine at all.

[5T4R7ET N/A]

i got mine off by putting the strut in a vice, then holding the shock absorber with a spanner.

[DavidAshton]

Socket Gun will get it off, if you dont have one nip to your local garage and ask them to gun them off.

[Zombie Behind The Wheel]

How did you get the rear struts off. I cant shift mine at all.

A long ratchet arm, WD40 and somehow getting my leg under there to put my weight on it. Just got to wedge a spanner in the other side to hold it in place.

Once I had done one side it was quite easy doing the other.

[Zombie Behind The Wheel]

i got mine off by putting the strut in a vice, then holding the shock absorber with a spanner.

Tried this already and it just ended up hurting my shock a little bit more.

Socket Gun will get it off, if you dont have one nip to your local garage and ask them to gun them off.

I'll give it a go when i next have access to it. Cheers for the advice, guys.

Just in case. Is there anywhere I can buy new mounts from? And shocks that don't cost as much as those on ebay?

[5T4R7ET N/A]

sorry for hijack,

i decided to put my Apex rear springs on the other day, and found after dropping the car off the jack that the top coils are touching. around 4 of them

i installed them so the tighter coils are at the top. have I put the springs on right way round?

[LukeH]

sorry for hijack,

i decided to put my Apex rear springs on the other day, and found after dropping the car off the jack that the top coils are touching. around 4 of them

i installed them so the tighter coils are at the top. have I put the springs on right way round?

iirc it doesnt matter which way round the coils go, when i put my spax springs on the rear a few coils where touching but it got past the MOT no problems.

its just becasue there progressive coils.

[micky boy]

Well i've just had a look at my pi sparings and the coil is at the bottom

[5T4R7ET N/A]

Well i've just had a look at my pi sparings and the coil is at the bottom

Im thinking of changing them round then, i dont think that its good if the coils are in constant contact.

thanks for your help

[ryan lang]

it will be the same weight whatever way up the springs are.

and as for the rear struts, i managed to get 1 off in the vice, then had to use a compressor and socket gun on the other side

[5T4R7ET N/A]

I emailed Apex and they told me i have done it the right way round.

the tighter coils are suppose to be at the top and they are also supposed to be touching when car on the ground.

so looks like i wont need to change anything

[akyakapotter]

why not undo the nut when its on the car under load but for god sake dont take it all the way off and use the clamps you have for compressing the spring easy mate :-D need to do mine soon shocks leaking = very twitchy rear end :-(