Replacing rear springs

[aerosilver]

Hi all,

I've ordered new rear springs and shocks from Wards this evening as my current ones are somewhat "tired" and the car tends to squat a little nowadays, particularly on the driver's side. Ahem. :shock:

Anyway my Haynes manual says as well as jacking up the rear end and just undoing the shock bolts to remove the shock and spring I also have to undo the 4 driveshaft flange bolts and lower that, while the ROM makes no mention of the latter. Can the springs bereplaced without touching the driveshafts?

TIA.

Cheers,

Bob.

[StagnJag]

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The only thing I can think of is that if the trailing arms drop too far, the half shafts will separate as the splines disengage. In which case you will have to undo the flange bolts to reassemble it. You have nothing to lose by trying it without but have some spare nylocs to hand in case you have to remove the flange.

Rgds

Dave

[aerosilver]

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OK thanks. I suppose my best option for an easy change is to compress the springs.

Cheers,

Bob.

[Andrew S]

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Bob, the reason why they say this is as on the nearside, when you drop the arm, the drive shaft lays on the exhaust and stops it going down any further. If they are standard springs you can wedged them in without doing the drive shafts. I have the uprated shafts and they are much thicker, so I have to drop both shafts to do my springs.

At the worst, you will just need to undo the nearside drive shaft

Andrew

[mad cyclist]

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or use sping compressors?

[new to this]

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when i changed my springs i did not touch the drive shafts

dave

[Guest]

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Hiya Bob, believe it or not, this depends on which way the driveshaft bolts are facing, head out or thread out, with - I believe - thread out, the shafts will lower enough, don't forget to place a trolley jack under the trailing arm, directly below the spring to control everything, if you do have to remove the bolts, it's easy. Martin.

[Jeff]

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Hello Bob,

I changed both rear springs and shocks a year ago and replaced with standard stuff. Just take the wheel off and the damper.

The drivers side for some reason was a bit tight (gap wise to get the spring out) but dropped overnight, enough to fit new springs without compressing them.

Jeff.

[aerosilver]

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Thanks guys. I am only fitting standard springs, so sounds like a 30 minute job...

Cheers,

Bob.

[Gistan]

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Although its possible todo without disconnecting the shafts, while your under there its worthwhile greasing the half shaft splines, unless you know they have been done recently.

Gary

[aerosilver]

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Hi all,

Replaced the rear springs and shocks today, and what a difference! Standing the old springs next to each other theoffside onewas about 3/4 of an inch shorter that the nearside one! Also the rubber mounts were pretty shot too.

The car corners and generally handles much better now, I'm really chuffed

Thanks to all who offered advice, in the end the springs popped out with a minimum of persuasion, and didn't need the spring compressors, so not as difficult as I was fearing it might be.

Cheers,

Bob.

[Guest]

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Nice one Bob, very satisfying, and isn't it great when you actually find a wrong un like your spring ! Martin.

[aerosilver]

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Martin Stevenson wrote:

Nice one Bob, very satisfying, and isn't it great when you actually find a wrong un like your spring ! Martin.

It certainly is Martin! Now where's the nice weather... :?