tools needed to swap suspension

[VRmonster 1]

im shoving some fk coilovers on my cabrio, as it looks like a 4x4. i managed the rear in about an hour last night after a couple of rusted bolts. but i gave in then as i started at 8pm and my neighbours were complaining, lol. i tried to do the fronts tonight but got stuck on the first hurdle,

i cant get the damn bolts off the top mounts as the bloody shock keep turning, can i get these off without using the vw tool and alan key, theyre pretty stiff on, and ive tried holding the shock insert and the top mount, both with hands and adjustable grips.

im just really pissed off now as my car not only looks stupid because of the ride hight, it also looks as though its fully loaded due to it being almost lowered to the max on the coilovers at the back, and not at all on the fronts, lol. come on, someone must have some tips, even if i can get the tool somewhere like halfords would be great, oh and does anyone know what size alan key it is?

[stu h 0]

there is a special tool for the nut on the top mounts - and I'd bet you could get it from a decent size halfords. same tool for audis i believe. shouldn't be dificult to get hold of.

i'm sure theres a way of making on up by butchering an old spanner -seem to remember someone telling me.

[ Edited Wed Apr 27 2005, 09:36PM ]

[robvr6 0]

use a spark plug spanner with an allen key through the middle or a swan neck spanner,

[acf8181 0]

yep...i also use a big spark plug socket with spanner round...then an allen key through the centre held with a monkey wrench.

oh...and loosen them off with the car on its wheels as its take weight off the top mount

[ Edited Wed Apr 27 2005, 11:04PM ]

[Joe M 0]

If you can get access to a buzzgun it will get them off no problem, ive heard of people driving to a garage and getting them to loosen them, leaving the bolt on loose then driving home to remove the shocks completely.

[binliner 0]

yeah impact gun is what we used (as do VW rather than the special tool!)

[VRmonster 1]

so with a windy gun i could just strip em off, without holding the shock? bugger. i tried with a 22mm socket that i angle grinded flat on 2 sides so i could get an adjustable spanner round it, and found some 7mm allen keys. had a go, but managed to snap one and retrieve the bit, then snap another and the bit was stuck in there, tried drilling the bit out but its hardened steel so just angle grinded the whole top mount off, lol. couldnt be arsed, lol. just going to steal the mounts from my vr for now and replace em when i need to drive the vr. anyway, still got one bolt to drill out tomorrow to get the other top mount off then i can jack the car up and away we go. everything i do is a bloody nightmare.

while angle grinding the mount i managed to slip off it and hit the top of the wing. nice little paint chip there now. fuggin gutted. glad i put the thick sheet down over my engine bay and wings or i would be looking at a nice repair bill, lol. thanks for the help people, oh and next time can someone offer to just do the job for me? lol.

[Pashlipops 0]

I put some Koni sports on at the weekend (with stock springs!) and I got the nuts off (with the car on its wheels) using a motorbike spark plug spanner (RG250MkIII) and a 7mm allen key. I had to put a bit of tube on the end of the plug spanner to get the leverage.

Now, my question to you guys, is regarding spring compressors. I used a pair of draper spring compressors - http://tinyurl.com/aga93 - and I found they slipped around to join each other when I was using them. Is this a common problem or just that I am cack handed? Also, for the rears, I guess the best way to get the shocks out, is with the springs and by jacking the whole of the car up at the back. Where is the best jacking point?

TIA

[acf8181 0]

some spring compressors do like to slip round....i just get a mate to hold them and make sure they don't.

[VRmonster 1]

when i done my rears i jacked it up at the sill and put it on 2 axle stands under the mount points for the rear beam, remember to put blocks on the front wheels though or jam the brake pedal on. lol. i didnt and everything started to wobble. lol.

oh, and i managed to sort out a 22mm swan neck (offset) spanner from a local tool outlet and used that, my allen key snapped in the hole though so i had to drill out the whole of the strut top to get them off, the little baskets. anyway, once the old setup was off the new fk flew on. shes now scuffing the sills nicely over most speed bumps, lol. will get some pics up soon.