Bought some lowering springs for my car but it seems yet have more coils than the ones that are on!

 

are they shorter than the original ones though ?? If so they should be OK

 

Shouldn't matter, they should just be shorter overall and probably a little stiffer to take into account the reduction in travel.

 

Hmm they do look a little shorter and tbh I suppose they will compress a little when they're on the strut?

 

it not a problem,fit them!
they should be like that.

 

God I'm having a right ballache here, I'm guessing I'm gonna need the proper tool for it as I can't fit an Allen key in the hole at the same time as undoing the nut as the nut is in a recess. **** sake!

 

Agreed. May be different spring rate so may look same until compressed and under load. Just fit them!

 

use a pair of grips on the top of strut(with a piece of rag etc to protect it) then undo the nut with a socket.....piece of p**s!

 

just lift the plastic gator up and you can then hold it.

 

Do you mean just hold the strut underneath with mole grips or something? Will that work? See below

 

NO NO NO. Never put grips or anything around the shiney shaft there. You will put scratches on it. Even the smallest of scratches will wreck your oil seals and cause your shocks to fail. Must mean top of the strut.

 

Hmm I thought that tbh, can't figure it out I'm gonna throw the f'in lot through the window in a minute!

 

Spring removal: Use spring compressors to clamp the spring up and remove the tension from the shock. You can feel when the cap starts to move a little or spring feels slightly loose. (I have done this with cable ties before, but not a good idea and not safe). Use cranked 17mm spanner on the top nut whilst holding the shaft with an allen key in the centre of the top of the shaft. May need to spray with plenty of WD40 and give it some death. Alternatively use an air ratched/gun to undo it and you may not need to hold shaft. Good luck.

 

i used some leather rag and gently held that shaft with normal grips(not mole grips),the nuts were easy to undo and yes you have to be carefull on the shiny part,but mine came apart very easy with no marks whatsoever on the shaft.
just be carefull,its perfectly ok to do providing you dont mark that shaft,you dont have to hold them murder tight for the nut to undo.
if not use an alley key and an open ended spenner in the recess to und nut,you wont be able to get the spanner on fully but enough to undo it(as long as they are not silly tight)

 

Have to be very careful though. Even a slight indent on the shaft that may not be easily visible could cause the damage to the seals. I’d rather hold the top with an Allen key and stay well clear of the shaft personally.

 

agrred,but another option which is easy to do and can be done no problem without even a tiny dent or scratch if op is having great difficulty.

 

Wahey! Finally got it undone, welded a nut to a 17mm socket and held Allen key with mole grips!

 

Result! Cracking bit of bodge work that!!!! Nice job mate! haha

 

theres always a way!

 

Yeah thanks for the advice tho guys, got the back done gonna have to do the front anther day now! Lol

 

yeah i did all 4 on my own in a day and it was quite a job,spread over 2 days will be alot easier,

 

No worries. Did all mine in 2 hours after I got the tools I needed. Found my fronts easier than rears. But then my car is not that old so stuff was not too rusty or seised! Thankfully!

Good luck with the rest. Andy