Mud-club

Vehicle & Technical => Defender => Topic started by: Steen Pranskau-Westermann on April 03, 2005, 11:14:48

Title: Springs and shocks
Post by: Steen Pranskau-Westermann on April 03, 2005, 11:14:48

Do any of you have a smart way to change shockabsorbers and springs, and is ther anything special i need to know. :?:

Title: Springs and shocks
Post by: datalas on April 03, 2005, 11:55:46

Yeah...

This http://members.mud-club.com/profiles/paul/gallery/wwwmar05/1/843654-1110749468.JPG  isn't it :)

On a serious note I'd be tempted to do one side at once with a very tall tralley jack and a long reach axle stand or two

Title: Springs and shocks
Post by: drum on April 03, 2005, 12:17:09

The smart way, is to use a fork lift truck, took me about an hour to do the back, and probably 2 hours to do the front  :D

Title: Springs and shocks
Post by: stefan on April 04, 2005, 12:44:41

One side at a time can prove diffficult, as with  the wheel on one side you may not be able to get the axle to drop low enough on the other side to remove the spring, as I recently found out when doing the 2 " lift on mine.

Things to bear in mind, make sure the vehicle is fully stable before and during, supported on the chassis by correctly weighted stands etc. Watch your brake hoses as you lower the axle, don't stretch them too far!!

In the end on mine I replaced them as an axle set, using a pair of 6 ton axle stands on the chassis, a high lift jack to do the lifting and a trolley jack to raise and lower the axle. I still left the wheel on the opposite side, I just had to make sure there was enough height to give enough drop on the axle.

SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT!!

Stef

Title: Springs and shocks
Post by: muddyweb on April 04, 2005, 13:01:05

The "proper" way is to use a set of spring compressors.  That way you don't get into the complication of lifting the vehicle up high, etc.

Depending on the condition of your bushes, etc. you may not be able to get the springs in by jacking alone, as the axle might not drop out enough to do so.

The biggest issue is getting a decent set of spring compressors which can handle Land Rover rated springs.

Title: Springs and shocks
Post by: landyman Ash on April 04, 2005, 19:37:20

Quote from: "drum"

The smart way, is to use a fork lift truck, took me about an hour to do the back, and probably 2 hours to do the front  :D

This is how i did mine.  Fork lift on the front, then the back.  Put my lift kit on at 9pm and still managed to catch the pub for a couple.  My kind of solution!!   :lol: