How do you fit the springs?

[aerosam]

Ok, I bought the front shocks and springs (assembled) cheap of ebay. When I fitted them to the car, it sank right to the bottom of the shock travel. Clearly the springs are not strong enough. (they were suspected to be only 100lb)

So I tried to remove them using normal spring compressors, and found that I couldn't get a very good grip on the springs as the compressors are designed for larger general automotive springs.

I eventually got one off but found I had done a little damage to the shock tube, still seems to work fine though. The spring free length is 10", I'm thinking that they should actually be 8" right? This should make it easier to fit new ones - right? How do you compress the springs without damaging the shock?

I'm not going to do anything to the other till I know I can do it without damaging it.

Help!

Sam.

[locostkiwi]

are the shocks adjustable, do they have a thread at the bottom of the shock so that you can screw the spring platform up the shock?
If it has, just screw the platform all the way to the bottom of the shock this will take the pressure off the spring making it easier to unbolt the top hat on the spring and remove it.
By screwing the platform up the shock this will put more tenison on the shock and make the spring stiffer.

[aerosam]

Yeah the platforms were released as far as they would go.

With the sping in it's free state, and the platform all the way to the end of the shock, the opposite end of the spring sits just outside the rod end. I'm thinking that these springs are too long for the shocks, as to fit them, they have to be compressed by about 4" - is this right?

The shocks are correct for the front (9 - 13") and I think other people are using 8" free length springs.

[ozzy1]

Definately sounds like springs are too long.The free length of my springs is 8".

[Enoch]

Sounds like they are too long and too weak, somebody has tried to compensate for the spring being weak by fitting a very long one - the perils of buying off ebay!! My springs are 9 inch 350lb at the front - Spud at Saturn sells them for £15 if my memory is correct. You need to make sure your shocks will take them, there are 2 common sizes - make sure you know which yours are. I think the sizes are 1.9 inch diameter or 2.5 inch, someone may well correct me on that.
Enoch

[aerosam]

Ok, that's the springs sorted. Thanks guys. I measured the ID of the one I've removed and it's 1.9".

Back to my other question though, how do you fit them without damaging the shocks?

[Enoch]

Springs of the correct length for the shock should fit without being compressed. On my shocks (gaz front, Zeemeride on the rear) I just have to undo te udjuster nuts as far as they will go and then slide out the top spring keeper, the spring then just lifts off the shock. Without seeing yours I would not know if yours have the same arrangement.
Enoch