Hi Folks

DIY Shock installs - easy/ hard to do? or should i just get a mecahnic to do this?

Are there any special tools need for this (eg to compress the shocks? i dunno)

I was planning on DIY installing the springs, sorta figured the shocks was part of the process but i maybe wrong.

Thanks in advance for the help

 

Just replaced my shocks with Koni FSD's - used stock springs. Paid $350 to get it done the painless way. You'll need a way to compress springs.

 

ive got a spring compressor so no dramas with the spring install.

Just want to know whats the process on installing shocks - nfi with these and havent read much about them.

Any help sincerely appreciated.

Cheers.

 

Spring compressors are essential. In addition, removing the front shocks takes some serious futzing around if you follow the instructions posted on the 'net. You need to compress the springs while they are still on the car in order to get the top low enough to remove the assembly.

An approach suggested by Randy Webb is to compress the shock while it is still on the car using a floor jack and then strap the springs in their compressed state. He suggests using metal strapping. You may be able to get it to work using ultra heavy duty nylon cable ties (200lb strength or so). The assembly can then be removed. You need to do the same thing to put them back in place after you have installed the new shocks.

Another approach would be to remove the ball joint and then slide out the shock assembly as is. This would require special tools.

 

The driver's side front is the only hard one. Just disconnect the control arm ball joint from the base of the hub and there will be plenty of room. Don't bother wasting time trying to "make it work", five minutes is all it takes.

 

Mine were installed by Mini-Madness in 1-1/2 hours, and no spring compressor was required.

To get the nut on the end of the new shocks (FSD's = not gas pressurized) George just leaned on the spring pressing down against the floor, while I spun the nut onto the end of the shock. You need to compress the stock springs by less than an inch.

BTW, Mini-Madness offers the FSD's at the same price as the Tire Rack.

 

Here's a good article on do-it-yourself install of H-Sport springs from one of the guys in the Metroplex Mini club. Helped me figure out whether I wanted to replace mine myself. Basically the same effort one goes to in order to replace the shocks.

http://engr.smu.edu/rcam/cpm3v/minis...isprings_1.htm

/gary

 

Just curious, not intending any criticism, ok well maybe a little, but how are you guys taking the suspension apart? I took the drop link off the sway bar, took out the main bottom bolt on the inside of the hub assembly that clamps the hub assembly to the bottom of the strut, unclip the brake lines, and then took off the three bolts on top of the strut and the whole thing cameout in my hands? I swapped the entire suspension in about 1 1/2 hours.Oh and I was able to compress the springs enough so that my buddy could spin the nut on. All of ths talk about compressing springs on the car, wow, what a pain.

 

I've done multiple, multiple installs on springs and struts now - on some cars they drop right out and on others the driver's front is a MAJOR PITA... Still, it only takes ~1.5 hours...

IMHO, once you get them out of the car and start the teardown and rebuild process, not using spring compressors or ratchet straps is asking to hurt yourself, someone else, or your property...

 

The only one I had a problem with is the front left. But it is not a big deal.

Spring compressors are necessary to disassemble the struts, especially if
you are working alone.

 

I can see using compressors if I was working alone. But onthe car? What a pain. I have done 4 sets so far, a set of h-sport springs, removing KWs and replacing with OEM, and then a set of H&R coilovers and last was a set of Megan coilovers. All done without compressors. Never had a problem. Just strange, but even MINIs are all a little different.

 

I didn't use the compressors on the car. Because I was working alone, I
had to use the compressors to get the top bolt back on when I was
reassembling the struts on the bench.

 

it's not hard to do but definitely read the how-to's or have a capable car buddy around when you do it.

there's several areas that a newb might go wrong on.

 

Maybe the Mini's spring isn't compressed much (if at all) at the relaxed position (like when you take the whole strut assembly out). On some other strut assemblies if you take the cap nut off without pre-compressing the spring with a compressor, the spring will shoot the cap right off and potentially do some major damage.

 

That is true (at least for the 2002 and 2003 cars I have seen and worked on).

 

That's a pretty nice set of instructions.

Does anyone know what to torque everything to?

-Roger, who has some Koni's to install, but doesn't want to fork over the $$$ for a manual

 

I watched Randy install H-Sports at recent PP in Norfolk. He didn't use a spring compressor.

 

^^^ +1 especially getting the H-sports on was very easy.

 

At least some of you have read the antics of my short shifter and rear sway bar install, would my friend and I be able to do this without too much drama? I'm thinking of getting the h-sport springs. I just don't want to spend $350 + springs to lower my car. Also note that I don't have a garage and so I do this all in the parking lot of my apartment complex. What tools would I need if I could?

[EDIT] Now I remember why I decided against messing with the spring... I'd end up having to replace the shocks in a year and redo the alignment. That much money would put me close to cheap coilover territory.

 

Thats what i thought? or am i missing something?

ie 1) take off the strut,
2) use the spring compressor to stop it flyng in your face
3) swap springs
4) replace strut

do this 4 times. is that right?

edit : ive done the sway, yet to do the short shifter