Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Trothy on 25 January 2011, 16:23:39

Title: Rear coil spring change
Post by: Trothy on 25 January 2011, 16:23:39

Is there anyone in the northwest (near Warrington) who fancys earning a few extra quid doing this for me?

Just spent the last 4-5 hours attempting it myself and am now tired and frustrated.  Followed the guide from here but when I got to the bit were the diff is meant to drop, it just didn't :/

Car needs to NS Coil for its MOT, so have bought a pair as I'm told its best to change suspension items in pairs.

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: davethediver on 25 January 2011, 16:39:14

Send Elite Pete a PM as he lives in Northwich so twenty minutes or so from you :y

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: Tony H on 25 January 2011, 17:40:48

Make sure that the jack or axel stands are not fowling the trailing arms and preventing them moving

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: Trothy on 25 January 2011, 17:51:49

Had put the axle stands just in from the rear jacking points on the sills on what looked like part of the subframe. Don't think they were fouling the trailing arms as they dropped quite noticeably when I unbolted the shocks.

Am I missing anything obvious here?


Jacked up car and supported on axle stands.
Freed up the ABS sensor wiring and the brake flexis.
Undo both of the shocks (21mm) and pop them out of the mounting holes.
Undo the 13mm nut and bolt holding the anti roll bar mount.
Place jack under the diff and undo the 4 bolts (15mm) for the rear hanger. 

At this point I was expecting the Diff to drop but it didn't.


Have mailed Pete and he can fit me next week.  Have the day off tomorrow so going to give it another shot myself though I think.

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: Proz on 25 January 2011, 17:56:26

Why go to all that trouble when you can get spring compressors and they then fall in ...can be tight getting them in but a friend of mine had a really short pair so i borrowed them so didnt even have to buy them  :y :y

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: dbug on 25 January 2011, 19:10:37

Yep with spring compressors no need to drop diff  :y

Worked OK for me - a lot easier than I expected.

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: PxMetro on 26 January 2011, 13:04:13

Quote

Yep with spring compressors no need to drop diff  :y

Worked OK for me - a lot easier than I expected.

I tried using spring compressors when trying to change the rears on my 2.6 estate, but they would not come out. Ended up lowering the Diff as per the guide on here, and all work well.  :y :y

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: neilr on 26 January 2011, 16:08:40

didnt drop diff on mine used bottle jack to push dowm lower arm after undoing lower shock mount took about 40 minutes cheating i know but works.

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: Trothy on 26 January 2011, 20:15:26

Thanks for all the advice guys, used a set of spring compressors but even with those it was tough. 

Changed the NS one, hopefully will get through the MOT retest now, will wait for a warmer day and then swap the OS one.

Cheers,

Al

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: dbug on 26 January 2011, 21:51:54

Glad it worked ok for you  :y

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: Welung666 on 26 January 2011, 22:03:20

There are 5 bolts holding the diff on. The 2 obvious ones at the back end and 3 torx (E14 IIRC) on a C shaped plate up the front end on one side.

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 26 January 2011, 22:13:09

Nah, just the 4 bolts for the rear diff support bushes.

Put the axle stands so they  are on the triangular plates near the jacking points. If they are touching the subframe the diff wont drop.  :y

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: omegaman2 on 01 February 2011, 22:57:45

spring clamps for me did the job

Title: Re: Rear coil spring change
Post by: 2woody on 02 February 2011, 08:18:29

did six of these at the weekend ( don't ask )

no need to do anything with the brake hoses or do anything to the diff.

undo driveshaft outer end.
undo damper lower attachment
undo track-control arm outer ball joint
undo anti roll bar clamp

and the semi-trailing arm drops right down to veryical if needed