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[berserkerboy]

Hi folks

I have been following the maintenance guide for this job and have hit an issue. I have removed the 4 bolts that hold the rear of the subframe to the floorpan. The guide then says to slowly lower the jack but for some reason the diff will not lower in order to enable the springs to be removed. It just remains up by the floorpan.

Anybody got any advice as to how I can get the diff to lower? Am I missing something in the guide?

[chrisgixer]

Have you got the stands on the subframe?

Your not dropping the diff as such, but dropping the rear of the subframe with dif attached.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Key things to be aware of:

1) The gearbox must be in neutral

2) The handbrake must be off

3) The car must not be supported on the sub frame

[berserkerboy]

Oops. Had the stands under the front of the subframe.
Thanks for that guys. Replacement springs on.

So next problem: When I popped the bottom of the shock off it slid off the rubber bush on both sides. So now I am wondering how to get them back on over the bush? I have tried using the bolt to try and squash it back on but am having alignment problems.

Any ideas?

[tunnie]

Oops. Had the stands under the front of the subframe.
Thanks for that guys. Replacement springs on.

So next problem: When I popped the bottom of the shock off it slid off the rubber bush on both sides. So now I am wondering how to get them back on over the bush? I have tried using the bolt to try and squash it back on but am having alignment problems.

Any ideas?

Been there...



I had that popping the shocks off, in my case I never had to put it back on.

Might be worth taking the whole shock off, for better access. Pop it in a vice or similar to then wack the bush back in? 

[chrisgixer]

Jack the arm up, once the dif end of the subframe is done back up, so the the mounting point lines up. Just push the shock back on.

[berserkerboy]

Okay. Managed to get the bushes out. Sprayed with plus gas and then hammered up, down and side to side to loosen. Eventually the blighters came out. Will remove the shocks tomorrow and try pushing the bushes back in with a vice. Thanks for the advice.

[berserkerboy]

Well, reckon I could just about manage any job after this. Removing the shocks was a nightmare. Broke 2 of my 6mm spanners trying to remove the top bolts. Eventually I had a pair of molegrips pinching the top of the spindle and stilsons on the grips to stop them rotating. Also had to put a steel pipe over the 16mm spanner in order to get enough pressure to finally get the nut moving. When the bolt got to top of the spindle and I had to remove my molegrip/stilson combination the nut was still tight. I managed to get some long nosed pliers under the rubber to grab the spindle thread and finally remove the nut.

Pushed the greased bushes back onto the shock with a vice and placing a 30mm ring spanner on the opposite side of the shock that I was pushing the bush into.

After that everything went well thankfully.

I quick thanks for the advice given. I would never have attempted the job without the help of this site.

[chrisgixer]

you got there