Front suspension removal

[Marcrs]

Tried to change the springs at the weekend, and fell at the first hurdle :confused:
 
Rears were done in a few minutes, nice and easy...
 
Got to the fronts, and couldn\'t undo the lock nut at the top - on most cars I\'ve done there is a flat in the top mount to stop the strut from turning, but this isn\'t the case on the FB, and even with a highly modified cranked spanner, I couldn\'t get enough purchase on the nut and hold the centre solid...
 
Is there a special tool for this? or am I missing something :3Confused

[Ian65]

Tried to change the springs at the weekend, and fell at the first hurdle :confused:
 
Rears were done in a few minutes, nice and easy...
 
Got to the fronts, and couldn\'t undo the lock nut at the top - on most cars I\'ve done there is a flat in the top mount to stop the strut from turning, but this isn\'t the case on the FB, and even with a highly modified cranked spanner, I couldn\'t get enough purchase on the nut and hold the centre solid...
 
Is there a special tool for this? or am I missing something :3Confused

check out my website... all will be revealed!

http://www.tech-leisure.com/index_files/Page848.htm

(if you haven\'t got a buzz gun, get the strut ready with the grips in place then take it to your friendly local garage / tyre fitters and use theirs)

[CHC (RIP)]

check out my website... all will be revealed!
 
http://www.tech-leisure.com/index_files/Page848.htm
 
(if you haven\'t got a buzz gun, get the strut ready with the grips in place then take it to your friendly local garage / tyre fitters and use theirs)

Very easy step by step instructions Ian - did you ever work for \'Haynes\'? Then again, they weren\'t that detailed with their instructions sometimes and very often they wouldn\'t have refurbished parts to this quality level. Good job!

[David Nock (RIP)]

Better than Haynes by a million miles. It\'s real engineering that Ian does.

[Marcrs]

:godThank you so much Ian :Thumbs-up
 
...I should have just gone on your site yesterday and found that - would have saved a few hours head scratching, and grinding up a brand new spanner...I bet halfords won\'t take it back now :rollin
 
Next job is to attempt to get the bloody struts out of the car then...it\'s all a bit...well...a lot rusty and stuck in there :Hammer
 
 
 
It will have to go for the MOT as it is though, I\'m busy this weekend - got 2 cars to polish on Friday, and then Karissa and I are off to the JAE reps meeting in Kettering on Saturday!

[mpk490p]

whats that about Sat? i live close to Kettering

[Marcrs]

JAE is at wicksteed park again this year, and there is a meeting for the club reps on Saturday, to go over details and stuff

We\'ll be staying at a friend\'s in Kettering on Friday night, saves doing it all in one day, as we have to head home pretty early Saturday to get back in time...

[Marcrs]

Thank you so much Ian - I managed to get the front left done in about 20 minutes yesterday...fantastic I thought
 
Even with a 5 foot breaker bar on the driver\'s side bottom mounts...there was no way that side was coming off
 
It\'s in the garage this morning, I\'ll let them change that spring before they MOT it

[Ian65]

Thank you so much Ian - I managed to get the front left done in about 20 minutes yesterday...fantastic I thought

nice one Marc, glad it helped!

[CHC (RIP)]

Thank you so much Ian - I managed to get the front left done in about 20 minutes yesterday...fantastic I thought
 
Even with a 5 foot breaker bar on the driver\'s side bottom mounts...there was no way that side was coming off
 
It\'s in the garage this morning, I\'ll let them change that spring before they MOT it

How did the garage get on with the spring Marc?
Has she passed her medical now too?
Cliff

[Marcrs]

Well, the garage couldn\'t get the spring off, so they refitted the old one on the other side, and put it through the MOT.
I have left them the car, and they\'ll try again - sure they\'ll sort it eventually...
 
Passed the MOT, with advisories for rust on the suspension components, and he said some areas were a bit thin, so it\'ll be back in to "The MX5 Restorer" (or my mate Garath as you know him ) over the winter for some more welding...and I\'ll be stripping and painting the other bits as and when I get the time

[Marcrs]

Heard a very familiar sound in my road last night, looked out to see my mechanic friend parking the rex outside :Party
 
Took him several attempts to get the bolt out, but he managed it in the end, and now the car is finally sitting on 4 new springs
 
I ran it round the block, and it does feel better, definitely benefits from the firmer set up - although that\'s probably because the old springs were worn, and saggy...as would I be if I\'d been sitting under a car for 27 years :evillaugh
 
Next step is to tackle the rust on the body, and - due to the vandalism - a full respray...:Grrr

[CHC (RIP)]

Very pleased to hear that the springs are all sorted and especially that rex has passed medical.
As you say its back to the foundation work now before you can finish off the cosmetics BUT at least it\'s ROAD WORTHY :3gears-rh

ps - hope you get the snotty b******s who did their worst!