Changing front springs - how difficult is it?

[gregwillclark]

Hi, when I was diagnosing another problem on my car today (1.8 SE) I noticed that my front nearside spring had snapped!!! A small ring from the top of the shock seems to have snapped off! Has anyone changed these before? Looking and the haynes manual it seems strait forward enough?? The part from GSF is only £33, and i'd rather do the it myself if it is not too difficult?

Any comments?

Greg

[Crasher]

Easy as long as the top arm to hub carrier bolt comes out. The alignment of the strut top plate to the spring fork is very critical, if the strut has to be twisted to allow the front fork to pass over the lower arm, wheel alignment will be thrown out

[gregwillclark]

Cheers Crasher, just had a look in haynes and cant see anything about undoing this top arm to hub carrier bolt? All it says in undo the two strut bolts from inside the engine bay located under 2 rubber grommets and the bolt holding the strut fork to the lower control arm?? The strut should then come out whole?

Greg

[Crasher]

The two top arms are connected to the top plate and the inner bolts won’t come out in situ as they hit the body so they have to come out with the strut. PM me your reg and email address and I will send you some info.