How long to change springs??

[MG's VH Wag]

Hi guys, I an just wondering how long it will take to change my springs in my car, I have a VR live axle an i have been told that the rears are easy but the fronts are hard to change. What is the process for changing the front springs and how long would it take to do it? Also can it be done at home?

Cheers

[nathg]

Didn't do mine myself, as I had alot of other things being done at the same time. Surely there is something if you use the search function...

[axemurderer101]

it is easy as, it can be done at home and it took me about 1.5 hours. You will however need a jack and chassis stands and spring compressors which you can buy at most auto shops like auto 1 or repco. 1. To install jack your car up and put on chassis stands with your wheels removed 2. undo the top nut on the strut tower, you need a 15"16 ring spanner and 10mm socket or spanner, you need the 10mm to stop the top part of the shock from spinning 3. remove your brake caliper then undo the 2 nuts and bolts holding the bottom part of the shock to the steering knuckle and the whole strut should drop out 4. with the strut out use the spring compressors to compress the spring until its all loose then use the 10mm and 15"16 to remove the other nut on the strut and remove the rest of the bits on top of the spring and keep them in order 5. remove the spring loosen the spring compressor and put it on your new spring and then you basically install everything in the reverse way you took it off.

hope that sorta helps, there might be a better how to somewhere if you have a look and it might help if buy a gregories manual which will also explain it. There is no point paying someone to do it if you can do it yourself lol then you can spend the money you saved on more stuff for your car.

[Adamvr93]

it'll probably take you 3 or 4 hours man seeing as though you havent done it before... everyone says front is hard but its not.. theres just more stuff to pull apart thats all.. can be done at home easily with just basic tools (spanners, sockets and what not).. you'll need to buy a set of spring compressors.. get em from super cheap or somthing

[jetspin_vn]

I managed to do my old VL without spring compressors.

My advice: go and buy spring compressors.

[MG's VH Wag]

Ok thanks for that guys, i will have a go without the spring compressors but if its just too hard i'll wait and go buy some.

Cheers!

[greenacc]

Matee, take the good advice of those who have been there before you, so you do not end up with a spanner through the side of your head or something.
BUY or BORROW a SET of SPRING compressors for the front.

[VrWagz1]

They are not that dear, like 15 bucks. Go buy them you will not be able to do it at all without them.

[axemurderer101]

yeah dont be stupid lol you will need spring compressors especially if your removing factory springs

[jetspin_vn]

yeah dont be stupid lol you will need spring compressors especially if your removing factory springs

Angle grinder


Trouble is its hard to grind the new springs in.

[MG's VH Wag]

Ok i think i will go and buy some spring compressors lol.

[undar8ed1]

It`s a two second job with a rattle gun when it comes to the front spring removal, also just hope your two main bolts at the front have not seized, lol

[MG's VH Wag]

Do i need the spring compressors when taking the springs out or putting them in or both?

If i only need them for putting them in i will take them out in the morning, go into town and get the compressors then come back and put the other springs in.

Cheers!

[VrWagz1]

Need them for both

[hako]

Buy the best quality spring compressors you can afford as some of the cheap ones bend very easily and can slip off the spring coils easily. Some places hire them out. Make sure you know exactly how to use them because if that spring slips out of the compressor it will use the stored kinetic energy like a claymore mine.
But seeing as you're asking questions you should be right. Good Luck.