Suspension work now so easy

[kevin powles]

This is my experience with the suspension struts which is open to comment, hope it helps others with this sometimes difficult job :

When you approach a complete one, first you need to chisel off the remains of the split pins, and remove the nuts, first one will come off easy using sockets and short lengths of scaffold tube, heat the second and clamp the shaft, Stilsons or three jaw vice, if it wont come off grind and chisel it off to save the shaft.

Usually they seize not fully extended, if you put on a spring clamp like the one in the manual, you are then fighting against the seized spring, if one spring is seized short, put the spring clamp on the fully extended one and wind it in to take the tension off the cup, next knock out the two hinge pin 3/8 bsf bolts and knock out the hinge pin, it will only come out one way (grease nipple relief end is the end the pin will come out). Spring will know drop out complete with shaft.

You will not remove a seized spring ball without a press, soak them in release oil for a week, you will need a special clamp to grip the ball to push the shaft through the ball. If you put one in the press with 50 tons on it and it wont move, leave it with 50 tons on it overnight and then apply shock vibration and heat until it 'pops'out.

I bought this press in the pics for carrier seized part dismantling but boy does it make putting suspension back together just so easy, just pump overhauled spring assemblies so the springs have a total lenghth of 15", put on the clamp and tension, release pressure and place back in the suspension arms, knock off the spring clamp with a copper mallet, apply nuts with plenty of anti seize grease, split pins in.........job done.

One thing is to make sure you put those 3/8" bolts back in before the springs ......

kev.