Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Shackeng on 06 February 2014, 13:07:11
-
I'm midway through rear spring removal but am unable to get the bottom of the shock absorbers free. I am reluctant to lever too hard on the lower casing. Is the steel bush in the rubber bush part of the shock or part of the mounting? :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\
-
...... Is the steel bush in the rubber bush part of the shock or part of the mounting? :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\
Part of the shocker. Just use a longer breaker bar :y
-
...... Is the steel bush in the rubber bush part of the shock or part of the mounting? :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\
Part of the shocker. Just use a bigger hammer :y
Fixed :y
-
...... Is the steel bush in the rubber bush part of the shock or part of the mounting? :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\
Part of the shocker. Just use a bigger hammer :y
Fixed :y
One time removing a shocker on mine, the bolt needed swinging off all the way along its length ??? ??? Wouldn't come out with a proper windy gun
-
I've got the bolts out OK, and as I'm not changing the shocks I am reluctant to lever on the casing. :-\ :-\ :-\
-
Smack the rear of the bush with a suitable gentle persuasion tool :y
Last time I changed my shocks, we ended up compressing the shock, rotating it 180°, and using it as a lever :-X
You could always undo the top mount and drop it that way :y be wary of snapping the top of the shock rod though, as they tend to sieze solid :-\
-
I've got the bolts out OK, and as I'm not changing the shocks I am reluctant to lever on the casing. :-\ :-\ :-\
Got ya .... have you got a bar that'll go through the bottom bush itself & use that to lever the bottom of the shocker away? :-\
-
Smack the rear of the bush with a suitable gentle persuasion tool :y
Last time I changed my shocks, we ended up compressing the shock, rotating it 180°, and using it as a lever :-X
You could always undo the top mount and drop it that way :y be wary of snapping the top of the shock rod though, as they tend to sieze solid :-\
Yes I'm reluctant to go that route, at the moment, I've got the weight of one side of the car taken by the bottom shock mount with the bolt removed! Surely with that weight on it it should break free. There must be something other than rust or rubber holding it. :-\ :-\ :-\
-
I've got the bolts out OK, and as I'm not changing the shocks I am reluctant to lever on the casing. :-\ :-\ :-\
Got ya .... have you got a bar that'll go through the bottom bush itself & use that to lever the bottom of the shocker away? :-\
Ill try that Andy :y
-
Yes, bar or lever in the bottom bush, use a hammer to tap it side to side and it will come out.
-
I think I have found the problem, having measured the steel bush, it fits about 5 mm into the mounting lug, which is why I am able to jack it up on the shock mount. the bush is probably rusted in, so Ill give it some Plusgas and go and have lunch, then try and lever it out square to the lug. :y
-
I had the same problem on my estate when I replaced the rear springs recently so I lifted the boot carpet and removed the top nuts. I'd been faffing about with the bottom bolt and bush, aware of damaging the lower part of the shock, it took seconds to undo the top nuts and lower the shocks through the boot floor. You just have to guide them back through the holes when you raise them back up. I would definitely take this route again.
Good luck. :y
-
You'd be suprised what rust can do to a comfortable fit :o
-
I had the same problem on my estate when I replaced the rear springs recently so I lifted the boot carpet and removed the top nuts. I'd been faffing about with the bottom bolt and bush, aware of damaging the lower part of the shock, it took seconds to undo the top nuts and lower the shocks through the boot floor. You just have to guide them back through the holes when you raise them back up. I would definitely take this route again.
Good luck. :y
I might have to do this, but unfortunately the car is backed into the garage which is only just long enough, so I would have to climb in via the doors!
-
You'd be suprised what rust can do to a comfortable fit :o
I am not at all sure that undoing the top bolts is going to help, as levering at the bottom just tries to pull the rubber off the central steel bush which is clearly, as Al says, rusted solid into its mounting lug. At the moment, the only way I see these coming off, is by destroying the integrity of the rubber bonded steel bush to get access to the steel core, and thus wrecking a perfectly good shock in so doing. >:( >:( >:(
-
...... At the moment, the only way I see these coming off, is by destroying the integrity of the rubber bonded steel bush to get access to the steel core, and thus wrecking a perfectly good shock in so doing. >:( >:( >:(
Levering the steel insert using a bar in the middle of it won't strain the rubber bit though ;)
-
Undoing the top of the shock allows you to lower the arm to liberate the spring, leaving the lower mounting in place :y
-
Undoing the top of the shock allows you to lower the arm to liberate the spring, leaving the lower mounting in place :y
Yes I eventually capitulated Al, I'm just removing the carpet, had to chop round the CD player >:( And it is not easy doing it with no tailgate access! :y
-
I'd forgotten your 3.2 is a saloon :-[
Top mount should be easier to deal with as the saloon ones are much better protected than the estate ones, which will shear given half a chance :-\
-
Yes I'm reluctant to go that route, at the moment, I've got the weight of one side of the car taken by the bottom shock mount with the bolt removed! Surely with that weight on it it should break free. There must be something other than rust or rubber holding it. :-\ :-\ :-\
The steel tube (or bush) is seized in the counter-bore of the carrier ... yes? :-\
As the lower bolt's been removed, try a wedging a cold chisel between the carrier and lower rubber bush on the damper. A few good resounding blows with a lump hammer should do the trick.
Or, as others have previously stated, a good levering with a suitable pry bar through the damper's lower bush.
Once the tube starts to loosen, it'll soon come apart! ;)
-
Thanks for all your help guys, I did as YZ250 sensibly suggested, and undid the top shock nuts, so springs are now out but I now have another problem. The new, supposedly correct springs for my Estate, are 25mm shorter than the originals! I've no doubt they will fit, but I had no wish to lower the rear by an inch. :-\ :-\ :-\
-
Your being far to gentle. The lower shock mount is a press fit. Pressed in by the bolt, its 100nm. The tight fit, along with the 100nm , insure no knocking.
If needed.....You can place ANY object that fits in the spacer and tap it downwards (sideways on the spacer) with a hammer to lever it out. Some can be levered out by hand with the bolt, others need a bat.
Av it! It will come out.
See other thread re springs.
-
Thanks for all your help guys, I did as YZ250 sensibly suggested, and undid the top shock nuts, so springs are now out but I now have another problem. The new, supposedly correct springs for my Estate, are 25mm shorter than the originals! I've no doubt they will fit, but I had no wish to lower the rear by an inch. :-\ :-\ :-\
Lesson No. 317 on pink:
As springs age they get weaker, this results in greater compression (lower comrpessed height for a given load) and a taller spring when removed.
-
Thanks for all your help guys, I did as YZ250 sensibly suggested, and undid the top shock nuts, so springs are now out but I now have another problem. The new, supposedly correct springs for my Estate, are 25mm shorter than the originals! I've no doubt they will fit, but I had no wish to lower the rear by an inch. :-\ :-\ :-\
Lesson No. 317 on pink:
As springs age they get weaker, this results in greater compression (lower comrpessed height for a given load) and a taller spring when removed.
Thanks Mark :y
-
Your being far to gentle. The lower shock mount is a press fit. Pressed in by the bolt, its 100nm. The tight fit, along with the 100nm , insure no knocking.
If needed.....You can place ANY object that fits in the spacer and tap it downwards (sideways on the spacer) with a hammer to lever it out. Some can be levered out by hand with the bolt, others need a bat.
Av it! It will come out.
See other thread re springs.
Correction. 110nm ::)
-
I did this job last weekend.
The bush is a snug fit in the counterbore in the bottom of the trailing arm, it doesn't take much misalignment for the bush to bind and refuse to budge.
I ended up sliding a little trolley jack under the hub and gently lifting until there was no load on the shock. It came out easily then.
-
I did this job last weekend.
The bush is a snug fit in the counterbore in the bottom of the trailing arm, it doesn't take much misalignment for the bush to bind and refuse to budge.
I ended up sliding a little trolley jack under the hub and gently lifting until there was no load on the shock. It came out easily then.
Thanks Andy, I tried all that to no avail, mine are clearly rusted in. Resolved by undoing top nut. Now back together. See my other thread: http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=121361.0