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[Andy B]

...... 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 

[05omegav6]

Undoing the top of the shock allows you to lower the arm to liberate the spring, leaving the lower mounting in place

[Shackeng]

Undoing the top of the shock allows you to lower the arm to liberate the spring, leaving the lower mounting in place

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!

[05omegav6]

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

[Seth]

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!    

[Shackeng]

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. 

[chrisgixer]

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.

[Marks DTM Calib]

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.

[Shackeng]

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

[chrisgixer]

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

[Andy H]

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.

[Shackeng]

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