| Author | Message | ||
     Jason McCombs (Jasonmc) Member Username: Jasonmc Post Number: 95 Registered: 06-2003 |
Hey guys I postedabout a month ago trying to find someone who was in the San francisco Bay area to help me replace my shocks and springs.I've never done it and just wanted someone who has to help out. I didnt find anyone but thats ok, I got a lot of good advice and have been doing my research and have read the tech section how to and also the one on 4x4 wire http://www.4x4wire.com/rover/disco/tech/ome/ my question is, since this is my first time doing it, and i haven't got all that much wrenching experience, should i use the bottle jack method or the moe conservative spring compressor method. also what kind of spring compressor do i need? will this sears model work? http://www.sears.com/sr/product/details/productdetails.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1106649023.1061420227@@@@&BV_EngineID=cchcadcjefkhdjlcehgcemgdffmdflk.0&vert ical=TOOL&prod_id=00947057000&fromAuto=null&bidsite= any and all tips that you guys can offer me will be greatly appreciated. also if anyones really anxious or interested to get their hands dirty I'm planning on doing it this weekend and would love the help. I'll pay for the pizza and beer, or cheese and wine if thats your bag. thanks in advance for any and all help | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1014 Registered: 09-2002 |
Jason, I wonder what kind of help are you expecting - - "You do while I watch and then we eat my pizza and drink my beer," or - "I do while you watch and eat my pizza and drink my beer?" It is very straightforward. Use any spring compressor you feel safe with, my vote goes for two medium-duty ratchet straps, with two wraps of the strap around the coils. | ||
| micky dee (Kincangokicker) Member Username: Kincangokicker Post Number: 52 Registered: 06-2003 |
simply jack her up high enough to get floor jacks under the frame. remove road wheels. remove front shocks. remove rear shocks. remove retaing clips and two bolts on bottom of coil spring. yes a bottle jack will help to lower the axle that little bit to make it go smooth, but i have done it with and with out. spring should pop out no questions asked. tips- soak all nuts and bolts with penitrating oil have an assisastant to help replace shocks while at it use never seize on nuts and bolts when reinstalling becareful not to break brake flex hoses when using bottle jack to lower axle good luck remember to tighten your road wheel lug nuts back up! | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1015 Registered: 09-2002 |
LOL Micky, I don't even know what's better - incomplete instructions or no instructions at all | ||
| Kristopher March (Apexdisco) Member Username: Apexdisco Post Number: 147 Registered: 02-2002 |
Jason; Just go for it. You'll be ok as long as you take your time and don't rush things. *Friday night you should be dousing all related nuts and bolts with some PB Blaster or other penetrating fluid. I've been thru the shock replacement ordeal and got it done in about 4 hours for both front and rear. | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 429 Registered: 03-2002 |
two things come to my mind: if you do need to use the spring compressor, use caution as a spring under compression can be messy if the compressor slips, breaks, or in some other way comes off. also, on a DII, you cannot use an internal compressor on the rear springs, only external. so you might check things out for your DI when making your compressor selection. if you use the bottle jack to help the axel down, keep a good eye on your brake lines and abs lines so that you do not overextend them. and a bonus third, as kristopher says, "take your time." good luck. mike | ||
| Frode Hübertz Haaland (Discofrode) Member Username: Discofrode Post Number: 121 Registered: 02-2002 |
Eat your own pizza while doing it. You'll be very happy having done it on your own. But take the beer after the job. A compressed spring releasing its pressure is a weapon to be under an arms control enforcement  For your further reading - go to Ottos site where it is all described in full detail: http://home.halden.net/discovery | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 470 Registered: 09-2002 |
I don't think you need a spring compressor. I've swapped my springs many times without a spring compressor. Just jack the frame, drop the axle, catch the spring as it falls out You may have to remove the forward bolt in the front radius arm depending on flex. It's the easiest job on the truck. | ||
| Jason McCombs (Jasonmc) Member Username: Jasonmc Post Number: 96 Registered: 06-2003 |
thanks guys this is the kinda info and tips i was looking for. and Peter your wit and sarcasm is not lost on me. I myself have turned it into an art form. I was actually thinking, "you eat my pizza and drink my bear and make sure i dont screw anything up." one last question though.. if i go with a spring compressor do i want the type that is two seperate clamp compressors or the kind that is only one compressor. Frode - thanks for the link I'll peep that one out. once again thanks for the help. | ||
| Eric (Epuffy) Member Username: Epuffy Post Number: 58 Registered: 07-2003 |
Hey Jason, I would offer to help but I've never done it before. haha. I'm actually going to do it next week when my new spring and shocks arrive, so let me know how it goes! Or if it makes you feel better to have someone else there "helping", I can see if I can swing by. Cheers, Eric | ||
| Joe M. (Little_joe) Member Username: Little_joe Post Number: 151 Registered: 11-2002 |
Good luck getting the spring compressor properly positioned on the springs due to the upper seats. Do as others have said, drop the axle and use the bottle jack - you'll be amazed how easy and safe it is. BTW I wrote that 4x4Wire article and tried the spring compressor first based on some advice here. It took a minute to figure out that was much more work and more risk than properly jacking it up/using the jack to remove the springs. joe | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1019 Registered: 09-2002 |
Jason, I hope I didn't offend you much. The reason I chuckled at that is there's no room in a wheelwell for two people to work, so, enlisting someone for help will ultimately lead to one of the two scenarios I mentioned. It is really simple, just keep the spring from flying in your face, and you'll be all right. | ||
| Jason McCombs (Jasonmc) Member Username: Jasonmc Post Number: 97 Registered: 06-2003 |
Peter no offence taken at all, i thought it was funny. Eric, I will let you know how it goes, I live in Oakland, ca, your profile says yer in Seatle, you must hae one big ass "swing" if you can swing by Oakland. ha. Joe, yeah the spring compressor thing kinda scares me. so i guess its gonna be the bottle jack method for me. One question on the bottle jack though. can i use the one that comes with the Disco or should i buy a different one? | ||
| Wes Legaspi (Wes) Member Username: Wes Post Number: 161 Registered: 02-2002 |
I just did the bottle jack method a couple of weeks ago, the one that came with the disco should be sufficient. | ||
| Eric (Epuffy) Member Username: Epuffy Post Number: 60 Registered: 07-2003 |
Hey Jason, haha. Sorry, I forgot to mention that i'm in the south bay visiting my brother and looking for a job. I'll be around until probably next week, so that's why I offered to come by and help if needed. | ||
| Todd Juneau (Toddxd) Member Username: Toddxd Post Number: 101 Registered: 11-2002 |
Jason, I can confirm Peter's statement, although I think we both fit in my wheelwell a couple of times trying to get a shock bolt loose. Peter simply used a couple of tie down straps to compress the springs, it worked quite well. Peter - did I really just sit around eating your pizza and drinking your beer when you helped with my lift? Cheers, | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1026 Registered: 09-2002 |
LOL Todd, I've got a bunch of other friends who wanted to lift their trucks, and the experience was much more on the "I do while you watch and eat my pizza and drink my beer?" side. With your springs, I think there was a fair split of work (don't remember if we ordered pizza, though). BTW, just as I walked to work this morning, a fellow I work with asked what would it take to change springs on a WRX... Wonder where would it take me... | ||
| Jason McCombs (Jasonmc) Member Username: Jasonmc Post Number: 99 Registered: 06-2003 |
I just wanted to post that my new shocks and springs are all installed. I did the fronts on monday and the rears today. I didnt have much of a problem at all. I took my time and went nice and slow. My old shocks were totally crapped out, the new billsteins and landrover HD's made a world of difference its like a completely new ride. very cool. Thanks for all your help! |
