Front spring replacement

[Paul Fraser]

Picked up a pair of these on Saturday and one of the techs said I could change them quite quickly by undoing the sway bar and the three top bolts and then hooking the top of it with a wire loop and pulling down. Anyone done it this way -- I don't want to take the shock strut out as I don't have a bearing seperator (needed according to the WM) or time (hopefully moving out of my house in three days)?

I assume you would have to take off the bolt connecting the piston to the triangular plate and other top gubbins before pulling down and then remove it and the spring? I belive the spring isn't compressed much, if at all?

TIA.

[RFM]

It can be done as you describes if you have any experience, it is easier to remove the strut so that you have a overview to the parts etc. especially for DIY job IMHO. Start to loose the nut partial on top of the strut to have a idea what's coming, i'm pretty sure the nut is rusty and difficult to remove with the UK rainy conditions.

[Paul Fraser]

Yeah, it was. I only just managed to get clearance on the rim of the wing and couldn't shift the nut. Looks like I'll have to take the whole strut out, which makes me wonder if I should replace the shocks at the same time. They seem ok, but 10 year old car, 60000 miles (need to check my paperwork, they may have been replaced 2002 iirc).