Rear Spring Fitting

Steve Medlock

Steve Medlock

Zorg Guru (II)
British Zeds
Joined
May 11, 2016
Points
105
Location
Tenterden, Kent
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
I started on the rear suspension today to fit Bilstein shocks and Standard springs. Unfortunately I couldn't shift any of the ARB nuts at all and I think it was this that has defeated me so far. I did manage to get the lowered spring out but no chance of getting the taller spring back in its place. This was using a jack to push down the trailing arm

My manual says to disconnect the drive shaft from the diff, but I'm assuming this is to protect the shaft rather than allowing the trailing arm to drop?

These springs seem far too short to get spring compressors on so I think i'll have to keep applying penetrating oil to the ARB nuts!
 
To get the spring in usually just disconnecting the shock at the bottom is enough to allow the trails arm to drop enough to get the spring in.
 
Yup, all we do is drop the bottom shock bolt and apply a large weight to the hub (usually me standing on it). Standard springs can be a pain due to their height though. Getting compression on them can be tricky as well, but you may find its the only way if you are doing it solo.
 
GazHyde said:
Yup, all we do is drop the bottom shock bolt and apply a large weight to the hub (usually me standing on it). Standard springs can be a pain due to their height though. Getting compression on them can be tricky as well, but you may find its the only way if you are doing it solo.
Click to expand...
Yep I did the same on the 2.8
 
5harp3y said:
i just removed the arb link bolt, took about 3 minutes
Click to expand...
It definitely seemed to be the arb link that was stopping it dropping further. Unfortunately all the nuts were so rusted that I couldn't even get a socket on them. I'll have another go tomorrow with more wire brushing and penetrating oil....
 
Get some heat in there too! Be careful the penetrating fluid doesn't go up and melt things though!

I was lucky with mine, got away with a mate standing on the hub!
 
At work on these and other 3 series cars we use a length of Re bar to persuade the arm down enough, usually with a heavy weight (John) hanging on the end.:)=))

Tony.
 
Thanks for all the advice & help. Job done.
rearspring2.jpg

When I finally got the small nuts on the arb brackets undone, the arm dropped quite a bit more. Then by sitting on the bar, I managed to lever the bottom of the spring across onto the seat. A little twisting and the spring then sat on the bottom rubber properly.
 
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