Rant - front suspension

[monkeh]

Who the hell designed the front suspension?
I'm currently refreshing the front shocks and strut mounts, with job creep to tie rod ends and lower arms.
I've never known such a poo design of front suspension! Removal of lower arm to remove suspension strut. I picked up a few good hints from swedespeed. But by the look of it jobs going to creep to anti roll bar bushes and links. It's not that it was knackered, I'm having to use brute force to remove things, and everything with FoMoCo seems to break!

Even the bolts on the strut top sheared off! FoMoCo's revenge.

[tonys1966]

not just volvo/ford etc-try working on vag stuff or renault,jap stuff

lots of alloys and bolts fusing into host metals

audi pinch bolts,rs4 caliper pins,any vag topmount

heat and penetrating oil helps-dont need oxy,a blowtorch and decent gas does it

[Tatsfield]

I wouldn't mind but after all the trials of dismantling the front suspension to fit new parts to correct a pull to the left, the damn pull is still there. The entire right side of the suspension has been changed and the fault still exists.

[Simmy]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

I wouldn't mind but after all the trials of dismantling the front suspension to fit new parts to correct a pull to the left, the damn pull is still there. The entire right side of the suspension has been changed and the fault still exists.

have your car checked on body jig. accident repair shops have a programe with body dimensions and check point mesurements i would guess one of your suspension mounting point has moved slightly

[passenger]

Originally Posted by monkeh

Who the hell designed the front suspension?
I'm currently refreshing the front shocks and strut mounts, with job creep to tie rod ends and lower arms.
I've never known such a poo design of front suspension! Removal of lower arm to remove suspension strut. I picked up a few good hints from swedespeed. But by the look of it jobs going to creep to anti roll bar bushes and links. It's not that it was knackered, I'm having to use brute force to remove things, and everything with FoMoCo seems to break!

Even the bolts on the strut top sheared off! FoMoCo's revenge.

Pics of never happen

[monkeh]

Here...
I'm now looking for replacements.

[reggit]

Sorry, can’t help you but thanks as well - I was just going to ask how much of a pain dropping the struts is - mine needs new shocks. I think it’ll be treat to a garage visit as I can’t be arsed with all that hassle at the moment.

[jadjong]

Not sure what hatred your car has against you, but removing front struts can be done with the removal of just the sway bar link.
Remove the sway bar link, remove the squeeze bolt on the bottom of the strut and put it back in from the other side. Now put something metal in between the squeezing part of the hub and tighten the bolt you just flipped to the other side. Tightening the bolt wil open the sqeezing part of the hub a bit.

Drench it with penetrating oil and proceed to loosen the three upper bolts. Only losen them a bit, don't remove them.
Aks your local burglar if you could lend the biggest crowbar she has and bend down the lower control arm until the strut pops out. Might need some persuasion with a hammer...
Now you can remove the top bolts and start with the, totally safe and not scary at all, spring compressor.