You've got to laugh

[v8s4me]

I asked my local garage today how much they would charge to release the springs from my old dampers. "That's an hours work sir so that will be £65 + VAT".

[phillpot]

Some handy tips here from a very nice guy


Spring removal

[v8s4me]

Phillpot, where did you get your vcargo straps from. I've been out looking today and can't find any locally. Thanks. Joe

[Barry S1]

You can get them from B&Q or most DIY stores.

[phillpot]

Out of the stores, we use them at work



We buy in bulk from a company in Gt. Yarmouth, Independent Lifting Services, but these look very similar

[v8s4me]

phillpot said:

Out of the stores, we use them at work

You're nicked sunshine

Just ordered a pair of the one you suggested.

Cheers

[phillpot]

Only borrowing them Guv, honest!

[PotlessPaul]

Joe, If you need a set of spring compressors then I have a set you can borrow.

[v8s4me]

Thanks Paul, I may thak you up on that. Cheers.

[v8s4me]

Just a thought here. Once the springs have been compressed by the straps and the collets removed how do you release the tension on the springs in a safe way?

[PotlessPaul]

Undo the nuts at the bottom of the compressor and release the tension in the spring.

The set that I have come with instructions if you need them.

[phillpot]

v8s4me said:

how do you release the tension on the springs in a safe way?

Some people want everything !


Put your foot on it, release straps one at a time, it'll be fine ( I'm still alive and still got all my fingers and thumbs)

[v8s4me]

phillpot said:

........ it'll be fine ( I'm still alive and still got all my fingers and thumbs)

What about your toes?

[v8s4me]

The straps arived and 20mins later the first one was apart. Piece of cake, although I am typing this with my nose

Now I know the method I reckon I'll have the other three apart on no time. The local wheel place quoted me £10 each + VAT to shot blast and powder coat black; £15 ea for silver. Which would you choose?

Edited by v8s4me on Friday 24th January 18:18

[glenrobbo]

Black.










Silver is an awful colour Joe.

[phillpot]

v8s4me said:

Which would you choose?

Joe, I'll leave the choice of colour to you (and others) but while I appreciate using a local guy will save carriage costs I think you could do a lot worse than talk to a guy called "MSBPC".. see this thread.

Malden Shot Blasting & Powder Coating


I took him up on his offer and had the springs from my Taimar done with "Plascoat". They look good but after very little use I changed to some stiffer springs so they have not been "tested" (not that the car has done many miles since then anyway)


Actually, there is only one colour for springs

[v8s4me]

All off! 7 mins per shock The straps cost me £6.44 so quite a saving over the local garage at £78. Obviously the business needs to make a profit but with propper workshop tools the job should have taken no more than 15 mins so they were obviously taking the pss.

Thanks to Phillpot for the tip.

It's been asked before so for the record; the free length of the standard springs on the V8S is F 285mm & R 282mm. I'm afraid I've no idea how to measure the poundage.

I've also worked out how to adjust the rebound on the standard shocks if anyone is interested.

Edited by v8s4me on Saturday 25th January 13:56

[glenrobbo]

Hi Joe,
Sometimes the poundage / spring rate can be found etched on the flat end of the coil ( if you're lucky! ) That's for normal constant rate springs,
Not sure if progressive rate spring ranges are marked in this way, or just colour coded.

I'm thinking of stripping my old (uprated) Koni's & getting the springs powdercoated. I've got a few bits & bobs & can get them all done quite cheaply as a batch. Phillpot's ratchet strap idea looks like the best way to strip them.

Have you done a complete inventory check on your extremeties?

[v8s4me]

Nothing on the ends but they are rising rate. I can tell you the dampers were originally on the softest setting and when adjusted to firm it's almost impossible to pull them out to full extension. I think they will be going back on in the 'comfort' setting

[glenrobbo]

You had me worried for a mo, when I asked about your extremeties, & you said there's nothing on the ends


Speaking as a devout GTS follower of yours, I would have thought you'd want to stiffen up your rear end quite a bit Joe.

It does look rather floppy from behind when it comes to the bumpy bits

Are you keeping the original shocks ?



Edit : A quick straw poll has revealed that firm is preferable to floppy.
HTH

Edited by glenrobbo on Saturday 25th January 16:44

Edited by glenrobbo on Saturday 25th January 16:51