Springs & Dampers, how do you test them?
Discussion
I have just bought a 89 Limited Edition Esprit Turbo. Having owned a few Esprits in my time I have never had to replace springs and dampers as the cars I have owned already had new fitted, or were so low mileage this was not an issue. However the LE has covered 65k and does not seem to ride the bumps as well as other Esprits I have owned, if you bounce the car the dampers and springs can be heard to function and there are no leaks evident from any of the dampers.
Do the the springs tend to get tierd on Esprits before the dampers?
Is it likely both need replacing as this appears to be costly?
Regards Mike
Do the the springs tend to get tierd on Esprits before the dampers?
Is it likely both need replacing as this appears to be costly?
Regards Mike
Mike,
The springs on the Esprit do have somewhat of a tendency to become worn and tired. It is especially seen and known as 'Driver's side lean' where the car may noticeably sag on the driver's side.
There are a couple of tricks to changing them as a standard spring compressor doesn't work very well and in fact may be dangerous. Once the spring is out, you'll be amazed at how long it actually is. Using standard spring compressors may come loose and damage you, the car or both.
The best tried and true method of changing them is to have an assistant sit or press on the corner to compress the spring while you wind it tightly several times with a nylon strap, the sort used as a tie-down. Make several wraps as the spring is very tightly compressed.
To install the new spring, it's best to seat the spring on the suspension and then using a floor jack under the suspension member, raise it to compress the spring. Care must be taken at each stage as the potential for injury is pretty high should the spring come loose as it packs alot of power once in it's compressed state. Hope this helps...Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
The springs on the Esprit do have somewhat of a tendency to become worn and tired. It is especially seen and known as 'Driver's side lean' where the car may noticeably sag on the driver's side.
There are a couple of tricks to changing them as a standard spring compressor doesn't work very well and in fact may be dangerous. Once the spring is out, you'll be amazed at how long it actually is. Using standard spring compressors may come loose and damage you, the car or both.
The best tried and true method of changing them is to have an assistant sit or press on the corner to compress the spring while you wind it tightly several times with a nylon strap, the sort used as a tie-down. Make several wraps as the spring is very tightly compressed.
To install the new spring, it's best to seat the spring on the suspension and then using a floor jack under the suspension member, raise it to compress the spring. Care must be taken at each stage as the potential for injury is pretty high should the spring come loose as it packs alot of power once in it's compressed state. Hope this helps...Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
Mike apparently you can measure them from one point of the spring to another point underneath the car somewhere. If anyone out there can be bothered looking through their manual for us that would be much appreciated. I also have the same prob and wondering if I should get the springs refurbished or just blow the budget and get a new set-up.
Mike let us know what you did and how you determined spring height.
Cheers
Kylie
89 Esp Turbo
Mike let us know what you did and how you determined spring height.
Cheers
Kylie
89 Esp Turbo
As a professional tech, my advise to changing front springs and or struts should require the correct equipment and knowledge. As Jim stated, doing this wrong could result in serious injury. This should not be a job for the first timer without the correct equipment and knowledge. I know I somewhat said the same thing twice, however I have done many and know what can happen. I never heard of using tie down straps to do this, and feel personally it is putting yourself at great risk should the strap break or the ratchet lock fail from the pressure.
After changing many a strut, through safe thinking and correct equipment, I've managed to keep my face from looking uglyer than what it is.
Robert
After changing many a strut, through safe thinking and correct equipment, I've managed to keep my face from looking uglyer than what it is.
Robert
My 90 Esprit was suffering from the same affliction and I installed new rear springs to correct it. After the new springs were in the car still leaned a little.I felt that the fronts were also weak but decided to stack the rubber cushion on the drivers side. Not the full thickness , I cut it in half. Perfect now.
SGB
SGB
swedishsurgeon said:
As a professional tech, my advise to changing front springs and or struts should require the correct equipment and knowledge. As Jim stated, doing this wrong could result in serious injury. This should not be a job for the first timer without the correct equipment and knowledge. I know I somewhat said the same thing twice, however I have done many and know what can happen. I never heard of using tie down straps to do this, and feel personally it is putting yourself at great risk should the strap break or the ratchet lock fail from the pressure.
After changing many a strut, through safe thinking and correct equipment, I've managed to keep my face from looking uglyer than what it is.
Robert
Bob,
I agree with what you're saying, with the exception of the nylon straps.
This has been the 'modus operendi' on our club for many years and has worked flawlessly on many sets of springs. The straps are rated to several thousand pounds and wrapping them several times ensures there'll be no slippage and allows one to slowly release the spring pressure.
There are few, if any, spring compressors out there which will properly fit the tight coils of these springs and attempting their use is much more potentially dangerous than the strap method. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
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