Struggling with struts

Mike24 · 1st August 2015, 13:35

Today I bit the bullet and started on replacing the front strut bearings. On the first side I was able to drop the lower swivel joint to get the clearance I needed to get the strut back into the sleeve in the hub but I can't get the second swivel joint to come apart, even though it drops about half an inch. I've stopped for lunch and to have a think. Any suggestions will be seriously considered!

hinged_bap · 1st August 2015, 13:40

ive had this. If it comes out halfway but the jams its got misaligned and the recess around the stub has got caught on something. push it right back in to re-align it and then have another go.

Mike24 · 1st August 2015, 13:45

Thanks, I'll give that a try, I've got it to the point where it will slide up and down fairly freely, but I just can't get it to go past the groove.

Mike24 · 1st August 2015, 15:48

All done! I found a suitably shaped pry bar, positioned it so it was bearing down on the lower arm and up on the hub, gave it a couple of whacks and off it came. After that it only took about 15 minutes to get everything back together. I did the droplinks at the same time (Febi bearings and droplinks - hope they're OK) and I'm glad I did - nearly impossible to get a spanner on the upper droplink fixing with the strut on the car! Now there is no annoying "boing" when the steering wheel goes past 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock.

Alan123 · 1st August 2015, 18:41

Just a tip
Sum of us chop a couple of threads of the top drop link Jiont so we can use a ring spanner on them.
Just make life easier

Les4048 · 1st August 2015, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike24

All done! I found a suitably shaped pry bar, positioned it so it was bearing down on the lower arm and up on the hub, gave it a couple of whacks and off it came. After that it only took about 15 minutes to get everything back together. I did the droplinks at the same time (Febi bearings and droplinks - hope they're OK) and I'm glad I did - nearly impossible to get a spanner on the upper droplink fixing with the strut on the car! Now there is no annoying "boing" when the steering wheel goes past 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock.

Boing !! Sounds like the spring is not seated correctly and is moving slightly as you turn the wheel

1st August 2015, 13:35	#1
Mike24 Loves to post Rover 75 CDTI Auto Saloon Connoisseur SE Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Coventry Posts: 358 Thanks: 166 Thanked 67 Times in 56 Posts	Struggling with struts Today I bit the bullet and started on replacing the front strut bearings. On the first side I was able to drop the lower swivel joint to get the clearance I needed to get the strut back into the sleeve in the hub but I can't get the second swivel joint to come apart, even though it drops about half an inch. I've stopped for lunch and to have a think. Any suggestions will be seriously considered!

1st August 2015, 13:40	#2
hinged_bap Gets stuck in 75 CDT Conn SE Auto saloon Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Southampton Posts: 773 Thanks: 134 Thanked 104 Times in 81 Posts	ive had this. If it comes out halfway but the jams its got misaligned and the recess around the stub has got caught on something. push it right back in to re-align it and then have another go.

1st August 2015, 13:45	#3
Mike24 Loves to post Rover 75 CDTI Auto Saloon Connoisseur SE Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Coventry Posts: 358 Thanks: 166 Thanked 67 Times in 56 Posts	Thanks, I'll give that a try, I've got it to the point where it will slide up and down fairly freely, but I just can't get it to go past the groove.

1st August 2015, 15:48	#4
Mike24 Loves to post Rover 75 CDTI Auto Saloon Connoisseur SE Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Coventry Posts: 358 Thanks: 166 Thanked 67 Times in 56 Posts	All done! I found a suitably shaped pry bar, positioned it so it was bearing down on the lower arm and up on the hub, gave it a couple of whacks and off it came. After that it only took about 15 minutes to get everything back together. I did the droplinks at the same time (Febi bearings and droplinks - hope they're OK) and I'm glad I did - nearly impossible to get a spanner on the upper droplink fixing with the strut on the car! Now there is no annoying "boing" when the steering wheel goes past 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock.

1st August 2015, 18:41	#5
Alan123 Posted a thing or two Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Darlaston Posts: 1,897 Thanks: 484 Thanked 325 Times in 261 Posts	Just a tip Sum of us chop a couple of threads of the top drop link Jiont so we can use a ring spanner on them. Just make life easier