W124 Shock Absorber renewal.Any top mount tool?

[Waft]

Hello !!

Iam soon to change my front and rear shocks.

Is there a tool needed to loosen the top mounts at all?
Are there any other PITA parts to the job??

I was on the way to the workshop to fit these today and suddenly remembered my Audi Coupe having the threaded piece holding down the top mounts.
Didn't want to get half way through and be swearing profusely!

Thanks!

Steve

 

[kth286]

You really need to get a Hayes manual or you could hurt yourself.

It's the separate spring that is the problem you need to be aware of. It needs to be compressed with a special internel compresser.

Nil special tool for top mount, but you must take the weight of suspension off it.

 

[Waft]

.

So I guess the same applies to the rear too?

Thanks for reply.

 

[teddycatkin]

So I guess the same applies to the rear too?

Thanks for reply.

Rears are a lot easier ----but as said --Be aware of tension on the springs -they can fly out and cause a lot of damage or injury !!!

 

[Waft]

.

Thanks mate.

Sounds familiar as to when I asked about the springs,not surprisingly!

Well,it looks like a forum member hires the compressors out. So I'm in!

Most excellent

 

[wireman]

The awkward tool is a 7mm allen key for counter holding the strut shaft, not normally found in a standard set.
Take care not to scrape the wings top edge with the 22mm spanner while you take off the top nut, the top mount makes it a shade awkward to get the spanner in place. Because of the need to counter hold the shaft a socket cannot be used to remove the top nut, a normal offset ring spanner is the best I could muster.

I have replaced all four shocks on both my cars, with a little common sense no spring compressor is required, place a block (or the wheel) under the front wishbone and lower the car onto it to limit the springs excursion.

The 190 rears were a bit of a pig, the extended length of the shock was about 8mm longer than the gap and compressing the shock (there's an internal spring) was not the easiest thing to do, there is no room to get a good grip and push, a bit of help from a strongman/gorilla got the old ones out and the new in place. Without Allan's assistance I would have had to lower the sub frame front mounts.

If you re-use the old bolts clean them and apply Loctite on re-assembly, some replacement shocks are supplied with bolts and some aint, the rear lower bolt has a fine pitch it's not the standard M10x1.5mm but 10x1mm.

Check the front lower ball joints while you have it in bits.

About 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour for each shock.