Rear top mount removal

[s.mac]

Anyone know how to remove a top mount so I can add a spacer spring ?

[alexk]

From the top.

You remove the carpet and unbolt two bolts.

[shane@mbtech]

Take the shock off
Takes 2 secs as you know.
Then there will be a nut in the middle of the top mount, undo said nut, remove top mount, fit spring, refit top mount, redo nut, refit shock.

Easy enough for you steve:finga:

[s.mac]

Nice one Lawsy, I know it's a quick job as its been done a few times LOL
Just wasn't sure on the last bit, it wants to go down a tad and AST gave me the spacers just in case, so the spring doesn't rattle around.

[Equinox]

The spacer ring is actually an assistor spring, they assist the spring in locating correctly and stop it rattling around. I assume you also have a small spring platform to go between the assistor and the main spring to locate the 2 together

add: ive just looked again and you already have one of those fitted to the pictured shock absorber fitted at the bottom so why would you have another ??

[phoenixcsl]

add: ive just looked again and you already have one of those fitted to the pictured shock absorber fitted at the bottom so why would you have another ??

Steve, Equinox has raised a good point, you shouldn't need two sets of helper springs on your shocks.

Looking at your pic he's quite right, you already have a helper spring at the bottom.

Did AST set your preload before letting you drive away on the car?

[s.mac]

Pre load?? No idea what this is mate
I was going to drop it a tad and they said if I did I might want to put them on?

[Equinox]

You wont need to fit them as you already have some, even if you drop it loads you only need one assister spring.

[Bounce]

Pre load?? No idea what this is mate
I was going to drop it a tad and they said if I did I might want to put them on?Get someone who knows what their doing mate:whistle::-D

[s.mac]

I'm going to the garage tomorrow and will take a better picture.
I haven't lifted a finger today, I've been badly after a very very, VERY heavy night.....
I can always contact AST , the tech who fitted them said if I did want to drop it down I should fit the spacer spring to stop it rattling as the spring wouldn't be tight, if that makes sense

[Equinox]

The spring will only rattle when either the car gets light, air or a lot of weight transfer to raise a certain corner enough to take all shockabsorber pressure from the spring. 90% of the time it'd be perfect.

[s.mac]

Thanks :thumbs:
I was only looking for something to do while the wheels are off :)

[s.mac]

The lower spring looks like a proper spring and not a spacer

[Equinox]

The lower spring is an assistor spring designed at a lot lower poundage than the main spring so it sits totally compressed when weight is on it and will extend when the suspension is 'light' in order to keep the main spring in place and stop it rattling around, it needs to be a spring then it can extend as expected. If you didnt have those the spring could come out of the top spring cup and when weight is returned the spring may sit out of the cup or be noisy when going back into the cup. The assistor spring keep enough pressure to keep the spring in the top seat / cup at all times

[s.mac]

cheers :)
I'm going to leave it alone :)

[s.mac]

Sorry, back again ....
The lower spring is an assistor spring designed at a lot lower poundage than the main spring so it sits totally compressed when weight is on it and will extend when the suspension is 'light' in order to keep the main spring in place and stop it rattling around, it needs to be a spring then it can extend as expected. If you didnt have those the spring could come out of the top spring cup and when weight is returned the spring may sit out of the cup or be noisy when going back into the cup. The assistor spring keep enough pressure to keep the spring in the top seat / cup at all times


The car can still be dropped quite a bit, AST did offer to do it but I decided to see if it dropped by itself, I didn't want it too low.
The spring, which isn't really a spring would be fitted where then? If I were to go lower the above could happen? Fine on load but could clunk when not loaded, would it go right at the bottom to space the assistor spring higher up? To stop keep the main spring pushed up in location on the top cone?

[s.mac]

Shock

[shane@mbtech]

That is a helper/tender spring on your car already, and is rated to run in combination with the main spring, the main spring rate will be set with this in mind. Its to do with progressive action.

The "spring" you have is to do exactly what AST say it will do Steve.

If you lower the car, just fit it.AST know their own product afterall. And you are more than welcome to pop down on a saturday and we will sort all that stuff out for you. Will take me 20 minutes, ill even show you the way of the jedi.

We need some outdoor security lights fitting on our unit anyway:smokin:, bring your tool kit. Or Phil:hahaha:

[s.mac]

LOL, I can sort that out for you mate :)

I will give you a buzz in the new year :)

Ta for info on above, I know the kit is good and thought their must be a place for it, they were spot on in Holland and I was just going to ask them the correct place to fit, top, middle or bottom

I don't think I will bother for 5mm :whistle:

[Equinox]

AST know their own product afterall

I think that depends on who you talk to !

[conleth m3]

could be wrong, that has been known :clown:

but if youre lowering the car it will be a case of lowering the bottom platform the spring/helper spring rests on - ie moving the black platform on the pic of the shock so it sits further down the threaded outer section of the shock. unless lowering by a large amount then the shock will be more compressed but not that much that it should require an additional helper spring at the top of the spring assembly? the spring assembly should be compressed most of the time - unless going over flugplatz/swedenkreutz/pflantzgarten and the like - so that one helper spring should keep the whole assembly in contact from the lower platform to the top mount?


the thin helper spring in your pic is the same as the ones ast sent me when mine rusted away to nothing on the rear shocks, the more robust one in the other pic (with spring ratings printed on it) was the same as my front shocks had. think, was a year or so ago

hope this doesnt confuse things steve, prob best just listen to shane, he knows his shit :beer:


cheers

conleth