Ford KA Top mounts - Changing

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

I need a straight answer here. I know it's probably the sort of thing I should know of hand. But I dont.

I'm changing the top mounts on my friends Ford KA tonight. All I need to know is, does the spring need to be compressed to get the top mount off, and a new one back on?

I know on some cars, There is a retaining plate under the top mount. The top mount basically just bolts on over the top of this.

And on some cars, The spring retaining plate is incorporated into the top mount its self. So when I undo that top nut, The spring will come flying off.

I've left work now, So cant do the job there. I'll be doing it at home in my garage. Just need to know if I'm going to need a spring compressor or not.

Cheers

Ben

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

Top man. Did it in the end. Wasn't so hard.
The top mounts just sit onto, after the shock locking nut.
But the bearings sit under the locking nut.

Luckily a mate had a set of nasty, Horrible, Halfords spring compressors! Laughing

Ben

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

Well at work we've got a couple of compressors.
The big air operated Free standing unit. Which is the bollocks for springs that are straight / symmetrical.

But for anything slightly un-natural, Or FRENCH. Then the old style compressor is needed. Which is a one piece unit, Has a set of Jaws, And a long threaded center piece.

However, Neither are as sketchy as these halfords things! Laughing

It's like 3 separate compressors, You have to sort of jiggery poke them around and do them all up a bit at a time until the spring is compressed.

I had the shock clamped upright in my vice in case anything bad happened.

prawny1 · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Karma :

I have got a lovely 1.5" scar above my left eye from a renault front spring, renaults carry long soft springs that take serious amounts of compresing to fit back on the strut.

Had the base of the spring in a vice whilst winding down the clamps when one of the clamps slipped and the whole thing sprung out the vice and whacked me in the bonce knocking my specs flying.
____________________
hellkat wrote:

Some people are only alive cos its against the law to kill them.

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

I did springs on the front of a Peugeot a while ago which have very long soft springs.
Not only do they need compression fucking LOADS, The springs sit "curved" on the strut anyway. SO when you compress them, They curve out of the spring compressor. Shocked

It's one of my least favorite jobs in the trade.

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Quick one binge...whos car was it...i believe my friend jasmine drives a ka, n also knows you...small world.. Laughing

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

Jasmine? Is she fit? Laughing

And nah, She was called Aimee. It's one of my best mates Girlfriends.

Ben

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

Yeah, Same girl I was thinking of. I've just PM'd you actually so I didnt put her second name on the forum.

She drives a Corsa, I did some work on that a while ago to.

Ben