Barry Kemp Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 Looking at my front suspension I realise that the rubber bushes at the bottom of the front dampers are beginning to perish. Does replacement of these bushes involve compressing the coil spring, or is it a simpler operation? Thanks, Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 no you dont need a spring clamp. take the lower through bolt out and undo the 3 nuts on the top of the turret and the whole shocker and coil sping comes out as an assembly you dont have to touch the spring you only need a clamp if you intend to remove or check the top bushes on the shocker spindle. as these hold the spring in compression ,,, if you just undo the shocker spindle nuts then you need a clamp or its ............ BOING !!!! and a trip to A & E Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Kemp Posted May 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 Excellent - thanks Pete. That's put my mind at ease! Should be a nice Sunday afternoon job then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 weather is not so good for the weekend, and we have a run out to Bressingham on sunday says cloudy and odd showers pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 5 hours ago, Pete Lewis said: weather is not so good for the weekend, and we have a run out to Bressingham on sunday says cloudy and odd showers pete I think the odd shower referred to is us lot! Gully 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 Hi. I understand that if original, then suspension bushes can look knackered, though still be good on the inside and last for years like this. Wish I had known this before I replaced all mine. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 The bushes usually come fitted in new shocks so I'd be surprised if they're originals however do wonder what state the shocks are in.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 3 hours ago, daverclasper said: suspension bushes can look knackered, though still be good on the inside and last for years like this. Just like me!! Alternatively, bushes can look good, but the rubber softens and deteriorates so there's a lot more movement than was originally intended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Kemp Posted May 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 I guess in the old days before MOTs if they looked knackered they would be failed. Even post-MOT I wouldn’t want to be driving around in a car that previously would have been considered unsafe. You would have a hard time proving the bushes are actually sound if they look perished on the outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 Most of my rubber bushes are original and look knackered but you only have use a lever, as any MOT tester should, to show there's no excessive play plus it drives great😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 Not sure how you check suspension bushes (on Vitesse). Is it jack up, so a gap between tyre and ground and lift/lever the suspension with crowbar etc (my Mot tester showed me trunnion play this way) and this shows any play in all the bushes?. Or is it suspension on droop and try to lever individual bushes against something solid near by, to detect play?. Never found good info on this anywhere, so any advice this great please. Thanks, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 I look for side play in the trunnions by pulling on the wheel when off the ground (up and down not so important as my wheels are not often airborne when driving😩) and a large screwdriver to lever with for rubber bushes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted May 17, 2019 Report Share Posted May 17, 2019 Thanks Johny. So do you mean a large screwdriver between the bottom of tyre and the ground (surface gap) with car, when jacked up so wheels clear the ground and then lever upwards, for play in the rubber wishbone bushes please?. Thanks, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted May 17, 2019 Report Share Posted May 17, 2019 No I find that tends to lift the car off the axle stands so with the wheel off the ground I just get the screwdriver between the wishbone and fixing bracket to lever the wishbone around to see if it's excessively easy to move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 Thanks Johny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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