Gaah! Won't be fitting my springs this weekend

[Barrbeast]

Not long in after a very frustrating latter part of the afternoon trying (and failing) to make a start to fitting the lift springs to the Trol

Decided to start with the front axle and got jacked up on the axle stands and wheels off then ARB links. Had a look and a quick try at taking one of the front shocks off and decided it wasn't happening without a grinder (and a new sock to replace it ).

Then spent the rest of the evening trying and failing to get one spring compressed enough to get it off. Got close but not close enough! For the best to be honest as I realise I was never going to get bigger springs on without taking the shocks off.

Just in, made my tea and having a drink

... and looking at new shocks!

[elty001]

Not sure what the front shocks are like on the troll but never been able to get the top mount off of any of the terranos I have owned without using the grinder.

[Barrbeast]

Yeh top mount on the Trols is not very handy, possibly doable without a grinder as it's up and away from the mud etc but I have my doubts - it's quite enclosed though so even getting the grinder in isn't going to be easy!

Had ago at the bottom bolt but it didn't look particularly encouraging, even after a liberal spray of WD and a seeing to with the wire brush. There doesn't seem to be any part to brace against either when you're cracking the nut Stuck a stilson on the base of the shock and gave a wee pull with the breaker bar but it wasn't encouraging so I decided to leave it as I can't be without a vehicle during the week just now.

I reckon the rears wouldn't be too bad though, just as well I started with the front axle!

[The Patrolman]

Once the shocks are off just keep jacking and the springs will fall out

[rustic]

I have had a few days when I start a job, that things start to go wrong very soon after starting.
Whether it is working on the car, or even replacing a radiator valve on the central heating.

Sometimes I have carried on regardless, and wish I hadn't, on those times it is often best to tidy up and walk away, and start again on another day.
It's amazing after a few hours or a few days that the penny drops, and you find a different way of planning the job out.
Then when you tackle it, you wonder why there was a problem originally.

So, in my opinion, if the job will wait, then having a cup of tea is often the best option.

Here is a thought for the day...
How many of us have thought, when doing a job, I'll just tighten that bolt just another half turn... and bang... it sheers... " I wish I hadn't done that"

Or when spray painting something... "I'll just give it another spray coat... you then get a run..." "I wish I hadn't done that"...

Tip:- When using a grinder or cutting wheel in a confined space, and you can't get the grinder in, then why not keep the old grind wheels that have worn down from 110 mm to around 60 mm diameter... you might just get it in then...

[russell.huffer]

Just had new springs on mine and the garage said back ones where easy but fronts where a pain due to springs being so strong, just as well because first time i had the wrong rear springs fitted so had replaced with the correct ones and even then had to add a packer to the rear to level car correctly.

Kind regards


Russell.

[russell.huffer]

Just out of interest if you have standared shocks on would you mind telling me your current ride height, the measurement from bottom of wheel rim to bottom of wheel arch.

I went by the pedders web site that said 780 front and 790 rear so i added +50 springs expecting to get 830 front and 840 rear but have ended up at 815 front and 830 rear.

Did not measure mine properly before lift but have found another website that says 765 standared which would explain why i thought mine was low and ended up with a 30mm packer i am just trying to understand if i lifted mine 50 or 80 mm, not a massive problem as the only thing that is now on its limit is the vac pipe for the dif lock.

Yours looks to be the exact same model as mine so if you could get the measurements it would be very much appreciated all 4 wheels.

Kind regards

Russell.

[russell.huffer]

Quick picture of mine with the new springs fitted.

[Barrbeast]

You're just rubbing it in with that picture Russell!

Glad I'm not the only one who found the front springs a bother (they are very tight in there)

Just measured and I'm 745mm nearside front, 760mm offside front, around 750mm both rears. Doesn't surprise me that the offside front is a bit higher as that was the one I was trying to get out last night and I thought it looked a bit newer than the other front spring!

I've got the standard raised springs to fit in the rear and HD raised springs for the front as I have the winch bumper and winch to account for.

[Ianinessex]

I'm not going to even try this at home. Booked in to have the professionals fit a 4" OME set. Scary cost, but they know all the associated bits that need checking and changing.

If it helps, the standard heights as it is at the moment are: F/O/S 760, F/N/S 760, R/O/S 755 & R/N/S 765. That is with my usual approximately 50kgs of assorted crap spread over the back seats and boot.
Ian

[Fez_uk]

nothing ever goes right when mending or modding motors!

[russell.huffer]

Thanks for taking the time to measure guys much appreciated looks like I went further than planned as my iron man lifted me to around the 800mm mark but I was going by the pedders suspension website which states the standared height is 790 so thought mine had not gone up much and stuck a 30mm spacer in there, so my lift is 80mm still works well but may extend the rear droplinks. Iron man also do a good looking 4 & 6 inch lift kit but very expensive when you start going this high, I am wondering about panhard rods but 250 quid for not a lot of change. Have taken it out this afternoon and there was a tracdk that it always sledged down but no contact today so this is high enough for me just need to save up for some 285 75 16 tyres next to lift the diffs.

Kind regards

Russell.

[Barrbeast]

Yeh Ian there's a lot more involved with a 4" lift than a 2"lift! Lots of extra bits to be changed including longer brake lines etc whereas a 2" works fine just changing shocks and springs (this is from speaking with Pedders and checking the Patrol4x4 and Nissanpatrol.au forums). 4" is a fair size lift from standard, I hope you're planning to greenlane it with a lift like that!

Russell I think the Pedders figures are taking into account the fact that even their standard springs are stiffer than stock. No point in paying out for a new panhard as like I said above for a 2" there's not any need to change anything but springs and shocks.

Yeh Fez, about the only certainty when you're doing any modding or mending is that things never go as expected! I'm not gonna lie I'm a bit gutted I couldn't get the springs fitted but on the bright side

1) At least I started at the front so I found out I was going to have to give up before I had fitted the rear springs (different shock set up and I reckon far easier to do - fronts are a pain as not only are the springs stiffer to cope with the engine weight, but the front bump stops are inside the spring so you've got a lot to clear just to get the spring out!)

2) Now I'm getting the shocks to go with the springs I can just ditch both my ARBs - I've read the write-up of when the Total 4x4/Total Offroad guys fitted a Pedders 2" lift to their old Y61 and they just threw the ARBs away as the springs were stiff enough to not need them (I've got HD springs for the front anyway so they'll be even stiffer).

Then we'll see some flexing