Suspension change

[Ben g mon]

Hi, mk2 TDI with knackard suspension!

Changing to KYB excel g shocks all round and the -30mm eibach lowering springs (don't need to tell insurance I heard as it's a genuine ford upgrade not Micky mouse set up)
plus gen ford front top mounts  and bearings, cups, shock boots and bump stops (as current top mounts have slight play advised (and is noisy )on January mot test)

I'm just awaiting parts to arrive including swan neck spanner for top mounts and ball joint sissor tool.

The idea was order everything including new cups, get a garage to fit all the front stunt parts then bolt it up at home to keep the time off road down (mega busy household).

Question is aside from lubing up bolts a few days before and wheel alignment after it's all on.... is there anything else to do?

I'm doing it on a driveway so any tips would be great...

Cheers

[johnnyroper]

Top securing nuts corrode and can be a pig to shift,try soaking in wd40 for few days before doing the job. Failing that cut the top cup to allow strut to be removed from car.

When all back together grease the top nut when all tight and fit a rubber glove over the cup to stop the water attacking them again.

[Ben g mon]

Noted...
thanks

[derekod]

Hi, mk2 TDI with knackard suspension!

Changing to KYB excel g shocks all round and the -30mm eibach lowering springs (don't need to tell insurance I heard as it's a genuine ford upgrade not Micky mouse set up)
plus gen ford front top mounts  and bearings, cups, shock boots and bump stops (as current top mounts have slight play advised (and is noisy )on January mot test)

I'm just awaiting parts to arrive including swan neck spanner for top mounts and ball joint sissor tool.

The idea was order everything including new cups, get a garage to fit all the front stunt parts then bolt it up at home to keep the time off road down (mega busy household).

Question is aside from lubing up bolts a few days before and wheel alignment after it's all on.... is there anything else to do?

I'm doing it on a driveway so any tips would be great...

Cheers

I would like to know how you get on with the job, I have just replaced mine with the same struts but I just find the car has a harsher ride with these struts.
If you have the stock struts in place you might have a chance of loosening up the top nut give it plenty of time for penetrating oil to work its way through.
My lower nut under the strut mount was harder to take off and had to use in impact gun.
On my struts the KYB allen key slot is smaller than the oem and can round easily if you don't use the proper size.

[Ben g mon]

Not started yet due to eibach spring kit rethink... and I forgot to order the spring plates..

I've got some KYB springs coming for the front as well, so hopefully should be better matched when "all as one" unit. Rear springs are staying as is because most of the issues are at the front suspension weak shocks and creaking noises being the main reason along with the MOT advisory note about top mounts ( been on there s few times over the years)

I'll oil up the threads before I start next weekend of so, the grinder has some cutting docs if it gets too bad....

[fedstar]

I had a problem with the bolt shearing that holds the Strutt into hub/ hub carrier,
took an age to drill it out, so my advice is to make sure you give those bolts a good going over, a bit of heat from a standard blow torch always helps things, if you where to buy a set of spring compressors then no other special tools are needed, except of course the "grinder" for the top cups ,, Murhahahaha.


Mark...

[Ben g mon]

Now adding driveshaft change to the list... parts here awaiting motivation as was horrific driving back from Windsor at the weekend...
yay for lighter evenings!!!!

[Ben g mon]

Stick a fork in it I've done it!
New shocks all round
Front strut mounts, cups and bearings
Front springs
Front spring plates
Front bump stops and dust covers
Both driveshafts

decided against lowering ones.

Bit of a faf cutting the strut cups off (corrosion to nuts and cups) but otherwise just time consuming double checking and torquing things up.... all with out air tools...

Grease covered the new cups and stuck a latex glove over to keep the water out too...

Drives well after wheel alignment

Once it's all bedded in a bit should feel very sure footed

Ta for all the tips, chuffed with that for a few hundred quid...