GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 16:51

Title: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 16:51
is this just because i dont have a spreader tool that i cant remove my strut from  the strut mount?
surely if theres this much play the strut should be able to come off...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9edeY07jrpw&feature=youtu.be
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Wazzzer on 21 January 2012, 17:22
drivers side?
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 17:25
that was yes
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 21 January 2012, 17:27
Get a nice big bar, wedge it under the shaft and above wishbone, secure one end under the chassis and get someone to stand on it. 
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: dilbert on 21 January 2012, 17:28
You have to leave the top mount tight. Lever down the lower arm whilst knocking the hub down the suspension leg.

Use a copper hammer so it doesn't damage the hub
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 17:29
Get a nice big bar, wedge it under the shaft and above wishbone, secure one end under the chassis and get someone to stand on it. 
tried, at one point i even had a jack pushing down on top of it and still no movement  :shocked:
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 17:30
You have to leave the top mount tight. Lever down the lower arm whilst knocking the hub down the suspension leg.

Use a copper hammer so it doesn't damage the hub
that is with the topmount tight  :lipsrsealed:  and was using a big copper hammer/mallet type thing, still cant get it any further down  :undecided:
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 21 January 2012, 17:30
ARB drop link undone?
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Wazzzer on 21 January 2012, 17:34
drivers side is harder as it doesn't drop as far
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 21 January 2012, 17:35
Id undo the shaft and ler it slide out to allow the hub to slide right down.....nothing stopping it then.
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 17:55
ARB drop link undone?
yepp
Id undo the shaft and ler it slide out to allow the hub to slide right down.....nothing stopping it then.
and ah ok will give that a go, im guessing by "shaft" you mean driveshaft? if so how do you undo it? never had to take it off so wouldnt know and its too dark for me to go out and investigate now :D
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 21 January 2012, 17:56
Just unloosen the driveshaft nut but leave it on a few threads and push it through
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 18:00
Just unloosen the driveshaft nut but leave it on a few threads and push it through


so were the driveshaft mounts near the hub/wheel/break ect ect ect. there is a nut there, undo it so its almost off then does it just slide out?

is the metal that it attaches to in a U type shape or something ?
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Wazzzer on 21 January 2012, 18:01
I had some spring compressors clamped on mine to help give a bit more room
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 21 January 2012, 18:06
Just unloosen the driveshaft nut but leave it on a few threads and push it through


so were the driveshaft mounts near the hub/wheel/break ect ect ect. there is a nut there, undo it so its almost off then does it just slide out?

is the metal that it attaches to in a U type shape or something ?

The big 32mm but in the middle of the brake disc.
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 18:11
Just unloosen the driveshaft nut but leave it on a few threads and push it through


so were the driveshaft mounts near the hub/wheel/break ect ect ect. there is a nut there, undo it so its almost off then does it just slide out?

is the metal that it attaches to in a U type shape or something ?

The big 32mm but in the middle of the brake disc.

ahh i see so will i have to take the nut compleatly off? or if i just loosen it will that give me enough leeway to knok everything further down and hopefully get the strut off?

or once its loosend will it somehow push through so its no longer attached?
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 21 January 2012, 18:18
Yeah, the shaft will push through the hub.  Loosening it, but not removing it MIGHT give you enough room.
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 21 January 2012, 19:06
Yeah, the shaft will push through the hub.  Loosening it, but not removing it MIGHT give you enough room.
ah ok cheers, will give it a go tomoro :)
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: houston on 22 January 2012, 20:23
just a thought, are the bottom ball joints seperate to the wishbone like a mk3 or is it one piece? just it could be easier to undo the 2 bolts and pull the whole hub assembly down, obviously being careful.

or is it the arb keeping it up?
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: dilbert on 22 January 2012, 20:44
just a thought, are the bottom ball joints seperate to the wishbone like a mk3 or is it one piece? just it could be easier to undo the 2 bolts and pull the whole hub assembly down, obviously being careful.

or is it the arb keeping it up?

same as my3 mate, arb link bolts onto the side of the lower arm
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: andc1 on 22 January 2012, 21:25
why you undoing the drive shaft? undo the subframe bolts slightly on that side and that will give you the space to get the strutt away
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 23 January 2012, 13:26
Out of interest. whats the best way to undo the bolt for the driveshaft?

didnt get anything done on yestrday cause i went out sat and spend most of sunday hanging off the toilet bowl :sick: :grin:

one of my mates said stick a screwdriver in the disk in the vent type things in the centre and turn it so its resting on the caliper and then use a breaker bar? Any chance that this would knak the disk?
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: andc1 on 23 January 2012, 14:22
The hub should be dropping down enough for you pull away the strut, on drivers side it will sit on the sub frame so just undo the 2 main bolts halfway and that will allow room , don't be sticking screw drivers anywhere! Lol
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 23 January 2012, 16:17
The hub should be dropping down enough for you pull away the strut, on drivers side it will sit on the sub frame so just undo the 2 main bolts halfway and that will allow room , don't be sticking screw drivers anywhere! Lol
yeah i was only gonna do drivers side. and two bolts? i thought it was just one bolt in centre of disk?

And yeah didnt like the sound of his screwdriver method :D
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 23 January 2012, 16:27
why you undoing the drive shaft? undo the subframe bolts slightly on that side and that will give you the space to get the strutt away
Thats a STUPID idea.  Why on earth would you do that?

Worst comes to the worst, you ould have to undo the balljoint bolts.....even then you would need the shaft loosened otherwise it wouldnt drop down!
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: houston on 23 January 2012, 16:37
why you undoing the drive shaft? undo the subframe bolts slightly on that side and that will give you the space to get the strutt away
Thats a STUPID idea.  Why on earth would you do that?

Worst comes to the worst, you ould have to undo the balljoint bolts.....even then you would need the shaft loosened otherwise it wouldnt drop down!

i wouldnt say its stupid, i wouldnt recommend that way to anyone but it would still work.

personally id remove the drop link and ball joint and see if i could pull the hub forward out the way, i have nothing but bad luck when it comes to removing driveshafts, but thats just me
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 23 January 2012, 16:44
Would you even get enough movement in the subframe?  I imagine you only get about 1-2mm!

Sounds like you can compress the spring up a lot more aswell
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: scarr89 on 23 January 2012, 16:59
Out of interest. whats the best way to undo the bolt for the driveshaft?

didnt get anything done on yestrday cause i went out sat and spend most of sunday hanging off the toilet bowl :sick: :grin:

one of my mates said stick a screwdriver in the disk in the vent type things in the centre and turn it so its resting on the caliper and then use a breaker bar? Any chance that this would knak the disk?

Stick it in gear to stop it rotating? What I did  :smiley:
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 23 January 2012, 17:02
Gears along wont stop it.

If its a big enough heavy duty screwdriver it will work, no damage to disc.

Or get a mate to stand on brakes while you crack it off?
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 27 January 2012, 13:44
just went to do it with out removing driveshaft by using spring compressors to stop the strut/spring decompressing, bloody spring compressors are too long to get under the part the spring is seated on, dont really want to cut up a brand new pair of spring compressors just so i can do this so was thinking, if i got a saw, cut the old spring so theres no longer any tension will this work? :grin:

dont really want to be taking the driveshaft off if i can do it this way cause this ways easier by the sounds of it  :grin:
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Wazzzer on 27 January 2012, 14:08
One thing you could try is cable tie the spring when it's compressed (I take no responsibility for any accidents)

use loads of thick cable ties if you have them
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 27 January 2012, 14:09
thats one thing i was thinking, though dont have any thick ones, only thin ones :/ and nowere around here sells thick cable ties or anything remotly like that  :sad:


hmm wonder if i have any chains in the shed :D
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: dilbert on 27 January 2012, 20:16
put it back together and take it to a reputable garage mate
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 27 January 2012, 21:52
Try moving the clamps closer together?
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: RhosneigrGaz on 28 January 2012, 08:36
DO NOT CABLE TIE SPRINGS TOGETHER!  :shocked:  :shocked:  :shocked:

These things have enough tension in then to take ur face off if they let go, and ur face will more than lkely to be in they way when it will go!

I know we've all done stuff like that but seriously not worth it... "If a jobs a worth doing its worth doing proper!"  :smiley:
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Wazzzer on 28 January 2012, 08:42
Not when you've spent this much time on it  :laugh:
Title: Re: removing strut
Post by: Chris. on 28 January 2012, 12:56
Just loosen the bolt on the shaft.

Or the harder way and undo the 3 bolts on ball joint.