Top shock mount

[rubjonny]

You can buy it from VW and GSF, and apparently Halfords sell it but were unable to get me one when I went in to ask!

You could also make one by grinding an old socket to the right shape

You live anywhere near Bracknell, I have one you could borrow for a bit.

[Horney]

Cheers mate that's a really kind offer. I'm in Henley so not too far from Bracknell. I'm currently ringing round a few of the local garages and seeing if anyone will lend me one. If that fails then I'll try GSF and if they have one shoot down there at lunch. If that fails then I may have to take you up on the offer.

Nick

[Horney]

Right no joy on getting a special tool anywhere so in true bodge-it style I'm making my own.

Take 1 deep socket and attack with angle grinder until it fits.

Wish me luck folks!

[CARPY25]

Don't forget to mark the position of the hub carrier into to bottom of the strut before you remove the two bolts ,don't mix the bolts
up one could have a thinner shaft to allow for the right adjustment   
if you don't your camber will be out and you will eat front tires   
did mine last week "h" plater 14 years old  and the slotted nut came off with pointy nose pliers, if you have an air gun it's a 20 minute job

good luck

             Rob 

[Horney]

I dream of owning an air gun!

[CARPY25]

without an air gun you may need a special socket just to get the top nut  off
if its tight you need to hold the shock rod with an allen key and then turn the nut
if i were you i would try to lossen that before i jacked it up to take the wheel off
could save your self wasting time and doing the work under the arch just to hit a stop
on the top nut

[Horney]

Cheers for the tips CARPY25,

I'll be following the haynes manual and swearing where approriate. Hopefully no dramas. I need it done tonight or no romantic weekend with the missus :-(

Nick

[Horney]

Damn!

I can't even get the first nut off! Given up and hit the beer. Looks like I'm a two car owner who's going to be hiring a car for the weekend!

[CARPY25]

gutting hope you tried the top nut first and didn't lose to much drinking time 

tool you need always on ebay about a fiver or pop down your your local tire bay spin them off with a gun then
use a mole grips on a socket and a 7mm allen key down the middle to retighten to drive it to where your going to do the job
nice and slow do the job  top nuts only 44 newton mts if i remember rigthly so tighten back up should be ok with the mole grips


bet would let you do the job in their car park for a couple of pounds cheaper than a hire car

Rob   

[Horney]

I needed the car for tomorrow lunchtime so a hire car was the only option as the mini has a siezed clutch which I'm fixing next weekend.

I couldn't get the first nut off the shaft just spun. Put an allen key in to stop it spinning and it just would not undo no matter how much we grunted and swore. :-(

THink I'm just gonne chuck it in the local VeeDub garage and hang the expense