I'd definately do the top mounts whilst it's stripped down.

As someone said it's not that dangerous a job...as long as you have the right equipment!

I remeber seeing a thread (maybe even on here) of someone who used cable ties which snapped as he was releasing the nut, needless to say it left him with a good scar!

Don't change them if you don't need to buddy, I put fairly new ones on but only cause I had them otherwise I wouldn't of bothered

Actually scrap that, change them!! Because you'll need to one day, and when you realise how long winded the fronts are, you won't wanna be taking it all off again. Just remembered how dull it was

Undo top nut (19mm) youll need a cranked spanner or an airgun, either has flats to hold with a small spanner or allen key to stop damper shaft rotating.

Jack up, undo driveshaft nut, track rod ball joint, caliper bolts, hang caliper up somewhere, knock driveshaft out with a soft faced hammer if tis tight.

Remove lower ball joint and trackrod ball joint, remove hub/strut/spring from car.

use your halfords (laser?) spring compressors, undo top nut (modifiy a deep 13mm socket, or buy a castle nut socket from GSF (about a fiver) ) swap spring and fit your new top mount too (they're not expensive)

refit in reverse order to relavent torque figures.

thats sound good but who do i buy top mounts from ?

GSF ?

oh i forgot all about them will check them out thanks

You can do it with the car is situe if your a dodgy bastard. leave everything attached on the floor and undo the top mount nuts, if it spins put a set of mole grips with a cloth on shock aborber. then undo everything as normal.

take it you have done it like this if i can want to do it the safe and correct way

Me and a mate managed it without spring compressors, good old rope attached to the spring - Yank and run!.....

then agian we where stripping the car didnt really care what happened to it

I can't see how you'd get the spring out in situ, unless you compressed it to nothing and pushed the damper rod all the way in

lol rope nice and cheap though i got pleanty of the heavy duty blue rope

Yeah I did mine the other day and I have no idea how you would manage it without taking the whole thing off. I also used ratchet straps to compress the spring, worked a treat and not a single scar on my body came from it!

am sure i got some ratchet straps still can not help but feel I'm going to f**K IT UP :sad:

Front - Remove both top nut and castle nut with the car on the ground.

Rear - remove top nut with the car on the ground.

That way you don't need a spring compressor, the springs will open up entirely as you lift the car. Reversal is reversal. Spring compressors are dangerous, and you don't need them with this car.

Don't do anything you don't have to do. For example, if you're changing front dampers? You don't need to remove the struts! Or the springs. Just lift the weight off the spring enough to dislodge the top mount, then pass the damper up through the hole in the turret out the engine bay (and drop new one in same way).

Some people make these cars out to be so difficult to work on..

you need to undo something else, jacking it up with the top nuts off didnt allow anywhere near enough space for removing the spring dude :S

Saying that I didn't really try, and mikey should know

Front - Remove both top nut and castle nut with the car on the ground.

Rear - remove top nut with the car on the ground.

That way you don't need a spring compressor, the springs will open up entirely as you lift the car. Reversal is reversal. Spring compressors are dangerous, and you don't need them with this car.

Don't do anything you don't have to do. For example, if you're changing front dampers? You don't need to remove the struts! Or the springs. Just lift the weight off the spring enough to dislodge the top mount, then pass the damper up through the hole in the turret out the engine bay (and drop new one in same way).

Some people make these cars out to be so difficult to work on..

yes am changing dampers aswell as the springs

Can not see how you'd get a spring out of the gap in the turret on the engine bay?

Can not see how you'd get a spring out of the gap in the turret on the engine bay?

no myself think that not posible

You release the spring in situe, then undo the strut as normal and take it out, mikey is right you can do it on these without a spring compressor. esicially if your replacing then with lowering springs.

not saying he is wrong and am happy for all the help

Deffo get a hand to do it, and as above replace the top mounts as they are usually fucked :)

Can not see how you'd get a spring out of the gap in the turret on the engine bay?

wings where off and 2 people pulling on the rope

You can only remove the dampers out the turret, cant pull the springs out the top!

Spring length varies but factory ones are well long and you'll need to undo one of the arms for them. I always drop the ARB and bottom arms but you shouldn't have to with lowered springs.

I've only got one pic showing the process and for some reason i'd removed the ARB here, bit of a proof fail then, but i swear i've done it more than once before without removing it. In any case both sides must be off the ground if the ARB is in any way connected.

The springs in the pic were 30's.