Replacing Front struts

[steve c]

Not had the car long but a bit of sods law, found a damp patch underneath the o/s front wheel. Close look revealed a leaking front strut. These things happen any time any place so decided to change top mounts, struts, springs and dust covers. Haven't found any bump stops yet online but might see the condition of the old ones when off the car.

Looks a reasonably straightforward job, unlike the mk1 TT I run as a daily driver (the struts slide into a female housing in the hub and a pita to pull out) The Mr2's are bolted to the hub-good news.

When all the parts arrive I'll set to and post a picture of the finished article

[_Al_]

If memory serves (!) it’s not a difficult job. Bit I had the most trouble with was getting the brake pipe retaining clips out… rusted solid and that was back in 2009 ish.

Good luck!

[steve c]

Thanks for the advise. Yes, probably the biggest challenge working on brakes/suspension etc on older vehicles is shifting rusted and previously untouched fixings.

I've found on previous cars, sometimes factory fixings' torque/tightness are 'tight as f**k' Recently replaced the rear brake pads on brother in law's skoda. Biggest problem was loosening the caliper bolts. With a power bar I failed. 16 stone brother in law had to use his full force to 'crack' them.

I've got a couple of cans of 'professional' penetrating oil, similar to plus gas. Usually give anything I work on a spray before starting any work.

[JRD93]

It's attached in 3 places, the top 4 bolts for front and 3 for back. 2 attaching it to the hub and then 1 bolt attaching to the anti roll bar links.

Top bolts will come off easily. Hub bolts are put on at like 150-190nm so a breaker bar would be needed. Funnily enough the hardest one is the anti roll bar link, it's a hex key in the middle to stop it rotating and then a hex to loosen the nut. I had to cut my anti roll bar links so expect that.

Once you have the struts off you'll need a spring compressor and an air gun to take the top nut off, you can try a socket on the top nut but it will spin the strut and not loosen. Some may have to vice grip the strut, use a towel if you don't want to damage it. Once the spring and top hat is off, you have the strut nut I guess you call it. A vice and pipe wrench was needed for mine, by far the hardest I've had to work to remove something off the car.

[jimi]

Know Your 2

[_Al_]

This thread has been really useful. I was about to offer to help someone with theirs and now I’m seriously questioning my wisdom!

[steve c]

Thanks JRD93 and jimi. All great info'!

[_Al_]

Know Your 2

Hang on a moment. I think we have a mis-mk-ing issue….

[jimi]

Yes, Poohbears article is on the MK2, but both all 3 MK's use a similar MacPherson setup front & back so the principle is the same.

[JRD93]

No problem. Taken a full set of struts off a scrap car so I could convert a set to coilovers, I ran into all the problems trying to get them off.

Forgot to mention previously that you can buy the covers and bump stops from MR2 Ben and a few others places, if you just want the bump stops I'm not sure where to get them individually and you should be able to re-use the old ones.

[steve c]

Thanks for the advise JRD93. Yes I thought I might be able to re-use the old bump stops.

I looked again on ebay for some earlier today and this time MR2 Ben actually came up as a cover/stop set. I decided to order them (the covers I previously ordered are from abroad and noticed that may not arrive until 10th jan)