SpannerRash
New Member
- Messages
- 2
- Drives
- Mondeo
Hi all,
Seems that I have been hit by the coil spring saga on my 2001 Mondeo.
Front Off Side spring has snapped towards the base, roughly 4 inches in from the bevelled/tapered end.
I have purchased another spring and a set of spring compressors and intend on losing a bit of skin doing this myself outside the house. I know I should leave this to the experts in a garage and I should be replacing both sides but needs must, money dictates the game we play and I will get around to doing the other side at another time.
Firstly, can anyone give me an idea of the spanner/socket sizes required for this? I have a selection but don’t want to start this and then get stuck with incorrect tools. I have a selection of metric and Whitworth. Most of them are old and the sockets have seen better days and seem to be cheap naff that no longer have their shape. Not looking good already.
As far as I can tell by having a closer look, this particular job requires the following spanners/sockets but unsure of exact sizes so would appreciate some clarification on these from anyone who has done this or who knows the process on a 2001 (51) Zetec Mondeo 1.8. In burgundy red. (I hear red ones are easier to do!)
Spanner/Socket Requirements?
3 x top nuts = 13 mm?
1 x top strut nut = mm?
1 x Main pinch bolt holding base of strut = 15 mm?
1 x Brake hose bracket nut = mm?
1 x Sub-frame support arm bracket nut = mm?
1 x Steering arm/ball joint nut = mm?
That’s the spanners sorted.
I also only have the one small car jack that was supplied with the car and is in the boot. Jacks up from the side of the car and not from underneath. Any suggestions on any requirements to improve on or add to this?
Now the actual donkey work and process involved.
My understanding of this from reading other disjointed and stark information may be completely wrong so before I actually follow this process I was needing to pass it to you guys for any necessary alterations to the following process if possible. This is what I had envisaged doing……right or wrong!
Sounds so easy when I look back at that. We’ll see.
Anyhow, I’m not even sure I have the correct order of process or if I’ve missed a step or two. I have read that others have completely removed the brake calliper and also split the ball joint but I have also read that others didn’t bother doing this so I have left those out of my process. I may be wrong?
To assist and help others for future ref, I plan to come back with photos and a complete breakdown of my own experience on this process as it happens to me, warts and all, but for now I would really appreciate some help before I go outside in this weather and try to do this.
Thanks.
Seems that I have been hit by the coil spring saga on my 2001 Mondeo.
Front Off Side spring has snapped towards the base, roughly 4 inches in from the bevelled/tapered end.
I have purchased another spring and a set of spring compressors and intend on losing a bit of skin doing this myself outside the house. I know I should leave this to the experts in a garage and I should be replacing both sides but needs must, money dictates the game we play and I will get around to doing the other side at another time.
Firstly, can anyone give me an idea of the spanner/socket sizes required for this? I have a selection but don’t want to start this and then get stuck with incorrect tools. I have a selection of metric and Whitworth. Most of them are old and the sockets have seen better days and seem to be cheap naff that no longer have their shape. Not looking good already.
As far as I can tell by having a closer look, this particular job requires the following spanners/sockets but unsure of exact sizes so would appreciate some clarification on these from anyone who has done this or who knows the process on a 2001 (51) Zetec Mondeo 1.8. In burgundy red. (I hear red ones are easier to do!)
Spanner/Socket Requirements?
3 x top nuts = 13 mm?
1 x top strut nut = mm?
1 x Main pinch bolt holding base of strut = 15 mm?
1 x Brake hose bracket nut = mm?
1 x Sub-frame support arm bracket nut = mm?
1 x Steering arm/ball joint nut = mm?
That’s the spanners sorted.
I also only have the one small car jack that was supplied with the car and is in the boot. Jacks up from the side of the car and not from underneath. Any suggestions on any requirements to improve on or add to this?
Now the actual donkey work and process involved.
My understanding of this from reading other disjointed and stark information may be completely wrong so before I actually follow this process I was needing to pass it to you guys for any necessary alterations to the following process if possible. This is what I had envisaged doing……right or wrong!
- Slacken wheel nuts
- Jack up right side of car
- Remove wheel
- Remove nut/bolt from brake hose bracket?
- Remove nut/bolt from top of sub-frame support arm/swing arm?
- Remove Main pinch bolt holding base of strut?
- Compress springs – if at all required at this or any point during dismantling?
- Remove top 3 nuts from top of the strut?
- Tap down on wishbone frame arm with mash/lump hammer to slide/release base of strut from recess?
- Remove strut assembly completely?
- Remove center top nut from strut?
- Remove snapped spring?
- Slacken off spring compressors if fitted?
- Compress new spring?
- Re - install new spring on strut assembly?
- Tighten top centre strut nut?
- Remove spring compressors?
- Insert new strut unit by positioning 3 top bolts first but kept loose?
- Use jemmy bar to force wishbone down and insert base of strut back into its recess?
- Reposition strut base into recess at correct depth?
- Tighten top 3 nuts?
- Tighten main pinch bolt to strut?
- Reconnect brake hose bracket?
- Reconnect top of sub-frame support arm/swing arm?
- Wheel back on.
- Jack down
- Tighten wheel nuts
- Apply plasters to cut hands and fingers.
- Whinge like a good-un to the misses that I should have taken it to a garage.
- Await the snapping sound of the front nearside spring next week.
- Sell the car and buy a Vauxhall or a bicycle.
Sounds so easy when I look back at that. We’ll see.
Anyhow, I’m not even sure I have the correct order of process or if I’ve missed a step or two. I have read that others have completely removed the brake calliper and also split the ball joint but I have also read that others didn’t bother doing this so I have left those out of my process. I may be wrong?
To assist and help others for future ref, I plan to come back with photos and a complete breakdown of my own experience on this process as it happens to me, warts and all, but for now I would really appreciate some help before I go outside in this weather and try to do this.
Thanks.
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