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Saloon front road spring removal

PhilD
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2016 8:36 pm
Location: Washington

Saloon front road spring removal

Post by PhilD »

Well it's time to strip the front suspension on the V8 Saloon to fit newly acquired power steering.

Looking at several articles regarding removal of the front springs this seems a dangerous task - appreciate most road springs are but with the angle on the Daimler the use of the special tools looks a must. Has anyone experience of making a JD6 equivalent tool, just considering what material the main piece of studding would be best / safest considering the bending moment applied by the spring??

If anyone has any photos and recommendations please?

Phil

tjt77
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Posts: 525
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:01 pm

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by tjt77 »

It should not be a huge challenge to fabricate a suitable tool.. the original as supplied by Churchill consisted of 2 lengths of steel bar, threaded at one end to act as a 'centralizing' device on the lower spring retaining plate.. and a long threaded rod with sufficient hardware to fit in the space occupied by the shock absorber..
removal without special tools is straightforward 'in situ' on a complete car:- with the cars body had on jack stands, and front wheel removed, you can simply put a suitably sized floor jack under the spring retaining plate..jack it to add some tension, then having previously removed the internal shock absorber, remove the 4 bolts for spring plate and gently let the jack down.. spring and lower plate will come out once its lowered and tension is off.. its very difficult to re-assmble without guides to line up the bolt holes however.. but not impossible.. always best to have the correct tools if you can source of fabricate them..

If you view the 'tour of jaguar factory, 1961' on you tube it shows the factory tool in use..

Christopher Storey
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Posts: 404
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 6:40 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by Christopher Storey »

Please, please do not attempt to use tjt77's suggestion for doing this on the car. With all due respect to him, it is a recipe for a serious and possibly fatal accident . The amount of energy in a compressed spring is enormous, and once the damper is no longer present and the bottom spring plate is removed, the potential for the spring to bow out in a curve and to escape is considerable. I can recall this happening in a commercial garage where someone took a short cut, and the spring went clean through one car and through a 9 inch brick wall, fortunately on that occasion without injuring anyone . For precisely the same reason, I will not touch home made spring compressors : the threads can strip, or the rods can just shear . The proper ones are made of forged steel for this reason

clevitt
Posts: 184
Joined: Wed May 18, 2016 1:02 pm
Location: West Hertfordshire

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by clevitt »

I would endorse the comments about the danger of doing this job with home made tools. The correct tool can be hired from Ken Jenkins (01909 733209) , who runs the runs the tool hire service for the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club.
There is a list of all the tools available and the hire charges, in the member benefits section of the JEC website, which states that they are available to non JEC members at a slightly higher charge.
I used this tool when I removed the front springs in order to replace the wishbone bushes of a 2.5 V8 Saloon, and recall having to raise the front end high enough to provide adequate clearance for the spring to uncompress.
If you send me a PM with your address, I can send you copies of JEC magazine articles that cover this work.
Chris

PhilD
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2016 8:36 pm
Location: Washington

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by PhilD »

Thanks all for the advice, I'd rather be save than sorry as I too have seem accidents with road springs getting loose with serious consequences.

Cheers

Phil

CHRIS J
Posts: 53
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2016 7:01 pm

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by CHRIS J »

I have made my own tool to compress the front springs using large high tensile steel rod and long nuts, together with guide bolts and have found it easy to use and easily strong enough.
If you would like details let me know.
Chris

Christopher Storey
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Posts: 404
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 6:40 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by Christopher Storey »

It's been nice knowing you, Chris J

philv8
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:02 pm
Location: Dartford

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by philv8 »

Ive just completed the job with a high tensile threaded rod and 2 x 150mm square, 10mm thick steel plates with holes drilled through the middle.
I was a bit worried about it but it was fine, the beam was off the car and in my workshop.
Im just about to try to rebuild so the job putting them back on may be a bit harder

tjt77
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Posts: 525
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:01 pm

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by tjt77 »

I'd agree that it is far more prudent to use a compression tool modeled on the one used by factory .. but disassembly of front suspension with rest of the the car intact is really quite straightforward as long as one has a good surface, a professional quality floor jack and the car placed securely on jack stands.... as with all components under tension..caution must be employed..(NEVER attempt to remove a front spring from a separate subframe that is not in the car.. or from a car that dos not have its engine in place..unless you have the correct tools to compress the spring) it is far easier with the right tools.. and very tricky to assemble without a tool to compress the spring or line up the spring plate with its bolt holes. ( something i do an regular basis on MG front suspension) to make the compression tool, a normal mild steel threaded rod will suffice.. but again..always best to have the correct specialist tool for the job if you can find one.. I am well aware of the dangers of removing parts under tension.. Ive witnessed what happens when a jack slips etc etc.. it can be dangerous.. its really down to knowledge and experience.. in my case over 45 yrs of 'hands on'.. with all limbs and fingers still intact.. none of this is rocket science.. but if you are unsure and have not done this job before its always best to (a) have the correct tools..(b) find a video of someone actually dong the job and watch it very closely to familiarize oneself with the full procedure.(c) get some experienced help if in any way unsure of what is required.

philv8
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:02 pm
Location: Dartford

Re: Saloon front road spring removal

Post by philv8 »

As i thought the job is harder re installing the springs. Would a press do the job? The whole beam would go into the press but im not sure how much tonnage is needed...Does anyone know?
Cheers Phil

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