Tip for when no spring compressors

[Splant]

If you need dismantle front springs but have no compressors just park up in damp barn for 25 years and hey Presto they'll just poing off while dismantling. Mind your jawbone and legs though as they may be broken . Luckily the shorter spring was the one that broke free while the strut was removed, the longer spring released itself undoing the four nuts under the bonnet!
Any idea why the left spring was 38cm long and right one 30cm? They both had the plastic covering on both ends so couldn't have been snapped!

[LooLooSud33Spider]

Quick Tip Steven. Keep all RH Parts together and all LH together They are handed !!

[Splant]

Ok ta , but I guess they shouldn't have different length springs? Or is one lower retainer lower in the strut? (The fatter stanchion,) ?

[LooLooSud33Spider]

No your springs are knackered

[LooLooSud33Spider]

I’ve just looked at your photos more closely it looks like you’ve got a pair of Odd legs One appears to be the early fat strut type and one later thinner
See photo.

[Splant]

Yes the fat one's seized solid but I don't even know which part is supposed to move , is it the fat part bottom pic, or 2nd pic,and what happens if I undo nut at the bottom?

[LooLooSud33Spider]

This bit should slide up and down.

A6608F7C-681A-4015-A8FF-DEAF3FBFEA15.jpeg (36.33 KiB) Viewed 2219 times

[Splant]

Undid the nut tapped the thread but no movement, looks like a big circlip there rusted in as well , dya think it's all kapute ?

[Splant]

Which spring is correct 300mm or 380mm ? Anyone got a picture of what the top spring retainers look like? Cheers

[Splant]

Does the upper spring retainer that's disintegrated on mine no1. in picture bear against the shallow cup no,2 , as this doesn't seem to be very strong in mine either?

[Veesix75]

Yes it does, number 2 sits inside number 1, there is a small cut out / ‘nick’ in no.1 and number 2 has a small sticky out nipple that fits in the nick to ensure it’s lined up

Or it’s the other way round , the Nick might be in 2, either way you should see it easy enough

[Splant]

Thanks ,yes saw the nick in the cup , I doubt I'll find these top retainers anywhere and no idea how to make something suitable.

[Veesix75]

John at justsuds will likely have some. I can’t remember if the sud and 33 top retainers are the same, the bottom spring pans are different.

I’d be tempted to get a 33 front suspension set up as per the other thread.