Removing front shock tubes type 85 coupe

Yonner · 27-04-16, 04:12 PM

Hi guys use my car for work so am a bit worried about fitting my sports suspension, and realising I can't get the front fork tubes out of the struts. Having to keep the car off the road for a while till I sort it is not an option.

Are the strut caps that hold the front shockers in likely to be seized on or are they usually easy to get off?

MS-L · 27-04-16, 04:31 PM

Mine were really tight.
Lots of heat and they came undone eventually....

Hanuman · 27-04-16, 04:41 PM

sometimes, they can be a bitch, depending up how long they've been on, environment, state of the bellows. But with the right tools, you'll be fine. They should be tightened to about 150Nm, to give you an idea.

The hex size is 33mm, I think. There is a special tool that makes it easier (VW2069). Most places resort to stilsons, which just make things bad for later.

If you have all the tools and bits to hand, it's about 1-1½ hrs each side, to drop the strut out, disassemble, reassemble, etc.

Yonner · 27-04-16, 05:01 PM

Not sure if I have a long 33mm spanner but never need to much of an excuse to buy new tools

defo a job for the weekend tho!

Hanuman · 27-04-16, 05:28 PM

It's not a spanner. It's an internal hex. You need something to fit in the hole, that fits over the damper rod. Hence the special tool.

Yonner · 27-04-16, 06:50 PM

Hmm looks like it will be the monkey renches for me going to try and source some spare struts so I can do a strait swap. Dead easy finding parts for the b2

buzzin · 27-04-16, 09:51 PM

Give em a good shock or 2 with a hammer and plenty of wd40, they come off easy enough

Flying Frank · 28-04-16, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzin

Give em a good shock or 2 with a hammer and plenty of wd40, they come off easy enough

" a good shock or two with a hammer" ? Sounds like an aircraft engineer talking!

Hanuman · 28-04-16, 02:22 PM

Aircraft engineer's essential tools-
Hammer*
Condom*

Either hit it, or FCUK it...

*
One size fits all, apparently

Flying Frank · 28-04-16, 03:33 PM

Jeez...I wish I'd flown with you.....I'd have never stopped laughing....

27-04-16, 04:41 PM	#3
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,006	sometimes, they can be a bitch, depending up how long they've been on, environment, state of the bellows. But with the right tools, you'll be fine. They should be tightened to about 150Nm, to give you an idea. The hex size is 33mm, I think. There is a special tool that makes it easier (VW2069). Most places resort to stilsons, which just make things bad for later. If you have all the tools and bits to hand, it's about 1-1½ hrs each side, to drop the strut out, disassemble, reassemble, etc. __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor

27-04-16, 05:28 PM	#5
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,006	It's not a spanner. It's an internal hex. You need something to fit in the hole, that fits over the damper rod. Hence the special tool. __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor Last edited by Hanuman; 27-04-16 at 05:31 PM.

28-04-16, 02:22 PM	#9
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,006	Aircraft engineer's essential tools- Hammer* Condom* Either hit it, or FCUK it... * One size fits all, apparently __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor

27-04-16, 04:31 PM	#2
MS-L Grown up member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 77	Mine were really tight. Lots of heat and they came undone eventually....

27-04-16, 05:01 PM	#4
Yonner Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 16	Not sure if I have a long 33mm spanner but never need to much of an excuse to buy new tools defo a job for the weekend tho!

27-04-16, 06:50 PM	#6
Yonner Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 16	Hmm looks like it will be the monkey renches for me going to try and source some spare struts so I can do a strait swap. Dead easy finding parts for the b2

27-04-16, 09:51 PM	#7
buzzin Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 68	Give em a good shock or 2 with a hammer and plenty of wd40, they come off easy enough

28-04-16, 03:33 PM	#10
Flying Frank 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Kernow, Gods own county !! Posts: 2,388	Jeez...I wish I'd flown with you.....I'd have never stopped laughing....