Tips on front suspension removal...

Quick q, had a rattle front o/s when going over bumps or small pot holes for a couple of years now slowly getting worse. Doesn’t seem to affect anything. Can’t see or feel anything loose or with play so going to dismantle it or at least the springs off. Spring removal then do you have to remove one of the upper or lower links first (above the kingpin) or can you drop the shocker out and then remove the spring? Also would you need a spring compressor on a Commer or should it all be ok without? Thanks all

Jim
 
I took mine out by jacking the van up, putting on axle stands, then pug a trolley Jack under the bottom spring mount. Undid shocker lower bolt, undid the spring seat bolts and lowered the jack down.
 
You can use a length of stud between the upper and lower wishbones to compress the spring, then wind it off when the the spring plate is off
 
There's a picture lower down this page.


The threaded rods are each half of a meter length of studding. That's just a smidge short actually. [edit]Oh, and grease yer nuts on the threaded rod! You don't want the thread wearing out while you're winding them up.[/edit]
 
If I remember correctly you take the damper out and fit the stud in it's place
 
Thanks again. All done, very quick job in the end to get shock and spring out. It had the Hilux upgrade years ago and turns out the bottom shock mounts had a lot of play from the eyelet to the mount itself. Shimmed everything up properly and hope that was causing the annoying rattling. Will check the other side next week and do the same but likely leave the spring in this time
 
Our van had the same issue with rattling, changed the front shocks to hilux, problem solved! As you mentioned, we had play in the mounts too. There is no need to take the spring out, just jack up the bottom to take the pressure off.
 
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