Rear spring stuck in upper seat

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T

Twinnie

Active Member
Posts
114
Location
Morocco
I don't know if it's called a seat but the thing rear spring goes into at the top. I went to change my rear springs today thinking I could easily do both and find time to fix the front windscreen washer. I didn't even manage to get one spring replaced because when I went to remove it after dropping the axle I found that the spring is completely stuck in the top seat thing and no amount of crowbarring or hammer banging would get it out. There also appears to be a spring isolator installed but it's not actually on the top, it's on the next ring down. I suspect it's a HD spring that was fitted by a previous owner so I'm not sure if they tried to be clever when installing and did something weird.

Anyone got any ideas?
 
Have you looked to see if they have put a jubilee clip on to hold the spring in place ?
As for isolator ring they are just rubber rings to stop vibrations.

Only other tip is to use a jack under tow hitch,axle stand under oposite side,remove the wheel(side without the axle stand) and let it droop down on another jack. This will add a bit of pressure to release it
 
Stick a picture up.
Sounds to me like the isolator or whatever it is may have some form of fixing to hold the spring in place?
 
Photo would be good, in general nothing holds them at the top.
Are they longer springs and the axle not dropped down far enough, is that possible?
 
Thanks for the replies. Here’s a link that I hope works:

iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud

View, organize, and share photos and videos with iCloud Photos on the web. Changes will sync across your devices with iCloud.
share.icloud.com share.icloud.com

The axle is dropped low enough, there’s about 4cm at the bottom clear. I actually forgot to remove the retainer at the bottom until after I’d dropped the axle and got the spring compressors on a little, when it came off the whole spring popped up, which is what made me realise that it was stuck. There must have been quite a lot of pressure pulling it down.
 
Last edited:
It looks a bit like the side of the upper spring seat has got knocked in slightly and that may be gripping the spring. A little judicious hammering is indicated.
 
lynall said:
Stick a picture up.
Sounds to me like the isolator or whatever it is may have some form of fixing to hold the spring in place?
Click to expand...
Looks like that to me too. Not long changed mine (110) and they are snug up there.
Oops! Quoted the wrong post, meant the one by Brown.
 
tottot said:
Looks like an oversize spring has been forced in. Is yours short or long wheelbase?
Click to expand...
110 TD5. I wouldn’t be surprised to find it’s got some random spring on it, it’s had a few farmyard fixes.

Just had another look at it. It doesn’t look like the seat is damaged but the spring does look like a tight fit. Maybe it is an oversized spring.

But how should I get it out? I need something like a ball joint separator to get it out I guess?
 
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So you have clearance below the spring/axle? If so get a bar something like a tire lever and wedge between upper coils and beat the crap out of it.
 
I have a bit of clearance at the bottom but only a few cm, and I’ve thought about cutting it off but if the worst comes to the worst I’d probably like to be able to take it to a mechanic. I guess I could hack away at the spring until there’s a lot less of it and hopefully it’ll be weak enough for me to prise it out, but I’m not sure the neighbours would appreciate me using an angle grinder that much.

I think what I’m going to do first is slide some flat piece of steel across it and then get a gear puller on the inside of the seat, pushing down from the top. Maybe I can just force it out until it gives up. There’s a good chance I’ll have to do this on the other side.
 
Anaconda said:
Did you get the spring out or are you still at it?
Click to expand...
I got it out. All my plans failed and in the end I just went at it with a crowbar and a hammer. The seat thing wasn’t bent or anything, I think it had just corroded together. Once I got it out I applied a load of that thick anti-rust paint and whacked the new one in. The other side came out no problem.
 
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