Arctic2

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2025

• #1

The near side front spring cracked today just as i was pulling onto my drive, same old story most springs seem to break/snap this time of year at least up to early March anyways, most likely already air line crack and the cold weather as helped it along, photo below of the pigtail bit i found on the under tray.

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This as happened on My07 what springs are we using for the FL2 manual any preferences and where to obtain before i go looking, any and all links ideas would be appreciated.

The rest of the spring is seated nicely in the cup, you can not really tell by looking at the FL that the spring has lost it's tail end a still drives ok, but would not want to go off road with it, i will be replacing both sides at the same time.

 

Arctic2

Well-Known Member

• Feb 18, 2025

• #2

I think i have managed to find a good strut and spring for the TD4

 

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

• Feb 18, 2025

• #3

Is this a common thing on F2?

 

Arctic2

Well-Known Member

• Feb 18, 2025

• #4

GrumpyGel said:

Is this a common thing on F2?

Click to expand...

happens to all cars here in the UK around this time of year, so not solely common to FL2

 

Arctic2

Well-Known Member

• Feb 21, 2025

• #5

Well today i decided to try the old method as above and got the bolt moving nicely, little at a time using heat, plus gas, long bar and a long ratchet.

You can what i was dealing with below.

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After a while slowly got it started and the bolts was moving, so tightening and undoing bit by bit.

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The disaster stuck and the bolts snapped.

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Now i have the task of trying to remove the thread out of the hub :blub:

 

Arctic2

Well-Known Member

• Feb 23, 2025

• #6

So the update so far is the sheared bolt as now been cut in the middle, and I've managed to drill the bolt out to 7mm just leaving about 3mm until you would damage the thread in the hub few photo as always below.

Jack up remove the wheel turn it so you get better access.

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Remove drop link and any wiring in the way.

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Used grinder to make the cut in the centre of the clamp.

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Just touched it at first.

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Then a little bit more.

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Finally right through.

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I then started to drill out the threaded part of the bolt.

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Managed to drill through with 7mm drill bit, tomorrow will see me trying to remove the rest of the bolt

 

Freddie17

Can’t reMember

Full Member

• Feb 23, 2025

• #7

I hate snapped bolts

 

Arctic2

Well-Known Member

• Mar 1, 2025

• #8

Ok so just a quick report, after a few days of trying to slowly drill out the sheared bolt i gave up, decided to get a second hand hub from a local breaker on Thursday morning, spent another few hours cleaning the hub up.

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wire wheeled and scraped then added some anti rust proofing.

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Left that to dry the rest of the day to tackle the bottom ball joint :blub:

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What a nightmare that turned out to be, more info to come.

 

Freddie17

Can’t reMember

Full Member

• Mar 1, 2025

• #9

Arctic2 said:

Ok so just a quick report, after a few days of trying to slowly drill out the sheared bolt i gave up, decided to get a second hand hub from a local breaker on Thursday morning, spent another few hours cleaning the hub up.

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wire wheeled and scraped then added some anti rust proofing.

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Left that to dry the rest of the day to tackle the bottom ball joint :blub:

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What a nightmare that turned out to be, more info to come.

Click to expand...

Absolute nightmare indeed.
All caused by 1 bolt.

I hope I have better luck…