Removing Springs from Spax Suspension

[Chris R]

Need your help again, sorry.

I've started the refurbishment of my westy and i'll be starting the suspension next.

The coil springs and damper bodies are showing some light pitting of the paint but the dampers are not leaking and the spindles are not showing any signs of corrosion so i'd like to remove the coils and repaint the springs and dampers.

I need to remove the springs from the Spax dampers but my spring compressors are designed for standard car springs and do not fit between the coils.

Does any one have a pair of spring compressors I could borrow in the West Yorkshire area, (in exchange for copious amounts of beer), or could anyone advise where I could purchase a pair from ?

Thanks for your help.

Chris

[Guest]

wind the platforms to their lowest point and the spring should be short enough to slip off .

if not a push down by hand on the top collar should remove it .

I have a set of ordinary spring clamps and they fit 1.9id springs fine you only need to clamp up a few coils as if the spring is really still tight then it may have been to long in the first place ...........

hope that gives you a pointer as i am far from yorkshire............. hang on i have to go there next week  

[Chris R]

Thanks Harv,

The seats look to be wound to the lowest point already but I only offered a token pressure on the spring top earlier.

I'll try winding the springs lower and will apply more pressure to the collar (both hands this time).

Thanks for your advice.

And what's wrong with Yorkshire ? Rugged country side, decent ale, etc etc.  

Chris

[Guest]

It always rains when i go up there .so expect much rain next week ...........

[melt]

Had the same problem with a pair of spring compressors, to big to fit between the coils.  Modified them with the angle grinder, fit perfectly now

Worth doing if you don't need them for tin top.

Mel

[Chris R]

Thanks Melt, may have to follow your advice with care !

Tried to compress the top collar by hand, but with no luck.

Obviously too weak and will have to resort to mechanical help.

I'll take a closer look at the spring compressors and work out how much metal to safely remove.

Thanks

Chris

[deano.1]

The older springs supplied with Spax units from Westfield had a fair bit of pre load and you will need a spring compressor to remove them! I bought some new springs for mine which were shorter but the same rating so no need for pre loading, you can remove them as normal

[Ian Podmore]

As Deano says, the standard Westfield springs will need more than leaning on....  You can get them off without proper spring compressors but it's not easy and not all that safe either.