Removal and installation the shock absorber and front spring (Opel Vectra A)

Attention! Shock absorbers can be replaced separately, but springs can only be replaced in pairs.

Removal

Remove the front pillar.



To release the shock absorber, its spring must be compressed. This can be done with a regular spring compressor. At the Opel service station, the KM-329-A device with the KM-465-A hook is used for this.

Caution! The thrust bearing can only be released when the spring is compressed. Compress the spring in compliance with safety precautions. To avoid accidents, do not secure the coils of the compressed spring with wire!

Compress the spring. Press the thrust bearing away from the shock absorber rod and remove the bearing. To unscrew it, you will need a bent open-end wrench. When unscrewing, the shock absorber rod is held with a 12 mm internal tooth wrench.



Remove the thrust bearing assembly from the shock absorber rod.



Remove the washer.

Remove the spring plate with the damper ring.

Remove the compression buffer with the plastic protective cover from the shock absorber rod. Caution! When replacing the shock absorber housing, the spring can be left compressed, but in the case of gas-filled shock absorbers, it must first be removed.



Unscrew the threaded ring from the shock absorber body using the KM-563 tool.

Attention! The ring is tightened with a high torque. If there is no special device for unscrewing it, release the spring and unscrew the ring with suitable pliers.

Remove the shock absorber from the housing.

If necessary, slowly release and remove the spring.

If the strut is to be removed as a set, remove it from the spring compressor and remove the front wheel hub. For vehicles with ABS, disconnect the wire from the ABS sensor.

Installation

Check the shock absorber before installation.

If replacing the strut as a set, install the hub and new wheel bearing.

Install the shock absorber and tighten the threaded ring to a torque of 200 Nm.

Caution! The new threaded ring is coated with a preservative. Do not remove the preservative - it serves as a lubricant and protects against corrosion. The torque wrench must be at a right angle to the KM-563 device, as shown in Fig. D0021.

Place the spring on the lower plate and compress it with a suitable device.



Slide the compression buffer with the protective cover onto the shock absorber rod.

Install the upper spring cup with the damper ring on the spring so that the protrusion fits into the recess.



Put on the spring plate with the damper ring (in this case, the stamped hole 1 should be located almost at a right angle to the end of the spring 2) on the shock absorber rod.






Tighten the self-locking nut securing the thrust bearing to a torque of 70 Nm, holding the rod with a bent open-end wrench with internal teeth.

Loosen the spring and install the rack.