Contents: Removal ⇓ Installation ⇓
1. Lid; 2. Vibration damper (only Ford Fiesta/Mazda 121); 3. Upper nut, 50 Nm; 4. Fastening; 5. Lower nut, 60 Nm; 6. Support; 7. Shock absorber bearing; 8. Upper spring seat; 9. Buffer; 10. Cover (cuff); 11. Spring; 12. Shock absorber; 13. Lower mounting bolt (self-locking).
Removal
Remove the shock absorber strut.
Note: To shine the shock absorber, you need to compress the spring with a suitable compressor.
Precautions: Loosen the shock absorber nut only when the spring is compressed with a compressor. This is dangerous!
Insert the shock absorber into the compressor and slowly and evenly compress the spring until the upper spring seat is loose.
Attention: Make sure that the spring coils are securely gripped by the compressor and that it cannot slip off. Be sure to compress the spring in three opposite places. The spring is compressed very strongly, so you should only use a reliable compressor. Never tie the spring with wire - this is very dangerous!
Caution: The upper spring seat nut can only be loosened when the spring is securely compressed.
Unscrew the fastening nut.
Remove the shock absorber support, bearing and upper spring seat.
If you only need to replace the spring, slowly release the spring (1) and remove it together with the cover (2). If you only need to replace the shock absorber, the spring remains compressed. In this case, pull the shock absorber out of the spring.
Installation
Check the shock absorber before installation.
If necessary, compress the new spring.
Note: When purchasing a spring, make sure that the spring you are installing is the correct model, as they vary in stiffness.
Put on the cover.
Place the buffer (3) on the shock absorber rod.
Insert the shock absorber through the spring (5). Make sure that the spring fits correctly into the recess of the lower spring seat.
Place the cover (4) on the shock absorber.
Install the upper spring seat (6) so that the end of the spring fits correctly into the recess in its seat.
Install the shock absorber strut bearing (7) and support (2). Tighten the mounting nut to 60 Nm while holding the shock absorber rod with a hex key. A special socket wrench is required to tighten the nut to the correct torque. (1 - protective cap, 8 - fastening).
Caution: Before tightening the nut, check that the ends of the spring are seated correctly in the sockets.
Slowly release the spring compressor, making sure that the ends of the spring are correctly seated in the recesses of the sockets (supports).
Install the shock absorber strut.