I was better with repairs on the Allroad

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
09/28/2020 at 22:59 • Filed to: None

I’m 0/3 on the Quest

the latest issue is with the springs & struts. We got the spring / strut assembly out. We got it apar t, but we couldn’ t compress the spring on the strut to reassemble it. We we got 3 twists of spring on one side but could only get 2 on the other.

i brought the tool back because the guy said they have a different type. I got that one and the plates it uses are spiral direction specific and of course mine go in the opposite way. I shit you not. We looked this thing over 100 times and 100% we are not dumb. I promise.

I’m going to just drop the springs and struts off at a shop and have them assemble that for me .

DISCUSSION (21)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/28/2020 at 23:34

Mufflers and struts compared to...

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/oppo-911-1788555469

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/its-been-a-rough-year-for-oppo-1790662364

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/oppopinion-time-1786797084

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/fuck-thats-about-it-1752121098

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/this-is-what-happened-1788913189

facw > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 00:46

Maybe it’s because I’m tired, but I have no idea what this means:

We we got 3 twists of spring on one side but could only get 2 on the other

That plate one is interesting, haven’t seen that type. I’m a bit confused as to how coil direction matters since it looks symmetrical, but I’ll take your word on it.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 01:02

Giving a shop an hour of labor in cash to swap out struts you bring them is the way to go. Spring compressors are one of the relatively few things on a car you actually really can kill yourself doing, and ones good enough to trust your life to cost all the money.

Sovande > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
09/29/2020 at 05:59

You’d have to try awfully hard to get killed by a Ma cPherson strut. The load on the spring is not the same as say a a captive spring on the front end of a 1972 Thunderbird.

diplodicus forgot his password > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 06:32

You could have been fine with the first set. In my experience you don’t want to compress the springs too much. A little spring tension on the perch helps break the nut free.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Sovande
09/29/2020 at 07:17

i bet if you just released the nut on the top of the spring you would end up with a broken wrist at least. i tried using 2 wood clamps to get the last inch of so i needed and there was no chance it was going to happen .

OPPOsaurus WRX > facw
09/29/2020 at 07:20

Kinja'd!!!

that is the 2 vs 3 tw ists.

T he spring is angled as it goes up so if you used a flat plate you would o nly put pressure right on the edge of the plate . The plates were slanted so that the tool would still sit parallel to the strut but the plate would sit flat against the sloped spiral

OPPOsaurus WRX > diplodicus forgot his password
09/29/2020 at 07:22

we should have been fine with the first one but just couldn’t get the right position. the picture below shows better what the issue was. what we could get the tool on wasn’ t over compressing , we just needed to compress more of the overall spring.

Kinja'd!!!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
09/29/2020 at 07:23

did you save those to make yourself feel better when you face an repair challenge ? “well it could be worse, I could be in the rain under an Allroad.”

Sovande > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 07:37

Yeah, that’s probably true. I think the death-by-spring scenario is more likely with a double wishbone suspension where the spring is fully loaded up and aimed at you.

facw > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 08:07

Thanks for the diagram! That would have concerned me as well. You don’t need to have the exact same number, but only having one loop to compress doesn’t seem good.

diplodicus forgot his password > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 09:00

Thats always how its been when I’ve compressed springs.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Sovande
09/29/2020 at 09:42

They’ll do permanent damage to your face and require you to drink through a straw for a couple months. Seriously.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 09:43

Ooh! Widowmakers! Just take the struts to a shop.

OPPOsaurus WRX > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/29/2020 at 09:45

i dropped them off this morning on the way to the office. The only problem is that I might never get to leave the office tonight. There is a big proposal due and a lot of work left on it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 09:49

Until I read your last sentence I was like WTF!? It's early for me.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 10:19

I just searched your name and “ allroad” and I had more options that I could handle.

krustywantout > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/29/2020 at 11:44

I’ll just leave this right here.

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/d/revere-2003-audi-a6-all-road-27-quattro/7205074721.html

OPPOsaurus WRX > krustywantout
09/29/2020 at 16:09

thats a lotta $ for that.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Sovande
09/29/2020 at 16:28

I’ve seen the hole in the outside wall of a shop from a spring compressor and attached impact wrench that went through the wall after the compressor slipped off the Miata strut. 18 inches left and that might've been a hole through the apprentice. The owner decided after that it was time to pony up for a big dollar, floor mounted spring compressor.

Sovande > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
09/29/2020 at 18:09

I’m not able to picture what you mean, but I’ve never seen a spring compressed very much in a MacPherson strut. I’ve always compressed them a small amount and then undone the struts. I can’t imagine how that would go through a wall.