Removal and installation of shock absorber and front spring

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

Removing

Remove front strut.



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

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

Compress the spring. Press the thrust bearing off the shock absorber rod and remove the bearing. To unscrew it, you need a curved box wrench. When unscrewing, the shock absorber rod is held by a key with 12 mm internal teeth.



Remove the thrust bearing assembly from the shock absorber rod.


Remove puck.

Remove spring plate with damper ring.

Remove the compression buffer with a plastic protective cover from the shock absorber rod. Attention! When replacing the shock absorber body, the spring can be left compressed, and 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 over tightened. If there is no special tool for unscrewing it, release the spring and unscrew the ring with suitable pliers.

Remove shock absorber from housing.

If necessary, slowly open 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 shock absorber before installation.


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

Install shock absorber and tighten threaded ring to 200 Nm.

Attention! The new threaded ring is coated with a preservative. Do not remove the preservative - it serves as a lubricant and is a corrosion protection. The torque wrench must be at right angles to the KM-563 tool, as shown in Figure D0021.

Install the spring on the lower plate and compress it with the appropriate tool.



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

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



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





Tighten the self-locking thrust bearing nut to 70 Nm while holding the stem with a curved socket wrench.

Release the spring and install the strut.