Argh! Help with 4x4 rear springs

[will_]

Hi All,

 

I tried to replace the rear springs on my 4x4 Octavia this afternoon.  I failed.  The plan now is to limp to a garage tomorrow.

 

I've nearly got everything back together but can't get the bolt through the top control arm - it's as though the arm is too long (and the twist required of the rubber bushing makes it even harder).  Any tips for re-aligning it?

Edited 21 December, 2014 by will_

[SMurphy2000]

May seem like a daft question, but how have you got the car jacked up?

 

When I was replacing bushes on my old Vectra I had to lift the whole backend to get stuff back together. Jacking one side just pushed everything about when it was un-done.

[will_]

Not a daft question at all. Both sides on axle stands (under the sills) so both rear wheels are hanging.

 

Their downward travels seems to be limited by something else - possibly the driveshafts (as it's 4x4). This is the same thing that prevented me getting the springs out in the first place.

 

When I was trying to remove the spring, I disconnected the ARB but now it's connected again. It was a pain in the neck but maybe I need to disconnect it again. I could also try disconnecting the bottom control arms but I'm afraid I'm just going to make things even worse by undoing more bolts.

 

One last thing that may or may not be an option is to limp to the garage with the top control arm disconnected. I really don't want to do this, though, as I'm afraid it will place the drive shaft under an unacceptable compression and damage either it or the rear diff.

Edited 21 December, 2014 by will_

[SMurphy2000]

It's not a job I've dont myself, so not 100% sure what could be going on.

 

Does it look like it's just the way everything is hanging thats causing the problem? May be worth trying putting the jack (or a couple of jacks) under the wishbones and seeing if you can get them sitting in a better position to pulling things to where they need to be.

[will_]

It's booked into my local independent garage tomorrow. They changed the springs a few years ago so I know they can do it.

 

Having now found and read the VAG documentation, it seems you need about half a dozen specialist tools to do it on the 4x4.