I assume you need to use spring clamps to change the front springs on the Octavia ?

I assume you need to use spring clamps to change the front springs on the Octavia ?

They help

Chris

Thats what I thought.

It you dont it could be fun/scary/A&E/death :eek:

I assume the rears drop out easily once the dampers are un-bolted?

Are they separate springs/dampers on the octy?

They do just drop out on the Fabia, then the spring cup drops down and the spring falls out.

Its fun undoing a front strut with no spring clamps. Just make sure to point it away from you, and be prepared to let go of the tools undoing the top as they get ripped from your hands. BOOOOING!

The rears are separate, yes.

I assume any garage monkey can manage to change springs ? I did them on my Corsa with a set of spring clamps and it was easy.

The front damper comes off as one assembly easily enough, but you will need the spring clamps to dissasemble it.

friend of mine had a cheap spring clamp let go once... the spring shot through a corrigated steel roof and landed 200yrds away in a carpark next door... luckily it was saturday and no one was parked in said car park...

Yes you need spring clamps. The two main difficulties with the front struts are

• undoing the nut on the top of the strut and
  
• getting the bottom of the strut out of the hub carrier
  

For the first, I left the struts in the car and took it to my local tyre fitter who undid the nut with an impact wrench. Without it, it's almost impossible to hold the top of the strut still and undo the nut (there's a hex socket in the top of the strut for an Allen key, but the nut is so shallow, and hidden in a recess inside the rubber bump stop, that getting any purchase on it with a ring spanner is hopeless). We pinched the nuts up gently afterwards so I was able to undo them easily with the strut out of the car later.

For the second, a large hammer and lots of elbow grease provide the answer. It's good to put upward pressure on the bottom spring carrier as you pound away on the hub carrier, otherwise the whole structure is too flexible.

For the second, a large hammer and lots of elbow grease provide the answer. It's good to put upward pressure on the bottom spring carrier as you pound away on the hub carrier, otherwise the whole structure is too flexible.

I believe there is a special VAG tool to opens up the hub carrier to just allow you to lift out the strut. At least it works on the Fabia which sounds the same. Think vRStu a part number and a price

Chris

Yep I did try some experiments with a cold chisel to wedge the gap open but you need some kind of tool with a screw to drive a wedge into the slot really. Once I discovered the trick of applying reverse pressure to the spring carrier, it wasn't too hard.

As chris says their is a special tool that VRSStu post up ages ago about. Going into the back on the hub as you turn it it opens the hub enough to take the strut out.

If not like Nick says use a hammer and hit the spring platform upwards.

The rears just undo the bottom damper bolt and the spring will come out.

Not difficult but found it to take alot of time.

Buy the tool!!!