 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Front Shock Absorber Replacement |
 
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| Tommo Member Since: 19 Dec 2013 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 830   
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Managed to buy four take off shocks (delivery miles only
 ) and fitted all four this weekend. Rears were easy, fronts a bit more challenging but the three difficult bits were;
1. taking off bottom nut 2. had to angle grind off top nuts 3. passenger side was a pig to remove out due to A/C pipe running over plastic access turret. Also, had to modify my 19ml ring spanner to gain access to bottom nut. Anyway with four new shocks ride is more precise and strangely so is steering as well as absorbing bumps better. |
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4th Apr 2016 8:01pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20350
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I have changed my front springs today for new and used this method front and back.
Un-bolt ARB and tie up so it doesn't hit the ground. (personal preference.) Remove shock / damper lower nut, then plastic arch shroud section above turret. Then take off turret ring bolts. You can extract the turret and shock in one up through the engine bay. Plastic at the rear can make it difficult, just push it back and it'll just fit by but tight. Place a 250kg strap around the bottom of axle and Spring top mount and tighten up. Then jack up just enough to bring tyre just off the ground and fit axle stand underneath axle then Jack axle down just onto the axle stand. That just means the strap only takes axle weight and body weight on the jack. The axle stand an extra piece of mind when the wheel is off. Then you can remove the wheel and strap. No under axle jack needed. Then you can jack the chassis / body up and axle stays down, never needed to push axle down and springs slotted in pretty much once jacked up enough. I didn't need Spring compressors at all, no need for them. Obviously you never get under it or any part of you and your perfectly safe if you beware of your fingers and keep you body away from anywhere under it. Yes, the strap could slip but it's only the axle its holding just to slightly lift it, nothing more - afterwards the axle stand takes its weight. The main safety critical point is when there is no Spring present at all so that's when to be most careful. Don't forget to fit your turret rings before putting springs in - I made that mistake once. 
Make sure all springs are seated too once bringing down. I've got more to do tomorrow but not the springs. Just thought I would add my method as well as the OP's as everyone may not have similar equipment. Also I'd like to say thank-you to the OP for providing Torque figures especially turret top mount, I'll find that useful tomorrow. 
Here is some photos, these are the old springs, turret rings and seats all of this I've replaced.  Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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4th May 2016 8:20pm |
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| benniferj Member Since: 20 Oct 2016 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 361 
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A little tip on how to stop that shock rotating while you're trying to undo the bottom bolt...
Adjustable clamp holds it nice and tight and can get in between the springs Click image to enlarge |
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7th Apr 2017 10:48am |
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| Coatesyyy Member Since: 07 Sep 2017 Location: Knutsford Posts: 423
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A great "how to"
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18th Sep 2017 10:50am |
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| Fatbaron Member Since: 12 Mar 2016 Location: Devon Posts: 299
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Priceless write up! I'll second the need for spare turret rings. I had 2 bolts sheer on mine!
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31st Oct 2017 4:36am |
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| MJN110 Member Since: 18 May 2015 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 380 
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Just reading this excellent older thread, can anyone confirm that Martin K s procedure is the same for a 2.2tdci? 2016 Defender Landmark 90
2005 Defender CSW TD5 90XS |
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16th Dec 2018 8:33am |
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| williamthedog Member Since: 29 Dec 2012 Location: south wales Posts: 3441 
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It is
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16th Dec 2018 9:36am |
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| MJN110 Member Since: 18 May 2015 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 380
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Thanks William a job for the Xmas break then. 2016 Defender Landmark 90
2005 Defender CSW TD5 90XS |
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16th Dec 2018 11:55am |
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| Keith5 Member Since: 27 May 2016 Location: Scotland Posts: 352 
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Has anyone used this method when putting tubular turrets back in with the new shocks?
Thinking of changing to the Gwyn Lewis ones at the same time. https://gwynlewis4x4.co.uk/product/std-height-hd-front-turrets/ Thanks Keith |
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13th May 2019 1:06pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665 
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Keith - if I do this again / next time I do this - I will buy exactly those turrets
Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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25th Jun 2019 12:49pm |
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| MJN110 Member Since: 18 May 2015 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 380
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Has anybody followed MartinKs method of changing the front shock absorbers on a 2.2tdci ?
I ask as access to remove the shock absorber through the inner wing looks to be a problem? Thanks 2016 Defender Landmark 90 2005 Defender CSW TD5 90XS |
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12th Sep 2019 8:28am |
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| stephan123 Member Since: 18 Mar 2015 Location: London Posts: 282
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Hi,
I made a start today on swapping out the front shocks but fear I may have fallen at the first hurdle
There is a large hose obstructing the cover in the engine bay. Seems fixed and I think it may be part of the aircon system which makes me even more uneasy. There was no mention of this obstruction the guide...just wanted to see if anyone figured a work around. Many thanks Click image to enlarge |
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19th Apr 2020 7:37pm |
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| rsms Member Since: 12 Jan 2013 Location: Home Posts: 36 
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Hello,
I am preparing to replace front shock absorber bushes on my Defender (110 SW, 2002) as front left side developed some noise and upper and lower outer bushes are shot. Bushes on right front side look fine - must I replace both sides? Comparing these nice write-up and pictures to my under bonnet I noticed that it would be hard or impossible to take shock absorber with turret through the inner wing as there is additional plastic under the wheel arch and the hole in this plastic is smaller than the wing hole - see below: [img] Click image to enlarge Is there any other trick involved? Could anyone confirm that part 552818 is correct for my plan? I will also get spare turret rings - just in case 
Thank you![/img] |
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19th Sep 2020 6:34pm |
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| rsms Member Since: 12 Jan 2013 Location: Home Posts: 36
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Just a quick follow up - as the hole above wheelarch was too narrow to remove turret with suspension from the above I did the following:
- remove plastic cap above turret; - unscrew bottom nut; - unscrew four turret nuts; - suppress suspension damper all the way in; - lift turret with suspension dumper fully suppressed up through the wheelarch hole (check that any pipes & stuff above are not in the way) until the bottom end of the suspension dumper is above the spring so you can move it to the side and out of the spring; - now you can lower turret with suspension dumper and remove it. |
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3rd Oct 2020 6:35pm |
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