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'92 front coil replacement Lumina Z-34


LMP
04-22-2007, 02:07 PM
1992 Lumina z-34: (or similar Euro..) Was somebody able to replace this spring (broken in 4 sections) without completely taking the strut away from the car as suggested in Autozone manual? No problem with the cartridge, done that...but for the spring, I was thinking , maybe by disconnecting the roll bar and even unbolting the lower suspension table from the frame (the bolts are an easy reach) , it could get low enough and give way to insert the compressed spring ....
I'll go full procedure if needed, but knowing in advance I could save a few steps, I,d like....!

LMP
04-24-2007, 03:59 PM
It turns out both coil springs are shot: the right one has less than one turn broken at top. (Edit: found to be broken at both ends once removed). Just starting the removal process: the entire strut has to go, not unusual, but on this model, this includes removing caliper and disk, disconnecting tie rod, ball joint, and pushing drive shaft out of bearing....a real messy concept! Will take a few photos "for the record". Back in a few days.

LMP
04-28-2007, 12:33 PM
Done. Anyone doing that take very good notice and apply very visible marks to keep unmistakable indication of relative position of all components, from bolt pattern and position on top, top rubber cushion, bottom rubber cushion, and bottom metal plate position. All of these are highly critical and just missing a point obliged us to go again for compressing the springs and get all of it properly oriented. Compressing the springs is best..mean, necessarily, done at specialised shop; not a job for common rental spring compressors.
PHOTO1 (www.avigex.ca/z34/z34spring1.jpg)
PHOTO2 (www.avigex.ca/z34/z34spring2.jpg)
PHOTO3 (www.avigex.ca/z34/z34spring3.jpg)
PHOTO4 (www.avigex.ca/z34/z34spring4.jpg)
PHOTO5 (www.avigex.ca/z34/z34spring5.jpg)
Comment: the original springs must have been improperly hardened just seeing the level of destruction of both : it is hard to believe the car could still run apparently not too far from normal ! Yes, it was somewhat low, but not that much ! Most of the front weight of the car was passed via the enornous roll bar to the side still having something parent to an operational coil spring. Out of 5 coil turns, there were 2 1/2 turns remaining on left hand side, 3 1/2 on right side.

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