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View Full Version : Struts swap valver to 1.4


AmDaMan
19-10-2006, 14:35
In preperation of my engine conversion i'm swapping as many bits over to the 1.4 as I can.

I know the struts on the 1.4 are leaking as well as the strut top bearings knackered, the ones on the valver look new.

So Could I just swap them both over? The thing is mine is lowered a bit on the front so will i need a spring compressor? Are the 16v springs the same as the 1.4 ones? What other bits will i need if I dismantle the struts?
donsrno1
19-10-2006, 17:20
You will only need the spring compressors if you intend to swap the springs from one strut to the other. The springs are interchangeable, but the 16v ones are a higher poundage and you would need them for the 16v engine.

The 16v struts can be used with the 1.4, if and only if, the spacing of the strut to hub bolts on the 1.4 is 54mm. They can be either 52mm or 54mm on the 1.4 but all 16v are 54mm so they need to be the same to swtich them over. If the spacing on the bolts on the 1.4 is 52mm you will need to get some valver/other 54mm hubs in order to fit the 16v struts.
AmDaMan
19-10-2006, 20:03
Which brings me on to my next questions mate:

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/7884/img3323so6.jpg

To remove the hubs do I need to take any other bolts off apart from the ones i've circled? (if I've circled the right bolts) Also do I need any special tools to remove the hub or put the hub back on and how do i disconnect the driveshaft from the hub? Finally will the 1.4 hubs go on to the valver as I need it to be rolling. PS.. will the bearings be intact too?


http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9567/img3319po9.jpg

How the heck do you get that nut off? Is an impact wrench the best way as it's just eating hex keys the bugger!!!

Thanks a lot :)
Laine_16v
19-10-2006, 20:41
Which brings me on to my next questions mate:

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/7884/img3323so6.jpg

To remove the hubs do I need to take any other bolts off apart from the ones i've circled? (if I've circled the right bolts) Also do I need any special tools to remove the hub or put the hub back on and how do i disconnect the driveshaft from the hub? Finally will the 1.4 hubs go on to the valver as I need it to be rolling. PS.. will the bearings be intact too?


http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9567/img3319po9.jpg

How the heck do you get that nut off? Is an impact wrench the best way as it's just eating hex keys the bugger!!!

Thanks a lot :)

Yes undo the nuts on the hub like that and it should come off.

To get the top part in the engine bay off stick an allen key on it, then a 22mm (i think) swan neck spanner over it and turn it as hard as you bloody well can, they are stuff buggers.
unrealneo
20-10-2006, 08:16
Air gun on the strut tops!
BristolSam16v
20-10-2006, 08:23
How do you airgun them then? Don't you have to have an allen key stuck in the top?
Jimmie1.4RT
20-10-2006, 09:59
How do you airgun them then? Don't you have to have an allen key stuck in the top?

The impact will shift them, won't need allen key. They can be damn tight, I took mine down to a mates garage, used his airgun, then nipped them up myself to get home.
AmDaMan
20-10-2006, 12:35
cool, im gona buy and impact wrench now.

Do I need any special tools to remove and refit the hub? Will the bearings stay in the hub?
Winston
20-10-2006, 12:42
Maybe a ball joint splitter

Bearing will not be going anywhere .... very much in the hub :wink:
AmDaMan
20-10-2006, 15:45
Cheers winston! omg I went and got a torque wrench and i'm in love.. how did i cope without one of these before!!! It's awsome, had the strut nuts off within seconds, even the rusty buts on the hub without WD40 or anything... GET ONE :D:D It was £23 from clarke (machine mart) and claims a meaty 250ft/lb torque.


http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1120/img3325ca8.jpg

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5758/img3327vi5.jpg

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1750/img3330go1.jpg
I mean look at the state of that, i know that would have caused me many problems!
AmDaMan
20-10-2006, 16:03
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5758/img3327vi5.jpg




Edit: just got the hub nut off with it too :D How do I get that nut off as the who lot just spins? There doesn't seem to be a bolt head at the bottom of it either?
pat_986
20-10-2006, 17:17
Get a jack underneath it and get some of the weight of the car, then undo, if it spins just jack it up a bit more and try again.
AmDaMan
20-10-2006, 17:38
Cheers Pat, i'll sort that tomorrow then, the other side came off fine though?


http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/5302/img3331yd2.jpg

Can anyone see what's wrong with the struts? :( I wanted to swap em straight to the 1.4 but i guess i'll put the spings off the 1.4 on for now. How much heavier is the 1.8 block?

thanks.
pat_986
20-10-2006, 17:44
Cheers Pat, i'll sort that tomorrow then, the other side came off fine though?

No probs mate, Mine did that, not sure why you sometimes need to do it, May just depend on how tight it was done up previously :?
Winston
20-10-2006, 17:52
I can pick up an energy engine ....a valvers a real bitch to pick up lol
AmDaMan
20-10-2006, 21:42
cool cheers. Ill change the springs when the engine goes in then.

How important is it to renew the retaining clip on the struts when you take the struts apart as haynes is pretty adament that is must be renewed but I can't be arsed to go through renault, unless you can use something else?

Also is it possible to get the balljoint thing off without using a seperator? And will I need a joint compressor or anything when refitting the balljoint?

thanks.
donsrno1
21-10-2006, 15:40
I've been told before that theres no need to replace the clip, but it's up to you as it's not gonna cost much. Some of them have a bolt at the top rather than a retaining clip though and thats the only ones I have done before now.
Laine_16v
21-10-2006, 16:36
Nuts were instroduced as a "revised" item over the circlip, not expsnsive.
AmDaMan
21-10-2006, 17:40
Cheers guys, the struts i've just taken off seem to have the nuts instead of the clip so that's ok.

Right then, just stuck on the final hurdle, how do I remove the hub from this?

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4130/img3332sd7.jpg

Took the bolt out but can't shift it, is this where i need the seperator?

Also can I just put these hubs straight onto the 1.4 without worrying about new balljoints or anything else?

thanks alot :)
BristolSam16v
21-10-2006, 20:29
The way I did it (bit long winded) took the end of the driveshaft out the hub, got a large flat head screw drive and hammered it into the gap at the back of where the ball joint slides in to wedge it apart slightly, jacked up the hub a little bit from the front bit, then banged the bolt out using a punch or something similar ;)
BristolSam16v
21-10-2006, 20:30
ps there is no doubt a much easier method ;)
donsrno1
21-10-2006, 21:40
the way I do it is to use a balljoint seperator which is basically a wedge and pushed the hub up and off. The other option would be to do as BristolSam said and you can use something to wedge open the gap at the back where it clamps the hub to the balljoint.

And no need for new balljoints or anything.
AmDaMan
23-10-2006, 18:28
Just incase anyone's interested this way worked very well (built up from Sams Idea :D)

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/6145/img3344lf5.jpg

and my room is fast becoming a parts dumping ground :shock:

http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/4531/img3352px6.jpg