OME springs on RR classic

Anybody have experience installing Old Man Emu springs on a 1990 RR classic?
Can this be done at home or should I pay to have it done? Thanks in
advance.

Hootie

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Hootie) wrote:

> Anybody have experience installing Old Man Emu springs on a 1990 RR
> classic?
> Can this be done at home or should I pay to have it done? Thanks in
> advance.

Depends what facilities you have at home... Spring compressors, jack,
chassis & axle stands would be a minimum requirement.

--
Niamh
4x4 Cymru
http://www.4x4cymru.co.uk

In article <[email protected]>,
"Hootie" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Anybody have experience installing Old Man Emu springs on a 1990 RR classic?
> Can this be done at home or should I pay to have it done? Thanks in
> advance.

I have on Discos, and I can't think they're that much different...

I agree with Niamh, it's not a major job if you have a jack, axle
stands, a socket set and some spring compressors. You don't necessarily
need the compressors, but having tried it without, I'd warn against it.
You can pick up a set for 20 quid at a motor factors, but make sure
they're up to the job - I had a set (from Machine Mart) which bent under
load, which is highly dangerous to say the least.

If you want to try without the compressors, you're going to need to
remove the anti-roll bars, if you have any, and drop the axle as far as
possible at each corner in turn, but watch the brake pipes. You may or
may not find this gives you enough space to get the spring out.

Tip of the Day: put the compressors on the spring when the spring is
already compressed (eg, when removing the old springs, put the
compressors on them *before* you jack the body up) because it saves a
lot of compressing. Ditto when removing them - put the new spring in,
drop the body so the weight is on the spring, and *then* remove the
compressor.

Have fun,
David

>>Anybody have experience installing Old Man Emu springs on a 1990 RR classic?
>>Can this be done at home or should I pay to have it done? Thanks in
>>advance.
>>
>>
Have replaced springs on two RRCs. Both genuine heavy duty and WBH
progressives

Tip [1] You'll need two pairs of spring compressors because a single
pair that is big enough to compress the springs enough to get them under
the rear chassis mounted spring cups (or whatever they're called) will
not fit in the available space. Use them as pairs in turn to compress
the springs before removal and fitting.

'Proper' spring compressors have a pair of 'Y' shaped forgings - the
legs of each 'Y' are connected by the threaded rod and the two fingers
grip the spring. These are small enough fit round the spring in situ
and do not fly off easily but not long enough to fully compress the
spring and do not fly off easily. The cheap and nasty compressors (sub
£20) have only simple hooks linked by the threaded rod. I think that
they are not suitable for use alone on RR springs as the fingers do not
grip the springs. These do slip off and I only use these to hold the
spring while refitting the decent compressors. I resisted paying big
money for the decent compressors and hired them along with the high lift
jack.

Tip [2] You'll be jacking on the chassis to lift the body off the
compressed spring. For this you'll need a high lift jack or lots of
frightening bits of packing. Also a little jack will be useful when you
remove the wheels.

Tip [3] Undo the rear dampers at the axle rather than pulling the split
pins from the top mounting - getting them back can be a real pain.

Tip [4] The bolts securing the plates that holds the rear springs on the
axle can get very rusty - lots of Liquid Spanner!

Tip [5] You might be surprised at how high you have to lift the chassis
off the axles before the springs fall out.

Tip [6] ARBs are best unbolted from the chassis

BOL - it's a straightforward job made hard work purely by the weight and
size of the components and less than brilliant access (at the back)

Richard

--
Real email address is RJS at BIGFOOT dot COM

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Thanks all for your replies...

"Hootie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anybody have experience installing Old Man Emu springs on a 1990 RR
classic?
> Can this be done at home or should I pay to have it done? Thanks in
> advance.
>
> Hootie
>
>

Did it on an 89 RRC. No problems. I too did it without a spring compressor.
The local auto parts store will also rent. Spring compressors may make the
job easier.
How are your springs? If you are going to go through the trouble replacing
the front dampers you might want to think about upgrading the springs to
OME. I got my springs with a 3 in. lift from http://www.rovertym.com .

Good Luck and Have Fun.

"Hootie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anybody have experience installing Old Man Emu springs on a 1990 RR
classic?
> Can this be done at home or should I pay to have it done? Thanks in
> advance.
>
> Hootie
>
>