The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

You need to build up the spring and shock together and to do that you need spring compressors. You dont want to do this by compressing the spring with jacks while under the car. That will lead to serious injury...


Take careful note of the orientation of the rear shock top mounts. They are angled. You get at the bolts from inside the boot 4 each side.

Use a 7/16 14 drive ratchet with a deep socket to get clearance...

Jonners

Hi Jonners, thanks for that and apologies for not being clear. I have no intention of trying the spring compressors lying down under the car!

My worry (which may end up being unwarranted) is that once I loosely attach the shock absorber/spring combo to the body, the lower attachment would not fit into the lower lever arm unless I raise the car body or loosen the lower lever.

So any practical suggestions as to the best way to do it are welcome.

Ham I'm confused, are the springs and shocks assembled?

The way I'm reading this they are.

In which case raise the body, support on stands, attach the lower parts of the shocks to the arms, then raise the axle to locate them on the body.

Bolt in from the top.

Some photos of what you're doing may help.

James

James467 wrote:Ham I'm confused, are the springs and shocks assembled?

The way I'm reading this they are.

In which case raise the body, support on stands, attach the lower parts of the shocks to the arms, then raise the axle to locate them on the body.

Bolt in from the top.

Some photos of what you're doing may help.

James

Yes they are assembled already.

And your explanation is clear - unlike mine. Thanks

If you attach the shock to the car and have the front radius arm mounting off and detach the anti roll bar (if fitted) from the radius arm
you can easily fit the shock base into the arm.

Jonners

Thanks Jon - I was actually doing that while you were writing it.

The trick seems to be to have the lower arm attached to the body while manouvering the lower shock hole as close as possible to the hole on the lower arm, then gingerly raise the lower arm and fit the bolt.