Hi Guys,

Any tips on rear spring replacement on the SEAT Altea?

I hoped I could just undo the damper top mount and drop out the spring but no dice. Do I need to undo the bottom arm? I didn't have an 18mm socket and spanner handy so couldn't today. Is that the way to do it?

Also, any tips on replacing the front anti roll bar bushes appreciated. I've got power flex replacements but couldn't get the old bushes off last time I tried.

Thanks,
Craig.

Iirc in general it would be a good idea to undo the bottom arm if only to give more clearance to get the spring out..

Hi,
Thanks for that - yes that would normally be my expectation. However, I did some reading on the web before tackling the job and it was suggested that the springs would just "fall out" if the damper was disconnected. This was talking about a Golf Mk5 but I thought the Altea was the same running gear as a Golf Mk5. I guess not...

Cheers,
Craig.

Not sure then, as for bushes iirc the old ones can be cut out... again that's iirc!

Hi,

Just bumping this thread as I'm planning to have a go at this job tomorrow as the spring on the other side at the rear broke tonight. I would appreciate any tips on the easiest way to replace the springs with the minimum dismantling and disruption.

Edit: I'm thinking I'll need to remove the bolt from lower wishbone to hub to allow the lower wishbone to drop far enough. When I tried it previously the lower wishbone couldn't drop far enough due to interference from the trailing arm. The problem at the time was that I didn't have the necessary 18mm socket or spanner to loosen the bolt. First stop tomorrow will be Halfords me thinks...

Thanks,
Craig.

[Edited on 2/3/2012 by craig1410]

Just a quick update in case anyone else has this question in future.

I replaced both springs today and with the correct tools it was pretty easy. The key tool needed was an 18mm ring spanner and socket to undo the outboard lower arm bolt where it meets the hub/upright. I didn't have this last time I tried doing the job. Procedure as follows:

1. Raise car and remove road wheel. Make sure you raise it quite high (eg. the limit of the scissor jack which the Altea has in the boot.) Secure with axle stands.
2. Place a trolley jack under the lower arm under the spring. Take up tension and raise just slightly (1 inch)
3. Loosen the bolt holding the lower arm to the hub. Use ring spanner at front and socket at rear. Remove bolt completely.
4. Lower trolley jack until spring decompressed. remove spring, retaining the upper rubber seat
5. Install new spring with coloured markings towards bottom. Make sure spring is turned clockwise until it hits the stop on the lower mount. This puts the pigtail in the correct position.
6. Install the rubber upper mount before engaging the top of the spring in place. Hold tension by hand until the trolley jack can be placed back under the lower arm.
7. Raise the arm back into position using the jack taking care to keep your body and head out of the way. The spring should stay in place but until the arm gets closer to being horizontal, there is a risk of it firing out at you.
8. Align the hub bush with the hole in the lower arm and put the bolt back in from the rear. This can be fiddly.
9. Before torquing up the bolt, either drop the car to the ground or place an axle stand under the hub of the brake disc and lower the jack to bring the hub up to ride height. This is important with metal-rubber bushes to avoid additional stress.
10. Tighten bolt then reassemble everything. Use thread lock or ideally new bolt and nyloc nut.

I reckon I could do both sides in 30 mins total now that I know the process.

Cheers,
Craig.

[Edited on 4/3/2012 by craig1410]