Galant Inserts & Springs

[EVL076]

hey all, got new strut inserts and kings today

never changed inserts before, and was just wondering if its a simple as it looks?

IE, plan of attack was gonna be:

remove strut assembly from car
compress spring, undo top "hat"
take spring out
undo insert nut, take insert out

new insert in, do up nut
compress new spring, replace top hat
refit back to car

is it that easy? is there anything else i need to know?

maybe now Grandpa G wont handle like a boat

cheers

[lpgalant]

mate, spot on, ps, tufsig is gonna freight that gate to u, i have no time man, truck takes up to much time lol.

[astronturbo77]

yeah mate its that easy, just two tips, make sure you have proper spring compressors and the kings springs wont be as low as you want, i have chopped two sets before.

[81GL]

Just another note, make sure you have the strut nice an secure to undo the nut which holds the shocker.

Made up a holder which bolts to the base (with those 3 bolts) and can clamp it in the vice, then with the aid of a rather large stilsen...
Make sure you do it back up the same too (aka... firm/tight)

Nick.

PS: as above, what springs did you get? if there just the lows - KDRL-83 You will probably want it lower later

[EVL076]

cheers fellas

not after a lowered look, its a drag car, no need for it to be dumped
and lowered dont suit Grandpa spec either

will have a look at the part number and let ya know, but i didnt order them, i brought them from Damo (brand new in box tho) cos he never used them when he owned my green galant - but he said he ordered normal lows when he got them

either way, with the new bits, it should corner a bit better, and not so much like a boat

[Tj.]

Hey cool!, we're doing the same thing today!

I picked up a tip from a freind. When undoing the nut on the strut top, use a rattle gun (if you have such luxury) that way it won't rotate the insert.

I got the 50mm lowered ones and I'll get photos of how it goes.

[EVL076]

yeah got a rattler!

just checked the numbers, and they are standard height kings
which is no drama for me, cos like i said, grandpa g dont need to be low

[Tj.]

I put the new struts together, but they didn't make it into the car on the weekend, Need just a few tiny little details straightened up first.

It's worth noting too, I refurbished a set of GH sigma green struts for my galant. New inserts and king springs, new rotors and put a new set of seals in the calipers (not yet attached in these photos.

Before:


After:

If you look closely you can see the little bit of fencing wire i used to stop the spring falling out of the strut when the car is off the ground. A little dodgy but it'll do the trick. When the car is on the ground, they're not going to move anyway.

Here's the difference between the two:


It's also worth mentioning that the new springs are remarkably stiffer than the originals, so the actual difference in height wont be as dramatic as it is in this photo.
I could pick the old spring up and play it like an accordion

I took a heap of photos and when i get the chance i'll post up an "idiots guide to..."

I'll also get pics of the car once they're in.

[A112H]

Looks good, was it as easy as suggested above?
How come you went from 5 to 4 stud?

[75wagon]

It's easy to do....just one more tip.
If you take the tension off the nut on the top of the strut before you jack up the car (don't take it off), then you don't need to put your strut in a vice.
The weight of the car works just fine. So I've found anyway.
Then once you put the spring compressors on, you can undo the nut with your fingers.