Astra front shocks

Hi

Thanks for your help on my last question

Does anybody know if it is possible to replace the front shocks (inserts) on
a MK3 Astra without removing the whole strut from the car?


I was thinking of doing the following

Undo the anti roll bar link
Undo large nut that holds insert in place (feed spanner in through coil
spring)
Compress spring
Undo nyloc nut on top of strut
Undo top mounting bolts to inner wing
Allow assembly to drop down
Will I have enough clearance to remove top mount?
If possible remove top mount
Feed insert up through mounting hole.

Then in the immortal words of the Haynes manual re-assembly is a direct
reversal of this procedure!

Has anybody tried this or a similar method, if it was possible it would save
a lot of time.

all suggestions welcome

Howard

 

why don't you want to take the strut off?
Seems like a lot of struggling for nothing to me.

 

That would mean, splitting bottom swivel, removing brake calliper, undoing
drive shaft ant track rod

I thought this method may be quicker

 

The nut that holds the insert in will be bloody tight so you will need to
get a good grip on it to undo it - not sure you will do it in situ but good
luck.
But - ball joint, 18mm nut - calliper, 2 bolts 10mm allen I think - drive
shaft, 32ish mm - track rod end, 17 or 18 mm and then strut out to put in a
vice. That is my way of thinking