Spring replacement

BillB · Apr 25th, 2023, 20:02

I'm attempting to replace a broken front spring on my 2016 V40. Pinch bolt is removed securing strut to hub assembly, antiroll link is removed and strut is secure at top but I am struggling to separate the two. I'm hammering on the ally top of the hub assembly, close to the shock absorber, with a club hammer which is smooth so doesn't cause damage. The hub has moved a little but it just seems stuck. I've used a claw hammer to open up the gap slightly where the pinch bolt fits.

How hard should I hit down on hub assembly? Tap, tap or hard as hell? I don't want to damage anything. Sledgehammer maybe?

GrahamBrown1 · Apr 25th, 2023, 21:45

I would use a chisel to gently spread the hub from the strut. Gentle taps with a wide edged chisel normally doesn’t the trick. Then a good short sharp tap on the top and it should release from the hub. There’s no need for big hammer swings.

BillB · Apr 25th, 2023, 22:50

Thanks, that's what I thought. I separated the V70 strut a few years ago (to fit ABS ring) and that was easier. I'll open up the gap more - wasn't sure how much to spread it due to it being aluminium.

dh88uk · May 1st, 2023, 07:40

Just completed the same job on mine, it was also very stuck!

16mm wrench fitted nicely in the rear slot to allow some prying which helped a lot, also some WD40 to add lubrication. spray and leave to soak, pull the 16mm wrench to open the gap and allow it to flow down the shock, apply more WD40 and repeat a few times.

Heavy hammering was needed on mine, it moved just mm per hit, near the end you can jump (carefully) on the brake disc hub for the last push.

Reinstallation is considerably easier, clean the shock while its out and the bore of the hub and spray a little WD40 for good measure, realign by wiggling the hub until the shock fits, then use a jack to push up on the underside of the front arm, it slides in easily, make sure the shock and hub are aligned by checking the tab goes towards the slot.

At the first sign of resistance, the spring will start to compress, use that wrench to open the split a tiny bit and the shock will ping into position.
Keep going until the tabs on the shock meet the hub, you can also feel inside the hub from the underside and see if the shock has hit the stopper.

Teribus13 · May 28th, 2023, 14:34

I realise I am very late to respond to this, but I thought I'd give my tip from when I changed springs on my 2017 V40.

Very simply, I used a bottle jack to push the hub down off the strut. I placed the base of the jack onto the top of the alloy hub, and screwed the top of the jack out as far as it would go and positioned it under the spring cup on the strut. Tighten the valve and pump the jack up, and it carefully pushes the hub down off the strut.

As others advised, clean everything up before reassembly.

Apr 25th, 2023, 20:02	#1
BillB VOC Member Last Online: Apr 24th, 2024 13:58 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bristol	Spring replacement I'm attempting to replace a broken front spring on my 2016 V40. Pinch bolt is removed securing strut to hub assembly, antiroll link is removed and strut is secure at top but I am struggling to separate the two. I'm hammering on the ally top of the hub assembly, close to the shock absorber, with a club hammer which is smooth so doesn't cause damage. The hub has moved a little but it just seems stuck. I've used a claw hammer to open up the gap slightly where the pinch bolt fits. How hard should I hit down on hub assembly? Tap, tap or hard as hell? I don't want to damage anything. Sledgehammer maybe? __________________ 05 V70 P2 2.4 with RICA 13 C30 2.0 R Design lux (part exchanged) 16 V40 D2 R design Nav

Apr 25th, 2023, 21:45	#2
GrahamBrown1 VOC Member Last Online: Today 21:27 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: North Yorkshire	I would use a chisel to gently spread the hub from the strut. Gentle taps with a wide edged chisel normally doesn’t the trick. Then a good short sharp tap on the top and it should release from the hub. There’s no need for big hammer swings. __________________ Previous -03 S40, 04 V70 D5, 04 V70 D5 Sport, 05 V50, 07 S60 D5, 09 V70 D5 R design, 12 XC60 DrivE, 15 V60 D3 Current- 05 XC90 D5 Exec, 12 XC70 D4 AWD Se Lux, 14 S80 D3 Se Lux

Apr 25th, 2023, 22:50	#3
BillB VOC Member Last Online: Apr 24th, 2024 13:58 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bristol	Thanks, that's what I thought. I separated the V70 strut a few years ago (to fit ABS ring) and that was easier. I'll open up the gap more - wasn't sure how much to spread it due to it being aluminium. __________________ 05 V70 P2 2.4 with RICA 13 C30 2.0 R Design lux (part exchanged) 16 V40 D2 R design Nav

May 1st, 2023, 07:40	#4
dh88uk New Member Last Online: Apr 2nd, 2024 16:11 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Hampshire	Just completed the same job on mine, it was also very stuck! 16mm wrench fitted nicely in the rear slot to allow some prying which helped a lot, also some WD40 to add lubrication. spray and leave to soak, pull the 16mm wrench to open the gap and allow it to flow down the shock, apply more WD40 and repeat a few times. Heavy hammering was needed on mine, it moved just mm per hit, near the end you can jump (carefully) on the brake disc hub for the last push. Reinstallation is considerably easier, clean the shock while its out and the bore of the hub and spray a little WD40 for good measure, realign by wiggling the hub until the shock fits, then use a jack to push up on the underside of the front arm, it slides in easily, make sure the shock and hub are aligned by checking the tab goes towards the slot. At the first sign of resistance, the spring will start to compress, use that wrench to open the split a tiny bit and the shock will ping into position. Keep going until the tabs on the shock meet the hub, you can also feel inside the hub from the underside and see if the shock has hit the stopper.

May 28th, 2023, 14:34	#5
Teribus13 New Member Last Online: May 28th, 2023 14:46 Join Date: May 2023 Location: Selkirk	I realise I am very late to respond to this, but I thought I'd give my tip from when I changed springs on my 2017 V40. Very simply, I used a bottle jack to push the hub down off the strut. I placed the base of the jack onto the top of the alloy hub, and screwed the top of the jack out as far as it would go and positioned it under the spring cup on the strut. Tighten the valve and pump the jack up, and it carefully pushes the hub down off the strut. As others advised, clean everything up before reassembly.

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