How to replace rear suspension top mounts 855 Ph2

[Jod T5]

THIS HOW TO DO RELATES TO NON SELF LEVELING SUSPENSION (IE NON NIVOMAT) ONLY. TO CHECK YOUR APPLICATION CHECK YOUR SHOCKS IF THEY LOOK LIKE THIS

YOU HAVE NIVOMAT. THE CLUE BEING TO RUBBER BOOT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOCK

This is easy and basic thing to do, it took me 30 mins
If you are experiencing a banging or clunking coming from the rear suspension odds on it is the suspension top mount bush that has collapsed. it needent be a mechanic job as with a little time and patience it can be self done
Step 1 Purchase 2 new top mount bushes. Like Brake pads always replace in pairs. Cost from Eurocarparts.co.uk was £13.00 each plus £5.00 for 2 hour delivery. Pfv online are a pound cheaper but del is up to four days
Step 2 Tools requires 10 mil socket to remove boot seats
12 mil socket to remove mounting to car bolts
15 mil socket to remove shock centre nut
15 mil spanner to
Mole Wrench to hold shock thread when undoing centre nut
Torque Wrench
wd 40 or eqivalent
copper slip

Step 3 Fold down back seats for ease of refitting boot seats and remove boot seats, both top mounts will be clearly visable

The N/S one is clearly shot

Step 4 Using a 12 mil socket remove the mounting bolts and a 15 mil spanner and mole grips remove the centre nut

old and new

Step 5 Replace with new mounting adding little wd40 to the hole and some copper slip to the nut. This will assist the tightening of the bolt and protect against rust to the underside of the bolt. Tighten using torque wrench 12 mil to 30nm and 15mil to 40nm
Step 6 Repeat steps on other top mount

Step 6 Replace rear seats and side covers
Step 7 Job done

cheers
jod

[Liddo]

Didnt you have to jack up the car, to stop the shocker coming up too far????
I had to on my old 855!!!

[Vikingxl]

Nice one mate well done!

[Jod T5]

Didnt you have to jack up the car, to stop the shocker coming up too far????
I had to on my old 855!!!

No Jack required as we are talking damping shocks which only have resistance when pulled from compressed to fully stretched. They can be compressed from fully stretched to fully compressed by hand.
The springs give the suspension its upward travel and are separate entitly on the rear
cheers
jod

[Jod T5]

Nice one mate well done!Last piccy is missing though

Cheers Rich, had tons of trouble downloading them but seems sorted now..
jod

[MattB]

Great 'How To' Jod - mine have recently gone and so need replacing.

However, I've come accross a problem - I can't grip the shock thread hard enough to enable the nut to be undone!
Any tips or suggestions - aside from calling me a whimp that is!!!

[Jod T5]

Great 'How To' Jod - mine have recently gone and so need replacing.

However, I've come accross a problem - I can't grip the shock thread hard enough to enable the nut to be undone!
Any tips or suggestions - aside from calling me a whimp that is!!!

sure matt and im sure your no wimp.... the top of thread should be flat and if you grab it with a set of mole grips you can use a spanner to losen the nut. its a little tricky but i find a delicate mixture of gentle persuasion and extreme violence does the trick.
Incidentally for the future i found a old spark plug spanner and having attacked it with my club hammer it fits smoothly over said flat bit giving a firm grip
good luck
cheers jod

[Wobbly Dave]

8mm spanner on the damper and a swan neck ring spanner on the retaining nut. I bought a draper one.

There are also special split socket things - the inner part clamps on to the shaft and the outer clamps on to the retaining nut.

[MattB]

Thanks for you response chaps.
The garage opposite me at work owe me couple of favours so they swapped the mounts over for me - for nowt. The guy said that mine appeared to be 'tighter than normal' (yeah, right! I hear you cry!) - he used the mix of persuasion and violence, just as you suggested Jod!

Car drives alot better now!