Helper spring advice

[chris.richard]

Got into the garage for the first time for a month. Two issues needing advice!
1) Helper springs fitted, but weight is being taken on retaining collar of adapter, not the flat surfaces - doesn't look right to me. See picture.

2) Can't separate lower ball joint because joint is spinning in housing, nyloc firmly gripping thread. What bit do I hit? :rolleyes:

[strat6v]

I would have thought that the spring would need to become coil bound before the adaptor touched the spring seat, :confused:

John.

[simon]

What material is the retaining collar?
I used to work for a company that supplied them in a nylon material in which case you would need the spring to be compressed to solid first. However if that is the case the spring might not go solid squarely depending on its' design and hence the retaining collar and main spring might not be loaded straight and you could wear your shockers prematurely. If your collars are alloy then your main spring seat is still held squarely so your main spring will be loaded straight which I think is better. At the end of the day the helper is only there to stop your main spring falling out of its locating collar when in a droop condition (ie when jacking up or airbourne). If the collars are soft alloy and you are stage rallying then keep an eye on them and make sure they aren't getting damaged by clashing together often.

[strat6v]

Ideal would be for the original spring seat to have a longer stub that goes down the inner of the spring then the joining collar would pass over that even at full extension :confused:

[chris.richard]

Any advice Martin? Should I grind the lips down?

[Andrew Taylor]

Have you sorted this problem? Re-engage taper, Jack up under swing arm to push taper into stub axle, if not sufficient a little nylon lube on nyloc, impact wrench would be good if you have one and you can get it on. If this fails use universal "special Tool" _ hit it with a hammer to tighten taper and on stub axle at side of taper. If you have a gap below nyloc use a wedge to pull taper into stub axle. Used swivel joints can rotate quite easily, so I am afraid I usually run the nyloc down a bolt first! Sorry I know they are only supposed to be used once, but I am sure most of us do more.

Be warned this swivel can come apart in the middle of Switzerland! Luckily we were only moving at slow speed Are yours in good nick?

[chris.richard]

a gap below nyloc use a wedge to pull taper into stub axle
That worked - I knew it was the usual case of knowing where to put the screwdriver, and how hard to hit it.
Turns out threads were a bit knackered. New balls please! :)