MG ZTT strut top mounts

Jimbo1963 · 27th February 2020, 19:47

I have dismantled the struts from the car , compressed the springs and removed the old strut top mounts.But on re assembling I cannot raise the shock absorber shaft high enough to refit the spring and new mount. They refuse to rise and I cannot physically move them to fit the top mount. Have I missed something?

trikey · 27th February 2020, 19:54

They should move freely?!

Have you compressed the new springs down far enough, they can be tricky to compress fully.

macafee2 · 27th February 2020, 20:05

I have had the same problem a number of times. A member suggested I fit
something like this but not this exact one before removing the spring
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-627...0AAOSwruxbGolL

without it you will need to compress the spring an awfully long way

macafee2

Jimbo1963 · 27th February 2020, 20:44

Trikey. Yes I compressed the springs far enough to make the strut top mount loose for a simple removal of the strut top mount. However when the mount was removed the shock absorber shaft retracted into the body and will not pull out.
macafee 2. I think you are right. I wish I knew that tool existed as it would have saved me a lot of trouble.I have just spoken to a mechanic friend of mine who has suggested I need now to put the assembly on a rig to compress the spring nearly flat to allow refitting.These diesel struts seem to be very beefy units indeed.
Before I attempt most jobs I read the forum and search the net but have not read about this problem before.

27th February 2020, 19:47	#1
Jimbo1963 Newbie MG ZT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	MG ZTT strut top mounts I have dismantled the struts from the car , compressed the springs and removed the old strut top mounts.But on re assembling I cannot raise the shock absorber shaft high enough to refit the spring and new mount. They refuse to rise and I cannot physically move them to fit the top mount. Have I missed something?

27th February 2020, 19:54	#2
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,765 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	They should move freely?! Have you compressed the new springs down far enough, they can be tricky to compress fully. __________________ Lest we forget..

27th February 2020, 20:05	#3
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,912 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	I have had the same problem a number of times. A member suggested I fit something like this but not this exact one before removing the spring https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-627...0AAOSwruxbGolL without it you will need to compress the spring an awfully long way macafee2

27th February 2020, 20:44	#4
Jimbo1963 Newbie MG ZT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Trikey. Yes I compressed the springs far enough to make the strut top mount loose for a simple removal of the strut top mount. However when the mount was removed the shock absorber shaft retracted into the body and will not pull out. macafee 2. I think you are right. I wish I knew that tool existed as it would have saved me a lot of trouble.I have just spoken to a mechanic friend of mine who has suggested I need now to put the assembly on a rig to compress the spring nearly flat to allow refitting.These diesel struts seem to be very beefy units indeed. Before I attempt most jobs I read the forum and search the net but have not read about this problem before.