10
2.16 Pass the lower spring seat over the 2.17a Pass the rubber gaiter over the piston 2.17b Rotate the gaiter to align the mark on
damper rod and fit it to the cup on the strut rod, and push it into position its lower edge (arrowed) with the strut
body lower mounting bracket
2.18 Press the dust cap onto the top of the
damper unit
corrosion; renew the spring if either are found.
Check the squareness by resting the spring
vertically on a flat surface, and placing an
engineer's square against it. A specific
tolerance is not quoted, but if the spring is
obviously distorted, renew it.
14 Prise off the dust cap, and inspect the
damper section for signs of fluid leakage,
particularly from the piston rod seal. Test the
action of the damper by pushing the piston
rod firmly through two or three full-length
strokes, then rapidly through several short
strokes. Smooth, consistent resistance should
be felt; if the action is at all uneven, weak or
unduly noisy, then the damper unit should be
renewed. Check the piston rod for signs of
corrosion or distortion and again, renew the
2.19 Fit the coil spring onto the lower
spring seat, rotating it to engage the end of
the coil with the step in the lower spring
seat (arrowed)
damper unit if its condition is unsatisfactory.
15 Examine the compression stop, rubber
gaiter and spring seats; renew those that are
damaged, worn or corroded. Note that a split
or perished gaiter will admit dirt into the
damper, and possibly cause it to fail.
16 Pass the lower spring seat over the
damper rod, and fit it to the cup on the strut
body (see illustration).
17 Pass the rubber gaiter over the piston rod,
and push it into position; the lower edge of the
gaiter must be 12 mm above the surface of the
lower spring seat cup. Rotate the gaiter to
align the mark on its lower edge with the strut
lower mounting bracket (see illustrations).
2.20 Fold the upper lip of the gaiter over
the top of the coil spring
18 Press the dust cap onto the top of the
damper unit (see illustration).
19 Contract the coil spring using the
compression tool. Fit it onto the lower spring
seat, rotating it to engage the end of the coil
with the step in the lower spring seat (see
illustration). Ensure that the compression is
sufficient to allow the top fixings to be
installed.
20 Fold the upper lip of the gaiter over the top
of the coil spring (see illustration).
21 Fit the compression stop over the piston
rod, and slide it into position (see illustration).
22 Refit the upper spring seat, aligning the
notch in its edge with the mark on the lower
edge of the gaiter and the strut lower
mounting bracket (see illustration).
2.21 Fit the compression stop over the
piston rod, and slide it into position
2.22 Refit the upper spring seat, aligning
the notch in its edge with the mark on the
lower edge of the gaiter and the strut lower
mounting bracket (arrowed)
2.23a Refit the top bearing plate . . ,
•4 Suspension and steering