Transit MK5 Front Shock Absorber Replacement Advice Needed

[WhyWhyWhy???]

Hi.

First time poster to the forum here, so please be kind!

I've got a 1999 Transit Luton that needs the front shock absorbers replacing because the passenger side one is completely shot. I've not done this job before, but I'm OK with a jack and some spanners so I'm going to have a go at doing them myself. I've read on here about finding the top mount access points in the cab etc, so that's OK. I've been advised by a friendly garage that I want to order the top mounts, drop links and struts, but I'm sure the guy said I'd need a couple of other bits which I can't remember. Can anyone help remind me? Also, any suggestions of what brand parts to buy and where (Eurocarparts is usually my first port of call) would be great.

Any tips would also be very helpful, anything to look out for or be careful of not doing etc.

Thanks in advance,
Phil

[MinorMatt]

Top mounts arn't a bad idea to do at the same time - get SKF or genuine if you can (ford part no 6763456). Febi are good too

Dampers - just get good quality ones boge/sachs/magnum/kyb/genuine etc

You shouldn't need any other parts

Jack vehicle up, and support the weight using an axle stand on the chassis. (both wheels off the ground is preferable)
Take wheel off
Put the jack under the wishbone and *just* support the weight.
Undo the 10mm headed bolt holding brake hose to damper
undo the 3 x 13mm nuts on the damper mount in the cab
undo the 4 x damper mounting bolts (15mm IIRC) and the damper and mount will come free.

If you need to do the bottom ball joints (this is the way I do it, others may disagree) - at this point undo the brake caliper carrier bolts and take the caliper off the hub.
Undo the 3xbolts that hold the ball joint in to the wishbone and take hub assy off.
Using a good impact gun, undo the ball joint nut
using a ball joint splitter (it needs to be slightly larger than most cheapy ones) split the taper - it will be TIGHT. Some hammer/heat action may be required (I have had a ball joint shoot about 6ft when it released with a BANG).

Reassembly is basically opposite of above. When refitting the damper, fit the damper to the mount, then offer the assembly up. Do the nuts up in the cab first then move on to the bolts on the back of the hub

[Noctule]

It's convenient to do the strut top at the same time as you need to do the same work to change that as to do the shock itself. But if the tops are good then it's up to you if you want to change them.

If anything the only extra parts you may need are the chimney nuts and 6mm screws that hold the brake hose to the strut as there's a good chance yours will break as you undo them.

Mat

[MinorMatt]

Not sure what you mean by chimney nuts noctule?

I don't think I have managed to break a single one of those M6s

[Noctule]

Not sure what you mean by chimney nuts noctule?

I don't think I have managed to break a single one of those M6s

for example...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233905892376

Some people call them chimney nuts, some call them sheet steel nuts, or spire nuts, or lug nuts, or speed nuts, lots of names. Which is right I never bothered finding out. Always used rivnuts on sheet steel in the past so never used them professionally. They were always refered to as 'fairing clips' when I rode bikes, but that was a generalisation covering threaded and self tapping types (flat nuts...?)

Had a few go over the years.

Mat

[MinorMatt]

Not sure what you mean by chimney nuts noctule?

I don't think I have managed to break a single one of those M6s

for example...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233905892376

Some people call them chimney nuts, some call them sheet steel nuts, or spire nuts, or lug nuts, or speed nuts, lots of names. Which is right I never bothered finding out. Always used rivnuts on sheet steel in the past so never used them professionally. They were always refered to as 'fairing clips' when I rode bikes, but that was a generalisation covering threaded and self tapping types (flat nuts...?)

Had a few go over the years.

Mat

I've always called them Spire clips... I guess all the names are so ubiquitous that they are all "correct" (e.g. Hoover or Jubilee clip)

[Keef]

I thought spire clips were the ones for self tappers like this

spire clips.jpg

It's also a generation thing, what I call split pins, my son calls cotter pins which to me are the tapered pins that held bike cranks on in the old days!

[Altransit]

I thought spire clips were the ones for self tappers like this
It's also a generation thing, what I call split pins, my son calls cotter pins which to me are the tapered pins that held bike cranks on in the old days!

Yes, I'm with you on all of the above, together with Stillsons, Mole grips, and a Jemmy