newbie need help please.

[AndyTT]

hi iv got a 406 estate and the spring on the shock has snapped on the drivers side front. its also split the driveshaft gater....how hard is it to replace it?

iv worked on many cars in the past but not done a gater before lol. got alot of tools.....oh and how much is it for a gater now adays?

thank you very much for reading.

[DaiRees]

Hiya mate, welcome aboard

There's been a spate of snapped springs on here recently, use the box at the top right of the page to do a search, you'll find all the info you need on both springs and gaitors.

Have fun!

[AndyTT]

thanks mate. the search isent giving me anything on replacing a drive shaft gater but will have all day to sort it out tomoz.

[AndyTT]

thanks mate. the search icon isent helping me much but iv got all day tomoz to sort it out.

[Longintooth]

YUK Drivers side is a pig, do you want to do a quick job or a good job? Well here it is - slacken the drive shaft nut first - very important. Remove the strut by removing 3 bolts from top bearing/bush. Remove the clamp bolt from lower housing. Replace top bearing - reason why your spring broke. If the drive shaft is free enough push it out of hub or use a puller. Choice - you can get one of those stretchy gaiters and if you have a tool you can slip it over the CV joint, pack it with grease, clip on the gaiter to shaft and CV - refit. Job done - two hrs, don't know current price. Or do a thorough job and take off the drive shaft and do on bench. You need to crawl underneath to access the inner shaft to outer shaft mounting bracket - it has two bolts holding it to the subframe, then withdraw the whole shaft out of the Diff. A bit of oil will drip but not much because the shaft is at a higher level than the filler plug level. You are supposed to replace the oil seal. If it's not weeping I would not bother. Be careful with spring - it is unusual profile and can decapitate you.

[AndyTT]

thanks very much mate. that will help alot. one more thing though where is the top bearing and what does it look like?

thanks.

[mjb]

It's circular and lives at the top of the springs

[teamster1975]

thanks very much mate. that will help alot. one more thing though where is the top bearing and what does it look like?

thanks.

There's a rubber bush that sits on top of the spring; the bearing is between that and the top plate which bolts to the top of the wheel arch.