Anyone fitted their own coilovers and had to use the M14 driver???

[gotboost?]

Ok, so my back set of coilovers are sorted, but I've not yet started on the front, due to a claim that, when doing the front set, you need a special bit known as an M14 Multi Spline bit...

Would anyone disagree?

If not, does anyone here have the bit and are they willing to sell/loan it so that I can get my front set in this week?

Thanks in advance for any advice

[Blitzen]

Yeah, you need it. Any decent tool shop should have one.

[h100vw]

Yeah, you need it. Any decent tool shop should have one.

I have a kit with one Lukas.

Gavin

[gotboost?]

Just as I was about to say "errrmmm... what tool shop? I couldn't find one that stocks it!", Gavin comes to save the day!

[brad]

last time I was looking for XZN/triple-square bits in Sydney none of the tool shops had a clue what i was talking about.

I finished up buying a kit on ebay from the USA.

[gotboost?]

Yeah, I was hoping to avoid that by buying or borrowing someone else's bit. My Polo currently has it's arse on the ground while the front is still "high-rolling" lol

I'm thinking I might replace it with a bolt that doesn't have a stupid M14 head in it once I manage to get it undone.

[gotboost?]

Oh, and by the way... I'm doing up a tutorial in both photo and video format as I go, so I'll have that posted up once I'm done.

There's details missing here and there from the tutorial on the Club Polo Forum, so the end result should be something a little clearer.

[Jmac]

You still need a strut spreader tool too though, pain without it
Cheers
Jmac

[seangti]

You still need a strut spreader tool too though, pain without it
Cheers
Jmac

Yup, which is why I looked, scrathed my head, gave up and called Jimmy.

[gotboost?]

Standby, gents. I may have a couple of workarounds. Will let you know how I go.

[h100vw]

Jimmy, is it M14 the spline tool you need?

Gavin

[Jmac]

The M14 is only for the pinch bolt on the hub carrier, the spreader tool fits in the slot at the back of the hub carrier and gets turned which opens the hub carrier to alllow you to get the strut out, some rough folk out there use chisels and all sorts of stuff but the proper spreader is the go and this cant be bought in any tool shop. It gets used on any application that uses the strut and hib carrier set up like that, all mk5, Jetta, polo, MK4 , A3 etc etc and ive even used it on BMW mini , u can mess around with out it but like i say a pain without it, ive seen them sold on Ebay. Its a must have, one of the best and most used tools i have.
Jmac

[Eddy]

Hoyhoy.

Me cheat,,, have taken the front struts out about a dozen times, I just use a 3/8ths socket drive, it does fine has it only has to hold it.
For the spreader part I ground down a centre punch.
Just put them back in last week after mucking about a bit more with them.
The biggest problem I have is with the springs being 200mm long, 65mm wide & being 350lb rated with keeper springs,
these are a pain in the verbial.

[Jmac]

Eddy , agree with the holding , you concentrate on the nut for tightening. Torque to 65Nm then a 90 degree angle. Like i say loads of methods ive seen with spreading it but by far the best is the right tool, well suppose that can be said for all jobs really.
Eddy , you could probably whistle and they will come out now hey!!!!

Cheers
Jmac

[leitch]

Me cheat,,, have taken the front struts out about a dozen times, I just use a 3/8ths socket drive, it does fine has it only has to hold it.
For the spreader part I ground down a centre punch.

Yeah likewise... Big hex head to hold the bolt and loosen from the nut side. Might be tight though if it's the first time they've been pulled and theres a bit of surface corrosion around.

Eddy , you could probably whistle and they will come out now hey!!!!

Sure does get easier the more you pull them out, even without the right tools (though as Jimmy says the right tool always makes a difference).