This tutorial is also available in French
➔
Replacing the front shock absorbers and strut mounts on a Twingo 2
Vehicle ➔ Twingo 2 1.2 16v 2009
Difficulty ➔ Medium
Time ➔ 3 hours
Summary
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When disassembling the upper attachment of the strut, you will have to unscrew the nut which is slightly recessed in the cup countersink while immobilizing the shock absorber rod in rotation. The best way to carry out this operation is to use a 21 mm pass-through socket.
This socket:
• Can be operated by its periphery using a 22 mm combination wrench, which allows unscrewing the nut.
• Allows the passage of the 6 mm Allen key in its axis, which makes it possible to immobilize the shock absorber rod.
This socket:
• Can be operated by its periphery using a 22 mm combination wrench, which allows unscrewing the nut.
• Allows the passage of the 6 mm Allen key in its axis, which makes it possible to immobilize the shock absorber rod.
The strut mounting screws and nuts are frequently oxidized. Do not hesitate to coat them with penetrating oil before unscrewing them.
Compressing the suspension spring is a very delicate and dangerous operation. Always use good quality compression tools suitable for Twingo shock absorbers.
Gas bubbles sometimes form in the oil inside new shock absorbers because they are frequently stored horizontally. It is therefore necessary to prime a shock absorber before mounting it on the vehicle. To do this, simply place it in a vertical position and slide the shock absorber rod 3 or 4 times over its entire stroke.
Required Tools
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Spare Parts
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Packaging :
•
7700829529 : The front suspension cup kit includes 2 upper strut nuts, 2 cups, 2 shock absorber rod nuts, 2 filter blocks and 2 rotating stops.
• 7700819237 : The front shock absorber protection kit includes 2 rubber protections.
• 8200367895 : The front shock absorbers are sold in pairs or individually (check carefully before ordering). They can be mounted on both the front right and the front left of the Twingo.
• 7700819237 : The front shock absorber protection kit includes 2 rubber protections.
• 8200367895 : The front shock absorbers are sold in pairs or individually (check carefully before ordering). They can be mounted on both the front right and the front left of the Twingo.
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Preliminary actions
Op 01
Apply the handbrake.
Op 02
Remove the wiper arms (➔ see the tutorial ''Removing the cowl grille'' Op 01 to 04).
Op 03
Remove the cowl grille (➔ see the tutorial ''Removing the cowl grille'' Op 05 to 12).
Op 04
Remove the suspension cup cover on the right side. Pull by hand.
The cup cover is glued to its support. Be very careful. Do not tear it when you remove it.
There is no cover on the cup on the left side.
Remove the left front strut
Op 05
Remove the wheel cover. Use the hook supplied with the vehicle.
The hook must be positioned at the valve recess (2nd photo).
Op 06
Loosen the 4 wheel screws slightly. Use the 17 mm socket.
Do not remove the screws for now.
Op 07
Lift the left front wheel. Use the jack.
Position the jack under the sill rib at the oblong hole (2nd photo).
Op 08
Remove the 4 wheel screws. Unscrew by hand.
Remove the wheel. Pull by hand.
Op 09
Secure the vehicle. Use a jack stand or a rigid chock.
Before working under the vehicle, be sure to secure it properly with a jack stand or a rigid chock. It is forbidden to work under the vehicle held only by a jack. It's too dangerous.
Op 10
Unscrew the upper strut nut:
•
Position the 21 mm pass-through socket on the nut (2nd photo).
•
Position the 22 mm combination wrench on the socket (3rd photo).
•
Position the 6 mm Allen key through the socket on the shock absorber rod (4th photo).
•
Unscrew the nut (5th photo).
If, as on our Twingo, the shock absorber rod is oxidized, do not hesitate to spray penetrating oil before starting the disassembly.
Op 11
Remove the suspension cup.
Op 12
Remove the ABS sensor harness mounting screw. Use the T30 Torx key.
Op 13
Move the ABS harness away from the work area.
Op 14
Remove the 2 lower strut mounting screws and their nuts. Use the socket and the 18 mm wrench.
Be sure to secure the strut before removing the last mounting screw. It is relatively heavy and may damage the cardan boot if it falls on it.
Op 15
Detach the strut from the wheel hub carrier. Pull by hand.
Remove the strut.
Be careful not to damage the ABS harness or the brake hose when removing the strut.
When removing the strut, if the wheel hub carrier tilts outwards, it sometimes happens that the cardan comes off. In this case, replace the wheel hub carrier by oscillating the brake disc until the cardan clicks back into place.
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Change the left front shock absorber
Op 16
Place the strut on a vise.
Removing the suspension spring is a very dangerous operation. Immobilize the strut in a vise before compressing the spring.
Op 17
Unscrew the shock absorber rod nut and bring it to the end of the rod. Use the 27 mm wrench and the 6 mm Allen key.
Do not remove the shock absorber rod nut for now. The spring could eject.
Positioning the nut at the end of the shock absorber rod allows to slightly space the coils of the spring and this will facilitate the positioning of the spring compressor.
Op 18
Position the 2 elements of the spring compressor on the suspension spring. Screw the threaded rods by hand for now.
Position the 2 elements facing each other, taking the maximum number of spring coils.
Op 19
Position the safety hooks on the upper heads of the spring compressor. Screw the wing nuts by hand.
Op 20
Tighten the 2 elements of the spring compressor gradually and alternately. Use the 1/2'' ratchet.
Tighten until the upper spring support fitting is released from the spring pressure.
Check that the spring is perfectly held by the spring compressor before proceeding to the next operation.
Op 21
Remove the shock absorber rod nut. Use the 27 mm wrench and the 6 mm Allen key.
Op 22
Remove the filter block (1st photo), the rotating stop (2nd photo) and the upper spring support fitting (3rd photo). Pull by hand.
Keep the spring support fitting because you will need it during reassembly.
Op 23
Remove the spring. Pull by hand.
Take a thousand precautions when handling the spring because it is compressed by the compressor but it only wants to relax.
Op 24
Remove the lower spring support rubber. Pull by hand.
Keep the lower spring support rubber because you will need it during reassembly.
Op 25
Position the new shock absorber (8200367895) in a vertical position on a vise.
Insert soft jaws or pieces of wood (2nd photo) between the vise jaws and the shock absorber to avoid damaging it.
Op 26
Prime the new shock absorber. Slide the shock absorber rod 3 or 4 times over its entire stroke. Pull and push by hand.
Op 27
Remove the nut located on the shock absorber rod. Unscrew by hand.
This nut is unnecessary because it is also included in the front suspension cup kit.
Op 28
Slide the shock absorber rod upwards. Pull by hand.
Position the shock absorber protection.
Op 29
Position the lower spring support rubber on the shock absorber.
Engage the protuberance of the rubber in the notch of the shock absorber (2nd photo).
Op 30
Position the spring on the shock absorber.
Respect the correct positioning of the first coil of the spring on the lower support rubber (2nd and 3rd photos).
Op 31
Position the upper spring support fitting.
Respect the correct positioning of the last coil of the spring on the upper fitting (2nd and 3rd photos).
Op 32
Position the rotating stop in the filter block.
The rotating stop must be placed in the correct direction, otherwise it will hinder the operation of the steering. When the stop is in the filter block, its marking must be visible (3rd photo).
Op 33
Position the filter block and its rotating stop on the upper spring support fitting.
Op 34
Position the shock absorber rod nut. Screw by hand for now.
Op 35
Remove the elements of the spring compressor. Use the 1/2'' ratchet.
Op 36
Screw the shock absorber rod nut. Use the 27 mm wrench and the 6 mm Allen key.
Tighten the nut to 62 Nm. Use the torque wrench and the long 27 mm socket.
Op 37
Check that the filter block rotates freely on its axis. Operate it by hand.
Admire this magnificent strut. It's like new. Bravo!
The filter block must be able to rotate freely so as not to hinder the operation of the steering.
Replace the left front strut
Op 38
Replace the strut on the wheel hub carrier.
Op 39
Replace the 2 lower strut mounting screws and their nuts. Use the socket and the 18 mm wrench.
Tighten the nuts to a torque of 105 Nm. Use the torque wrench.
The lower strut mounting nuts are nyloc nuts. Before each reassembly of such a nut, check that the nylon ring is in good condition and guarantees braking. If in doubt, as a safety measure, fit a new nut.
Op 40
Replace the ABS sensor harness support plate on the shock absorber.
Screw the ABS sensor harness mounting screw. Use the T30 Torx key.
Op 41
Replace the suspension cup.
Op 42
Replace the upper strut nut. Use the 21 mm pass-through socket, the 22 mm combination wrench and the 6 mm Allen key.
Tighten the nut to 21 Nm. Use the torque wrench and the 21 mm socket.
Once the cup is in position, you will be able to observe a clearance of a few millimeters between the cup and the body (5th photo). This is normal. This clearance is necessary for the proper functioning of the suspension (MacPherson type).
Op 43
Reinstall the wheel on the hub.
Screw the 4 screws. Use the 17 mm socket.
Always start by screwing the screws by hand. This will prevent you from stripping the threads.
No need to tighten too much. The final tightening will be done with the torque wrench when the wheel is on the ground.
Op 44
Lower the Twingo to the ground. Remove the jack stand and the jack.
Tighten the 4 nuts to a torque of 105 Nm. Use the torque wrench and the 17 mm socket.
Op 45
Replace the wheel cover. Fit it into the rim by pushing by hand.
Position the notch of the wheel cover correctly at the valve (1st photo).
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Change the right front shock absorber
Op 46
Change the right front shock absorber. Proceed in the same way as for the left front shock absorber.
Final actions
Op 47
Replace the suspension cup cover on the right side:
•
Put some glue dots on the cup cover support plate. Use quick glue.
•
Position the cup cover.
•
Let the glue dry.
Op 48
Replace the cowl grille (➔ see the tutorial ''Removing the cowl grille'' Op 13 to 21).
Op 49
Replace the wiper arms (➔ see the tutorial ''Removing the cowl grille'' Op 22 to 24).
Fin
