Sumo Spring Install

[bruceh]

For those of you who have installed your own front Sumo Springs, any hints to make the job easier? The access to the bolt looks just awful.

The instructions reference a 10mm wrench but the new one is 1/2 inch. Is the old one the 10mm?

[bruceh]

I got the job done. It was surprisingly difficult to remove and replace one bolt per side. The problem was that there is very poor access to the bolts, they are boxed inside the frame rails and the motor mounts are bolted in straddling the bolts that hold the springs.

Maybe if I had smaller hands, the job would have been easier.

The right side was somewhat easier than the left. There was more stuff going down the left frame rail.

The removal consisted of getting a deep socket on the old nut (5/8") and using a strap wrench to unscrew the old spring. There was very little room to move the socket and it was much easier to use the strap wrench.

The install of the new spring was pretty much the reverse although it was quite difficult to thread the bolt onto the new spring, just no room for fingers inside the frame rail. The left side was much worse, I just couldn't get two fingers in there holding the nut.

I ended up using a weak magnet to position the bolt over the hole. Once in position, I used a nail to hold it while I removed the magnet. I then put one finger on the nut to hold it in place until I could thread the new spring into place. This took several tries. After getting the nut started, it was easy. The strap wrench finished off the job.

I haven't driven it yet so I don't know how much good it will do.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceh I haven't driven it yet so I don't know how much good it will do.

BruceH, You get today's Shade Tree Mechanic Award!

[pkmesser]

Moderator, a thread was already going on SumoSprings, should this be added to that?
BruceH, I ran into the same issues, I found that taking the bolt out of the frame crossbrace helped a lot. I could not get the left side re-installed until I did that. It was well worth the time to take that bolt out! Nothing will move until you get it back in at the end of your SumoSpring install. (I used a pipe wrench on the old springs) You might want to do a search, and find the other thread on SumoSpings in this forum. Some information on installation there, and a lot of feedback on results. (I ended up pointing the CEO of SuperSprings, (developer of SumoSprings) to the forum and thread, so he could get open dialogue feedback on MH installations. He's very interested in how people feel about them after getting a few miles on the road.)

[bruceh]

I was aware of the other thread and intentionally started this one to focus on installation issues rather than the experience of using them. I was trolling for information about installation and didn't get anything which is why I posted my results.