Problem when lowering 348, aluminum perch stuck

How do I loosen the 'big' aluminum perch without destroying the 'soft' aluminum?

The locking nut was not a problem.

 

Try compressing the spring lightly to take some tension off the platform,soak the damper with some good quality penetrating oil and then try heating the platform gently with a hot air gun.If this fails then I am afraid you will probably need to cut it off,ie put a small hacksaw drift through the platform(being careful not to damage the damper threads),this should allow the platform to expand and release its hold on the damper.Obviously you will need to source a new platform...

Good Luck...

 

whooaa there matey...you've got a whole load of spring preload in there...you'll smash your face with flying bits if you start cutting that baby.

If the lock nut has come loose ok, chances are the platform is only slightly stuck, but feels tight due to the spring pressure and the rubber pad. Usually a load of grit and crap stuck in the recess too. Blow all that out and squirt your oil in there.

Remove the lower shock bolt and try turning the shock body instead of the platform. If it goes, just count your half turns and do the other side the same. A half turn is only about 1.5-2mm wheel arch height so it's not an exact science.

If it's still stuck, use a plastic or nylon bar and hammer it a few times, but as soon as it turns even a little, go back to turning the shock body. you'll sweat a lot less and save your knuckles too.

The proper way to do this is to have it on a flat patch and measure/adjust the cornerweights at the same time, but as long as you do it evenly it'll be no worse than it was before.

 

I actually removed the preload from the spring by 'clamping' the spring.
I still did not manage to turn the platform.
I used a lot!!! of force.

I will try to remove the lower shock bolt and try turning the shock body instead of the platform, but I am afraid that it will not work either...

 

Ferrarifixer,

Neat trick on the shock body twist. I never thought of that. However, it is an exact science.

"Remove the lower shock bolt and try turning the shock body instead of the platform. If it goes, just count your half turns and do the other side the same. A half turn is only about 1.5-2mm wheel arch height so it's not an exact science."

This is not quite true the 348 WSM lists the front rear motio ratio as 0.7 and 0.85. Each turn is 1.5mm so you can calulate the exact amount you will drop/raise the car with zero trial and error.

 

Gredinger,

The only way I can see this frozen is if you have the perch crossthreaded on the shock body . This is not likely. If you truely have the spring off the perch it almost turns by hand. Also try to move the perch fore and aft not just one direction. You can cram road grime into the threads and lock up the perch. You can use a propane torch on the aluminium perch and this will free it. Try not to heat the shock body but you are probably going to rebuild it anyway right? 348's are near 11 years old for some. A revalved shock makes a world of handling difference. Why don't you pull the whole thing off the car and you will have better access and force application.

 

Actually I tried turning the perch in both direction, didn't work.
I will try some heat, if that doesn't work, I will leave it for a couple of months.
I want to enjoy the last months before the winter gets here...

 

Soak it with PB Blaster. You have road grime combined with the factory cosmoline/rust inhibitor stuff, and potentially corrosion too. Plus, the rubber vibration dampener between spring and perch just makes things stickier.

This will work.

Using the proper wrenches?

More info here. Lowering Ferrari 348...


Best regards,

Rob Schermerhorn