RR Coil Overs & Cross Beam Removal

[My S1]

I'm about to remove the rear coil overs and cross beam for the first time.  Are there any tricks or potential SNAFUs that I should be aware of?  I presume the uprights need to be supported?

[Bryan Boyle]

I'm about to remove the rear coil overs and cross beam for the first time.  Are there any tricks or potential SNAFUs that I should be aware of?  I presume the uprights need to be supported?

Actually, the frame itself will have to be supported.  Either a couple jack stands under the extensions (though, you have an S1, right?), so, the best would be under the rear hoop where it pokes through the body.  Once you release the rear shocks from the cross beam, it gets all wobbly and the rear suspension will droop.  Be prepared.

[My S1]

Droopiness is what I'm afraid of.  I just finished restoring the underbelly which was severely cracked at all of the opening for the rear links.

[Kendo]

Aren't the jacking points for the S1 pretty strong? Front of the rear wheel arch? Of course, how do yo jack it up and place a jack stand on the same locations? 

[jbcollier]

Done this lots with my S1.  Jack under rear hoop and support (see below).  Undo coil-overs and lower radius arm onto padded jack stand.

[My S1]

John,  I'm trying to understand what exactly the 2x2 tube is doing.  Is the hoop nestled in a slot on the top of the 2x2?  As I see it the car would roll side to side.  Do you have a 3/4 view of your set up?

[jbcollier]

Yup, the 1/8" wall, 2x2, rectangular tube is slotted so the hoop goes into it.  My original plan was to then weld on uprights that met the frame arms but they turned out not to be necessary.  It is very stable.  And, yes, I have jacked up the front in the centre at the same time.  It doesn't roll.

[GavinT]

Very neat, JB.

I'm confused. If your jack is under the rear hoop, how is it possible to position the 2x2 tube with the jack in said position. Is there an intermediate step in the procedure?

[jbcollier]

I jack on the hoop with the 2x2 in place.  It sits on the jack and I raise it into the hoop.  Continue jacking until you're at the height you want and then fit jack stands and withdraw the jack.

[GavinT]

Well, of course. Thanks, John.
Sometimes I just bangs me head and fail to see the bleedin' obvious.

[Gary t]

Looks just like what I use except I have 3 2x4s screwed together with a dish in the middle one.