Spring and Strut replacement
- Archametes
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Spring and Strut replacement
Ok here goes.
1. Raise the car and put it on jack stands. I recommend all 4 points because it allows you to move a little quicker through the process rather than have to stop and swap stuff around. At this point remove the tires. I took this opportunity to rotate my tires as well.
2. Loosen but do not remave the 3 top mount bolts to the front struts. (13mm)
3. Remove the bolt that holds the brake line to the strut. (10mm)
4. Remove the 2 nuts on the strut itself. Remove the nuts NOT the bolts yet. (Nuts and Bolts 18mm)
5. Using a rubber mallet (so you don't mushroom the bolts) tap the bolts out and seperate the strut from the steering knuckle.
6. Go back up top and remove the 3 nuts on the strut tower. Use one hand to remove the nuts and another to hold the strut from falling down.
7. Using a spring compressor compress the spring to take tension off the strut and mounts.
8. Using an impact gun and 7/8's socket remove the strut mounting nut at the top of the strut. (mine is a pic from it on the car as I forgot when I had it off the car to take pics.)
9. Remember the order of the components you remove from the strut, you'll need to replace them in the same order and placement as they are now.
10. Once you have everything back in order re- tighten the top nut and installation is the reverse of removal.
*A few notes for the Rear Strut removal procedure.
1. The rear stut has 4 nuts at the top instead of only 3. Again they are 13mm.
2. The nuts for the 2 strut bolts are 18mm on the nuts
and again 15mm on the bolts.
It is highly recommended to remove the brake caliper (if you have disc rears) on the rears to get to the strut bolts. Also if you have the rear sway bar it's easier if you remove the bottom linkage bolt to get the strut bolts out.
After all is bolted together YOU WILL NEED AN ALIGNMENT!
As far as I know that should suffice for you guys to get the job done. Some basic Mechanics Knowledge is very usefull and a decent set of tools is a must. If you don't have air tools get a good breaker bar and possibly a helper.
Have fun!
-Mike
1. Raise the car and put it on jack stands. I recommend all 4 points because it allows you to move a little quicker through the process rather than have to stop and swap stuff around. At this point remove the tires. I took this opportunity to rotate my tires as well.
2. Loosen but do not remave the 3 top mount bolts to the front struts. (13mm)
3. Remove the bolt that holds the brake line to the strut. (10mm)
4. Remove the 2 nuts on the strut itself. Remove the nuts NOT the bolts yet. (Nuts and Bolts 18mm)
5. Using a rubber mallet (so you don't mushroom the bolts) tap the bolts out and seperate the strut from the steering knuckle.
6. Go back up top and remove the 3 nuts on the strut tower. Use one hand to remove the nuts and another to hold the strut from falling down.
7. Using a spring compressor compress the spring to take tension off the strut and mounts.
8. Using an impact gun and 7/8's socket remove the strut mounting nut at the top of the strut. (mine is a pic from it on the car as I forgot when I had it off the car to take pics.)
9. Remember the order of the components you remove from the strut, you'll need to replace them in the same order and placement as they are now.
10. Once you have everything back in order re- tighten the top nut and installation is the reverse of removal.
*A few notes for the Rear Strut removal procedure.
1. The rear stut has 4 nuts at the top instead of only 3. Again they are 13mm.
2. The nuts for the 2 strut bolts are 18mm on the nuts
and again 15mm on the bolts.
It is highly recommended to remove the brake caliper (if you have disc rears) on the rears to get to the strut bolts. Also if you have the rear sway bar it's easier if you remove the bottom linkage bolt to get the strut bolts out.
After all is bolted together YOU WILL NEED AN ALIGNMENT!
As far as I know that should suffice for you guys to get the job done. Some basic Mechanics Knowledge is very usefull and a decent set of tools is a must. If you don't have air tools get a good breaker bar and possibly a helper.
Have fun!
-Mike
- Archametes
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- Posts: 776
- Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:06 pm
- Location: Red Hook, NY
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- Archametes
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