changing struts/shocks

[dwhiskie]

How much of a pita is it to change these myself? FYI, I dont have any air tools to use.

 

[xpeteyjtx]

They are very easy, but you need an impact gun to get the top strut bolt off.

For the front
Just raise the car up and support it on jackstands. Then jack up the A-arm a little bit, remove the top strut bolt, then remove the two strut-to-spindle bolts.

 

[Skoobie]

Shocks=Easy....struts=pain-in-the-ass. I tried it without air tools. Didnt go very well. Ended up taking the strut down to Schucks and used their electric ratchet...after three tries I FINALLY got the nut off. Getting it put back together wasent any better

 

[prochargedfox]

Yes, air tools are a must for me. I would be lost with out them. You should be able to get all of the nuts off with out air tools, except the top strut nut. The whole thing just spins if you use a wrench or rachet. Also if the struts have never been off of the car expect the bolts to be pretty tight.

Aaron

 

[dwhiskie]

So..Basically once I get the top strut nut off and the 2 on the bottom, it should slide right out and the new slide right in right? What about the rear, will the shock shaft turn when I try to take the nut off of it? (in the trunk)

 

[sunil6784]

So..Basically once I get the top strut nut off and the 2 on the bottom, it should slide right out and the new slide right in right? What about the rear, will the shock shaft turn when I try to take the nut off of it? (in the trunk)

It could if it is rusted, but I didnt have that problem.

 

[cobradvm]

To get the nut off the top strut, just drive the car to a local shop and have them loosen it for you with an impact gun, then drive home slowly! Then take a vice grip and reach up and clamp the strut and now you will be able to take the nut off the rest of the way. Make sure the new strut has a means of allowing you to tighten the new nut on top - I put on a set of Bilsteins, and they have a hex cut into the top of the strut to allow you to stop it from turning.

 

[srothfuss]

If you have the money go invest in a cordless impact gun. That will make your life so much easier!

 

[nc_stang_girl]

Mine weren't too bad on my 92 coupe. I just had my bf put new Tokico shocks and struts, and an Eibach pro kit on it. He didn't have any impact stuff at home, and didn't have much trouble at all.

 

[RaceDvr50]

The rears usually come off pretty easy but if it does spin the top of the shock has a hex on it so you can use a pair of box ends to get it loose enough to finish the job with a socket. If you want to get the struts out of the car then have someone else pull the top nuts off you can pull the lower two bolts then the three nuts on the caster/camber plate. You can then pull the whole assembly, have someone with tools swap the plates or like CobraDVM said use a vice grip on the strut shaft and pull the nut. Don't use that method to tighten the new one though.

 

[RaceDvr50]

P.S. Always a good idea to get the car re-aligned after changing struts. Not manditory but a good idea if you want to keep your tires wearing right.

 

[Tonys96Cobra]

I dont have any air tools, how did I ever finish mine withouth them? You really dont them, they are just for people with T-rex arms Just use a hammer or a metal pipe on the end of your wrench, comes right off.

 

[RaceDvr50]

I think the point is that sometimes they spin and then you need to hold the center while you spin the nut off. It's not that it's hard to loosen the nut because I deal with things everyday at work torqued to well over 400ft/lbs but if the shaft is spinning you can turn it all day and the nut won't come off until you hold the shaft or put an impact wrench on it.