Front strut bolts
- Thread starter tsiemens
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mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
there should be a slit in the strut shaft to stick a screw screwdriver in, or grab the shaft underneath with a vise grip. Easiest way is to zap it off with an air gun.
Are the nuts removed?
Put a jack under the ball joint, lift it up, and thread the nuts on partially and give them a few good whacks with a hammer. Use a piece of aluminum or brass between hammer and nut to avoid deforming the nut.
Or use an electric or air impact
Put a jack under the ball joint, lift it up, and thread the nuts on partially and give them a few good whacks with a hammer. Use a piece of aluminum or brass between hammer and nut to avoid deforming the nut.
Or use an electric or air impact
yeah I figured someone would suggest an air gun, but it didn't occur to me to jack it up to release pressure and try to tighten them first. thanks guys. If all else fails theres always my angle grinder and a new set of bolts I guess
You need that jack under there because once you remove those bolts that spring is going to force the a arm down and the spring will come out. Definitely have a jack under that balljoint at all times.
Releasing some pressure should allow the bolts to loosen properly
Releasing some pressure should allow the bolts to loosen properly
Are you just replacing the strut?
The strut is what keeps the lower arm from being pushed down by the spring. You need to jack up slightly to relieve pressure and support the spring before removing the strutS
Hop on YouTube and search for vids on mustang strut and spring replacement and you'll see how the suspension comes apart
The strut is what keeps the lower arm from being pushed down by the spring. You need to jack up slightly to relieve pressure and support the spring before removing the strutS
Hop on YouTube and search for vids on mustang strut and spring replacement and you'll see how the suspension comes apart
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
Serious . STOP right now before you do some major damage to the car or yourself.
Either get someone who knows what they are doing or take the time to research how to remove the strut properly.
Either get someone who knows what they are doing or take the time to research how to remove the strut properly.
Yes, be very cautious when working with springs under that amount of compression. Please listen to mikestang63 and me...you do NOT want to get hit by a front spring. I had one come out of a compressor and hit me in the forehead. Laid me right on my back and hurt for days, probably got a concussion too. Check into how to properly do the job or get some help from someone that knows how to properly do it.
Ok I watched eric the car guys Fairmont project
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC3qR0LEUno
I can see why you need a jack under the control arm or the spring will fly out. Good gracious, thanks for the advice guys. Yikes.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC3qR0LEUno
I can see why you need a jack under the control arm or the spring will fly out. Good gracious, thanks for the advice guys. Yikes.
Reddevil91
15 Year Member
- Mar 3, 2010
- 1,630
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Be sure you do I had an oh shiaaat moment when the jack I had under was a pos and it gave out, took the nut off and it popped down, talk about an oh crap moment when the strut hit inside the fender which would have been right in my crotch. Luckily I had the old wheels underneath as well so it didn’t fall all the way down. Go to harbor freight and get the battery powered one, I had the same issue and that solved it. I found one in their clearance section that somebody returned and it works perfectly, paid 60 bucks.
I just changed the struts in my 87 GT. I tried air impact, then electric impact. No luck. Sprayed w/ PB Blaster for a day, borrowed a Snap On breaker bar and broke a Craftsman socket. Bought a cheap impact replacement socket and literally had to jump (I'm 220 lbs.) on the breaker bar to get it loose. Now the strut bolts seem too long to tighten all of the way. I need shorter bolts or some spacers....
How much gap is there between the strut tabs and the big flat area of metal that the strut gets bolted to? (Very technical terms.) There are different spindles and some struts have a spacer or two.
You can remove one bolt at a time and check if the non-threaded area is too long to tighten sufficiently. The loc-tite on those bolts can be a pain to break loose, even if not rusty.
You can remove one bolt at a time and check if the non-threaded area is too long to tighten sufficiently. The loc-tite on those bolts can be a pain to break loose, even if not rusty.
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