Front strut bolts

tsiemens

my welding skills arent really skills

Jul 14, 2018

136

26

38

ontario

Sep 16, 2018

#1

• Sep 16, 2018

• #1

I'm having a terrible time getting the 2 24mm bolts out of this rusty old original strut. Is there a trick to these? Any suggestions? I got the rear shocks out with penetrating fluid and wrenches alone.

 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician

Aug 27, 2012

11,606

8,859

214

In the garage

Sep 16, 2018

#2

• Sep 16, 2018

• #2

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.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,170

17,870

224

Massachusetts

Sep 16, 2018

#3

• Sep 16, 2018

• #3

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

 

tsiemens

my welding skills arent really skills

Jul 14, 2018

136

26

38

ontario

Sep 16, 2018

#4

• Sep 16, 2018

• #4

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

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,170

17,870

224

Massachusetts

Sep 16, 2018

#5

• Sep 16, 2018

• #5

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

 

Reactions: 7991LXnSHO

tsiemens

my welding skills arent really skills

Jul 14, 2018

136

26

38

ontario

Sep 16, 2018

#6

• Sep 16, 2018

• #6

the spring will come out? should I be afraid here?

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,170

17,870

224

Massachusetts

Sep 16, 2018

#7

• Sep 16, 2018

• #7

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

 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician

Aug 27, 2012

11,606

8,859

214

In the garage

Sep 16, 2018

#8

• Sep 16, 2018

• #8

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.

 

Reactions: BlakeusMaximus

LX Dave

5 Year Member

Jul 2, 2017

239

181

53

Sep 16, 2018

#9

• Sep 16, 2018

• #9

tsiemens said:

the spring will come out? should I be afraid here?

Click to expand...

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.

 

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

SN Certified Technician

Mar 2, 2015

6,945

5,816

213

Sep 16, 2018

#10

• Sep 16, 2018

• #10

I knew a guy that had reconstructive surgery on his face because of a spring. You have to put a jack under the control arm. Those bolts not coming loose may have saved your life.

 

tsiemens

my welding skills arent really skills

Jul 14, 2018

136

26

38

ontario

Sep 17, 2018

#11

• Sep 17, 2018

• #11

wow. Ok thanks guys. I was watching the cj pony video and it seems really easy. I'm going to take this very slow.

 

tsiemens

my welding skills arent really skills

Jul 14, 2018

136

26

38

ontario

Sep 17, 2018

#12

• Sep 17, 2018

• #12

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.

 

Reddevil91

15 Year Member

Mar 3, 2010

1,630

773

163

Sep 17, 2018

#13

• Sep 17, 2018

• #13

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.

 

tsiemens

my welding skills arent really skills

Jul 14, 2018

136

26

38

ontario

Sep 29, 2018

#14

• Sep 29, 2018

• #14

If anyone is interested here. I finally got the struts out of the car with a propane torch and a torque wrench. I did not die haha. Any recommendations on torque on the nut at the top of the strut? Car handles WAY better now.

 

Reactions: DSB88GT

D

DougD

New Member

Feb 25, 2021

2

0

1

West Palm Beach

Feb 25, 2021

#15

• Feb 25, 2021

• #15

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....

 

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp

10 Year Member

Sep 1, 2010

7,387

2,745

194

Kearney, NE

Feb 25, 2021

#16

• Feb 25, 2021

• #16

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.

 

D

DougD

New Member

Feb 25, 2021

2

0

1

West Palm Beach

Feb 25, 2021

#17

• Feb 25, 2021

• #17

That is my fun for tomorrow. The alignment shop, which specializes in lifted 4x4's, large vehicles and custom rides, told me it was the bolt, but we will see. At least the bolts will come off easier-they were kind of stuck after 34 years and 308,000 miles on the car....