Front Strut Install

[chrisilversvt]

so i'm going to change out my front struts,rear shocks,and quads this weekend.....i've changed rear shocks before,but i've never done front struts or quads.....anyone have any tips or tricks or secrets??????????

also any links to a how to....all the ones i seem to find are for spring installs etc. and they sort of just skip over the strurt part.....

 

[mootang]

get an impact gun for the bottom nuts. they are on there extremely tight. also you want them to go back on nice and tight.

 

[BDAWK2002]

I did mine last year and it wasnt to bad,pretty straight foward.I also did my springs at the same time so I had to drop the control arm too.When doing just the struts I dont think you have to drop the arm but not sure.The hardest part is getting the nut off the top of the strut in the eng compartment.The only real way to get it off is with a impact gun so if you have one of those your set.The problem is when you turn the nut with a wrench the whole strut shaft spins.If you dont have a impact wrench there is a slot in the top of the strut where a large flathead screwdriver will fit.You could put a screwdriver in the slot to hold the shaft and turn the nut with a wrench but this almost definately wont work but worth a shot.I say use the money your saving by doing it yourself and buy a impact wrench.Good luck

 

[mootang]

"You could put a screwdriver in the slot to hold the shaft and turn the nut with a wrench but this almost definately wont work"

that is how i did mine and it was no problem at all. came off with ease.

 

[94-302-vert]

THen for the two bolts the hold the strut to the knuckle, I heated them with a trocch and cooled then with wd40. came off pretty easy after that, jsut used an 18" breaker bar and a little muscle.

For the top nut I put a scredriver in a pair of vice grips (for leverage) then used a wrench, these were easy on my car.

Chris

 

[BDAWK2002]

"You could put a screwdriver in the slot to hold the shaft and turn the nut with a wrench but this almost definately wont work"

that is how i did mine and it was no problem at all. came off with ease.

I tried it with mine and the top of the shaft snapped I had no impact gun so I cut the shaft in the wheel well with a grinder and ordered steeda c/c plates

 

[Swarzkopf]

I take of the strut tower plate, then cut off the old retaining nut with a cut off wheel. Much easier than fighting with it under the hood.

As for the lower knuckle-strut retaining bolts, as others have said, heat, lubricant, and muscle will take care of them.

 

[urban96]

you can do it without removing the ctock C/C plates. all you really need is an impact gun.

you might also need to remove the plastic inner fender liner to get a little clearence to pull the strut down (i had to).

the bottom two bolts are TIGHT but theyll come out. i didnt remove my calipers, i just turned the wheels to full lock to get as much room as possible and it worked out pretty good.

 

[Swarzkopf]

Also...make sure you get an alignment done afterwards.

 

[95strokerPSU]

Sorry to jack the thread, but you might to need this as well. When you replace the struts, what do you need as far as small parts. I'm doing Bilsteins all around and just want to make sure I have everything before i start.

Thanks
Dave

 

[urban96]

shouldnt need any small parts, simple swap

 

[94-302-vert]

if staying with the stock C&C plates mayeb replace the bushings as well...

Chris

 

[95strokerPSU]

No I got new C/C plates, so I won't need new bushings?