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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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Strange strut install problems...?!?!?

  • Thread starter Thread starter zidane45
  • Start date Start date Aug 12, 2004

zidane45

New Member
Dec 26, 2003
55
0
0
charleston,SC
Aug 12, 2004
#1
  • Aug 12, 2004
  • #1
I'm installing these struts and for some reason i cant get them to reach high enough to get the bolt on the c/c plates. i've put the jack under the end of my rotor and we've pushed down on the car....won't go.

any tips or help please...?
 

zidane45

New Member
Dec 26, 2003
55
0
0
charleston,SC
Aug 13, 2004
#2
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #2
no help?
do i need to use a spring compressor?
 
S

Sevan

Founding Member
Dec 4, 2001
558
0
16
IL
Aug 13, 2004
#3
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #3
just bring the strut up throught the fender and through the CC plates and bolt the strut loosly. then you will need a spring compressor to get the spring..good luck
 

zidane45

New Member
Dec 26, 2003
55
0
0
charleston,SC
Aug 13, 2004
#4
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #4
has anyone else had to do this with struts before?
 

5literttop

Member
Mar 1, 2004
229
2
19
Saint John, NB Canada
Aug 13, 2004
#5
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #5
I did mine this spring and they were fine. The strut should automatically extend, mine did anyway. The stock ones that were wore out, did it too.
 

zidane45

New Member
Dec 26, 2003
55
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0
charleston,SC
Aug 13, 2004
#6
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #6
mine arent gas charged. they are strange 10 way adjustables. i have them extended all the way and when i jack the spindle and control arm up i still have like an inch to go to get the strut into postion to get the retaining nut on top.
this is with it attached to the spindle.
 

5literttop

Member
Mar 1, 2004
229
2
19
Saint John, NB Canada
Aug 13, 2004
#7
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #7
Attach at the top and see if you can pull it down...
 

zidane45

New Member
Dec 26, 2003
55
0
0
charleston,SC
Aug 13, 2004
#8
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #8
nope
the spring isn't compressing enough to reach.
 

5literttop

Member
Mar 1, 2004
229
2
19
Saint John, NB Canada
Aug 13, 2004
#9
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #9
Get a spring compressor and use it to shorten the distance. seems odd you would have to do this. These are new struts?
 

zidane45

New Member
Dec 26, 2003
55
0
0
charleston,SC
Aug 13, 2004
#10
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #10
yeah...strange 10 ways. makes me mad too
i had my old ones off a while. for like 4 days. so i don't know if that would have made a difference
 
S

Sevan

Founding Member
Dec 4, 2001
558
0
16
IL
Aug 13, 2004
#11
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #11
I had to cut the bolts for the spring compressor to make it fit. If you have an air compressor use it to compress the spring because its tough if you doing it by hand....good luck and be careful
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
Aug 13, 2004
#12
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #12
No problems like that with stock springs and Strange struts here. I did have an odd fitment problem with their shocks though...
 

zidane45

New Member
Dec 26, 2003
55
0
0
charleston,SC
Aug 13, 2004
#13
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #13
thats wierd...my shocks went in like 10 minutes. crazy. i think it may be that i left the control arm lose for like a week. not sure. i picked up the compressor and we;ll see how it goes.
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
Aug 13, 2004
#14
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #14
zidane45 said:
thats wierd...my shocks went in like 10 minutes. crazy. i think it may be that i left the control arm lose for like a week. not sure. i picked up the compressor and we;ll see how it goes.
Click to expand...

My problem with the shocks -- if it was actually a problem, is they weren't as wide as the factory 'ears' on the rear -- and didn't fit snug like other shocks I've had. It might nto have made a difference, but I was worried about them sliding side-to-side and not working as well as they should have. So I put washers on either end of the bolt to keep them centered better.

Not huge, but enough that I did something about it.
 

zidane45

New Member
Dec 26, 2003
55
0
0
charleston,SC
Aug 13, 2004
#15
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #15
check your pm stangGx
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
Aug 13, 2004
#16
  • Aug 13, 2004
  • #16
zidane45 said:
check your pm stangGx
Click to expand...

PM'd back!
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Aug 14, 2004
#17
  • Aug 14, 2004
  • #17
ill toss one out from total left field. ive gotten struts for other cars which were retracted. i had to spin the strut piston to get them to extend (like you do with lotion bottles, liquid soap, etc).

just a long shot (since i have no idea about your struts - never used them). good luck.
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
Aug 14, 2004
#18
  • Aug 14, 2004
  • #18
The STrange struts (mine at least) did not need to be spun out to extend. But you did make me think of something else when installing mine -- if they're set very tight they will be very hard to extend. If you set them to the lowest setting you should have no trouble pulling them out and pushing them in.
 
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