Strange strut install problems...?!?!?

[zidane45]

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]

no help?
do i need to use a spring compressor?

 

[Sevan]

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]

has anyone else had to do this with struts before?

 

[5literttop]

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]

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]

Attach at the top and see if you can pull it down...

 

[zidane45]

nope
the spring isn't compressing enough to reach.

 

[5literttop]

Get a spring compressor and use it to shorten the distance. seems odd you would have to do this. These are new struts?

 

[zidane45]

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

 

[Sevan]

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]

No problems like that with stock springs and Strange struts here. I did have an odd fitment problem with their shocks though...

 

[zidane45]

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]

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.

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]

check your pm stangGx

 

[89MustangGX]

check your pm stangGx

PM'd back!

 

[HISSIN50]

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]

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.