Strut Assemble Question

[Wind-Farmer]

Strut Assembly Question

Hey guys,

I am getting all of my parts ready for the strut assembly. I want to take out the stock (which has 1,100 miles on it) and replace with all new parts.

As of now sitting in my basement I have GT500 Strut mounts, Tokico D-Specs, and Eibach Pro-Kit Springs.

What I am asking, is the complete parts I will need without re-using stock parts, bolts, spacing parts, etc.

I see that the GT500 mounts are made of thick rubber, which has the slots so it can sit on the spring, as for the Tokico's have the same set-up.

Is there any piece of vinyl or plastic that will sit between the springs and the strut/strut mounts, or will the springs seat directly onto both?

Would it be better to re-use the stock upper strut mount bolts, or replace with new. I know that the Tokico's came with the center bolt, which I think I need to remove that in oder for the strut arm to go through the mount itself.


If anyone had any diagrams of the whole Mustang Strut assembly that would be great.

I plan on doing this myself come spring and it literally is giving me an ulcer thinking about it. I know nothing of suspension, I just know I want to do this car right.


Thanks,

 

[walter]

The bolts can be reused but as with any OEM fastener you reuse make sure to put a dab of threadlocker to compensate for the seal that you broke and use torque specs.

I have installed coilover setups in the past and those seem to be a straight up installation once you remove the OEM suspension setup. What you're installing isn't a readymade coilver setup but you can make it into one if you have all the parts ready which you do except for the retaining bolt that holds the strut to the camber plate / strut insulator and keeps the spring in tension. Basically you can assemble those before hand with the help of a spring compressor and a new nut (or reuse the old one if you take time to disassemble the stock strut). Once you have built the strut, spring, and insulator into one part just bolt it in place and your'e done.

Don't forget an alignment as it will probably be needed.

 

[Wind-Farmer]

Thanks for the info,

That nuts that goes to the camber plate/insulator... I guess the car already has a camber plate that will stay stationary during this process?

I mean the ... rod of the struts have a nut fastened to them, that has a tag that says "do not use an impact wrench on this nut." I remove that nut and slide the arm through the strut mount, then tighten the nut down? Is that something totally different than the camber plate nut?

Sorry for my dumb questions, just totally new at doing this myself; had a shop do it on my last car.

I need a pictures heh heh, I would go out and look at the car; but unfortunitely is locked away a few miles out of town for the winter.

 

[walter]

I'm talking about the one in the center of the insulator/plate.

This should help a bit.

http://www.fnsweet.com/forums/05-09-roush-mustangs/28554-roush-suspension-install-has-started.html

 

[UrbanRedneck]

I'm not sure what bolts any of you are talking about. Unless you are calling nuts bolts. The strut mount will have 3 or 4 studs that go into holes int he top of the shock tower and are secured by nuts. No need to replace these nuts with new. Then there is one nut that screws onto the top of the strut shaft, retaining it to the strut mound, which should come with the new strut. Then, other than that, there are just the two large bolts that hold the strut to the knuckle.

Wind Farmer, there is most likely a rubber isolator that goes under the spring, on the strut, I'm not sre though, some cars don't have them, you'd be able to see it on your car if you turn the wheel all the way and look for the strut.. I did not hear you mention this, if the car has one, you'll need it. But there is nothing wrong with dissasembling the old strut and taking that out. There may also be a bumpstop that slides over the shaft, which may be on the stock strut. But once you get all the parts together, they just go together in order with the spring seated in the notches at the top and bottom, then once the spring is compressed and the center nut is installed you will have a strut assembly that can be installed on the car.

 

[Wind-Farmer]

yes the common bolt/nut mix-up.

Thank you for your help, I will have to get those bumpstops, forgot about them, and Ill have to take that runner spring sheild then also.

Thanks!!