easy way to get struts off?
07-03-07, 10:40 PM
#1
easy way to get struts off?
so uh.. i decided to swap my suspension for something better and i got the rear out with no problems at all. didnt even have to take off the wheels. then i get to the front.. wtf? what am i looking at? gotta take the rotor off to get to the bolts? gotta take the caliper off to get to the rotor... gotta take off a link to get to the caliper? seriously. is all this work necessary?
07-03-07, 10:53 PM
#2
while the tires are on the ground, unbolt the large strut cartrdge nut. If you cant do it by manually, then better stop by at any repair shop and have them loosen it. IF NOT, YOU WILL BE BITCHING AND WILL BE USING THE "F" WORD (as in **** this ****) all day long.
The rest, jack it up, remove the tires, unbolt the calipers (there is one 17mm bolt), then the 2 17mm bolts that holds the strut to the lower control arm. Then 4 14mm on strut tops. Here's the trick y part, If you dont have a coil spring compressor, you can still remove the spring by using a large pry bar or a pipe. Wedge it to the frame and lower control arm/swap bar, unbolt the large strut cartrdge bolt, and slowly step on the pry bar and stay away from the wheel well. The idea behind this is to release the springs tension. Then you can slide the entire strut assembly out of ht lower control arm.
This is bonehead style (junkyard) so if you're not an exprienced weekend warrior, rent a coil spring compressor.
The rest, jack it up, remove the tires, unbolt the calipers (there is one 17mm bolt), then the 2 17mm bolts that holds the strut to the lower control arm. Then 4 14mm on strut tops. Here's the trick y part, If you dont have a coil spring compressor, you can still remove the spring by using a large pry bar or a pipe. Wedge it to the frame and lower control arm/swap bar, unbolt the large strut cartrdge bolt, and slowly step on the pry bar and stay away from the wheel well. The idea behind this is to release the springs tension. Then you can slide the entire strut assembly out of ht lower control arm.
This is bonehead style (junkyard) so if you're not an exprienced weekend warrior, rent a coil spring compressor.
07-05-07, 01:37 AM
#6
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Or you can take the whole thing out, put vice grips around the top of the strut where the bumpstop normally sits, nice n tight, and give er with a nice long cheater bar. Worked for me, repeat for reinstall, as the bumpstop also sits on the new strut in the same place that you put the vice grips, so no worries about messing up the seals. Wacky's idea is smarter, but mine works if it's too late and you've already taken the car apart. Also a spring compressor can be had fairly cheap. Don't take chances with those, it WILL hurt. Have fun 
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07-05-07, 06:23 PM
#8
i got it handled... it was a bitch and not quite as easy as the writeup says.. not sure why but i had to force the lower control arm down about 4".. to do that i had to remove the rod and almost unbolted the roll bar too. what a bitch but i guess im on a pretty steep learning curve
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