Strut Replacement
 

Ok guys... another question. I was going through the car again today trying to tie up some loose ends...and noticed that one of the front struts has given up... My question is... Advance Auto Parts carries a replacement insert for them made by KYB... Is there anything special about replacing these or is it just as simple as it looks?

You need a Spring Compressor and I needed a BIG pipe Wrench to take off the top nut on the Tube.

Having a larger vice handy is also helpful. Make sure and give yourself plenty of time. It took me a lot longer than I thought it would.

Got them off tonight...Not toooooo bad... A little rust on the bolts...but nothing stripped or broken! Seems to be down hill from here...course...now that I said that....

Waiting on the KYB's- They should be in tommrow!

note the 4 nuts on the top of the strut towers require VERY LITTLE tightening!!!! Something like 16Ft/lbs! They will spin out easily if over torqued (ask me how I know :(
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

Any special tools required for front strut replacement? I have a socket to fit the nut on the strut tower, but the strut shaft just spins and there is not way to hold it.

an air impact wrench is the best thing to use since it'll spin that nut off, even if the shaft will turn using just a socket and ratchet. u can also put a rag on the shaft and use vise grip pliers to hold it. or just try hitting the wrench with a rubber hammer, this usually works also to loosen the nut. as for the spring compressor, i've just took the strut nut off with the car on the ground, then jack it up, never taking the other 4 nuts loose.

^^^ haha dont use a rag! trust me I ruined a set of tokico Blues with a rag and vice grips. I would reccomend a air pun only. but if you dont have one, then cut some rubber hose to fit around the shaft and put vice grips on that. Or get huge channel-locks and hold onto the bump stop. the top nut is the hardest part.