Front Strut ****

[Ken Smith]

Hello all,

I'm in the process of replacing the struts on my 93 atx and I'm having a **** of time doing it. I'm to the point that I wished that I had paid someone to do it. Of course, it’s two late to take to someone since I got both sides disassembled.

On the driver side, I was finally able to remote the strut by removing steering knuckle from the lca. I was able to replace the strut but I can’t get the steering knuckle back onto the lca. It’s seems like the strut is too long (Factory Springs.) It’s almost like I need to keep the spring compressed on to be able to re-install the strut. My spring compressor is too large to fit inside of the fender well.

Help! What I’m I doing wrong? Does anyone have any advice?

I tried to follow the instruction at ShoTimes and Auto Zone but without any luck. I wondering if install aftermarket springs would help since they should be shorter than the factory but my wife doesn’t want me to spend any more money on this project.

TIA

Ken
Clueless in Vermont

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Well when you assemble the spring and strut you sould be compressiong the spring back down. If you have done this then you need to get the knuckle down far enough to get the strut in. I had a friend hold it down will I got it in. You may need some extra hands to get it done.

 

[philw349]

I recently did this procedure and I used a jack to "jack up" the spring a bit to help me out. This is a "try at your own risk" approach. But I found it as another way of compressing the spring. I used a crow bar wedged in the bottom portion of the strut housing and put the other end on the jack. Gives you a few inches to play with. Good luck.

 

[NemoX]

Take a long crow bar and put one end under the subframe and have it so it passes over the control arm. have a friend stand on the bar and you should be able to get the strut into the hole in the knuckle. once you get it close, either kick it or have that friend stand on the knuckle a little bit to work it in.