Putting In New Struts, Springs, and Strut Mounts

[hondas hate me]

:wave: OK iam putting all new Tociko Struts and Intrax Springs, and MidWestSHO Reinforced Strut Mounts Into my car here soon.......I just wanted to know what all hard wear i should go out and buy for this project? I was told i need new pinch bolts and some other bolts. ....also i know i need spring compressors but some one mentioned that i need a ball joint tool or somthing???????
any and all replys are helpfull....Thank you guys


Sorry for all the "somthings" and any other things i couldnt name .....LOL iam turning 18 sept 11th i will work on naming the parts......

 

[SHOZ123]

Don't know about the GEN 2 struts but on my GEN 3 I just loosen the pinch bolt, take off the end link, then drop that side of the sub frame. Give the knuckle a kick and the strut pops out. Then take the top three nuts off and take out the strut. Maybe 20 minutes per side for the front.

 

[shobote]

What also helps is to just break loose the (on top) strut bolt while it is still mounted on the car before removing the top 3 nuts and the strut assembly; PITA to loosen it when the strut is off the car, but remember to only break it loose a little bit (very hazerdous to your well being if the spring decides to remove itself).

 

[Yamaha V6]

Mapp Gas & PB Blaster are your friends if you live in a rustbelt area. Soak / heat the knuckle at the strut pinch bolt (don't heat the bolt or the strut!). A screwdriver in the split area where the pinch bolt was just removed helps spread the collar so it'll slide off the strut. Bear in mind Tokicos use a heavy amount of paint / powdercoating on their tubes, so you'll want that collar loose for the new one. **** the new tube too. If possible, get new pinch bolt hardware for the strut & a new bolt / nut setup for the lower control arm / ball joint. If you're not lowering the subframe as Paul mentioned, a 36" prybar on the strut rod will pop the ball joint out of the socket in the knuckle.

 

[60kmaintenance]

http://www.shophoenixproject.com/cv/passengercv.htm

http://www.shophoenixproject.com/cv/seal.htm

Those two articles have a bunch of helpful information...

Umm you have to take the pinch bolt out of the strut cause there is a metal piece it goes through, that's connected to the strut...... It's easy, you get the lower ball joint out, protect it, knock the axle out, get it out... (I recommend using the old lock nut for knocking the axle out, you have to replace it when you do this any ways, or should) Then using a hammer maybe wood, knock the knuckle down...

SHO nut has the pinch bolts you'll need, two struts, and two bolt joints (with nuts). Also cotter pins and bolts for the steering ends. (of just get some heavy duty ones)

When you go to put it back togather..... First get the strut and knuckle up in there, then make sure you axle is in, and I used a rattle gun to suck it up into the knuckle (careful though, it could slip out of tranny/intermediate shaft which would be BAD, you'd have to take it all apart again possible). If you don't have the axle sucked all the way into the knuckle, and the axle in the tranny/intermediate shaft it'll be about impossible to get the lower balljoint in......

BE CAREFUL WITH THAT BALLJOINT you can't buy them. Control arms are $45 a pop.

 

[hondas hate me]

OK cool thanks you guys! I got them in!