Rear Strut / rear seat removal

[Fast Fords]

I am trying to replace my rear drivers side strut and I have no clue where to even begin. SHOtimes.com says to remove the rear seat, but how the @*&# do you do that. Please Help!!

 

[underdog1924]

To remove the rear seat you need to push the bottom piece down towards the rear end and then lift up on the front of it. Then the back of the rear seat can be unbolted. I believe there is a write up on Shotimes about how to do it.

 

[jcostantino]

You have to remove the seat bottom first; push the base of the seat towards the back of the car and then pull up. Do that on both sides. Remove the bolt (10mm?) on each side that holds the seat back down, then pull it up and forward. You will have to remove the rear package tray after that and then you should see the strut towers.

Jeff

 

[sdpatt]

But you don't need to remove the rear seat to access the upper strut mounting nuts. There are three 13mm nuts on the top of the strut tower. They are reachable from the trunk with a box-end/open-end wrench or a wratchet wrench. I have also used a 1/4" drive socket wrench to turn some of them.

You should be replacing struts in left/right pairs. You may be creating an uneven damping condition by replacing only one strut.

 

[Darkside]

It is not always necessary to remove the rear seat in order to get to the top strut nuts. If you have to fine, but try to get the nuts off from going through the trunk.

 

[jcostantino]

I've never done the back struts but I've taken the back seat out a few times... I would say that the extra 5 minutes it takes to pull the back seat would save a **** of a strain on the neck and back since the bolts are much easier to get to through the rear deck.

Jeff

 

[RStalveyARFF]

you guys all suck! The absolute EASIEST way to take all of them out in one swing, is to pull of the seatbelt mechanism. They are all reachable then with a 13mm socket and small extension. Just did em last week. You need a t-50 or t55 torx to do it.

 

[MeShoHorny]

Pulled my rear seat last night, 5 minute job at most.

From the trunk I can get to 2 of the 3 mounting nuts. the 3rd is blocked by the seatbelt re-tractor. Used a t-50 or t55 to unbolt the retractor.

You can get to the last one w/out removing the retractor but you will need a 13mm box and have to take baby steps.

 

[sdpatt]

SHO91MTX:
you guys all suck!

Was that absolutely necessary?

Scott