struts front

[sho'd]

just a quick question, how do you get the front struts out of the car? just remove pinch bolt, sway bar link, and the 3 nuts at the top of the strut? my tokicos and eibachs should be here between friday and wedneday, wanted to get a start early, thanks.

 

[FoeSho]

yep its prety easy..

 

[sho'd]

well here is my problem, i have been hammering away at the damn knuckle for about 20 min, the strut has come out mabey 1/2 to 1/3 the out and it seems that the control arm or whatever it's called holding the bottom of the strut will not come down any farther, man it's really got me mad, and anouther question can you buy the front sway bar link bolts seperatly, or do you have to replace that whole plastic piece? thanks.

anyone just ever sawl saw these out if your not using them again? just cut the strut in half?

 

[oh_SHO]

Use a really big pry bar to hold the knuckle down. Shouldn't be that hard I replace a spring/strut on my car in about an hour. And that was me BSing with all the people at the meet.

 

[sho'd]

hold it down with the crow bar and hit it at the same time? just trying to make sure i don't screw anymorw stuff up

 

[Bizzy]

Take a long bar (jack handle, long cheater bar, etc.) and put it over the LCA and under the edge of the subframe. Then sit on the other end of the bar and bounce a little on it. It'll pop out without too much work.

Once you get it out have someone put something over the boot of the LCA lest you damage the rubber boot on it and you don't want to do that.

 

[sho'd]

thanks Bizzy, LCA, sorry for my ignorance Lower Control Arm right?

 

[Bizzy]

Yeppers.

Just FYI, we're all ignorant in the beginning so don't be afraid to ask what seems to be a silly question.

 

[FoeSho]

yeah everythign goes great and fast, UNLESS you come into original or rusty struts

 

[sho'd]

well get a load of this, i'm bouncing on the pry bar, it has come the closest yet to coming off, but my strut rod is bottoming out and not letting it go just what looks to be half a centimeter, or so, has anyone just used a sawl saw to get old struts out? this is making me nuts, and i have read the backs are worse than the fronts? to the shop she goes for the backs. thanks again for all the help, i'm getting there. inch by inch lol

 

[TYSHO]

I always found it faster to just remove the whole assembly with the knuckle and all. It makes it easier, too.

 

[Entropy]

well here is my problem, i have been hammering away at the damn knuckle for about 20 min, the strut has come out mabey 1/2 to 1/3 the out and it seems that the control arm or whatever it's called holding the bottom of the strut will not come down any farther, man it's really got me mad,...

You did loosen the front tension strut bolt, correct? This gives you a little extra motion of the LCA/front tension stut assembly.

and anouther question can you buy the front sway bar link bolts seperatly, or do you have to replace that whole plastic piece? thanks.

The whole thing....

anyone just ever sawl saw these out if your not using them again? just cut the strut in half?

Drill a *** hole in the bottom of the strut first if you do this to relieve the pressure (although not much since the strut is near full, expanded length with the car jacked)(NOTE: I don't advise this, but it can be done....)

FYI: The rears are actually easier if you don't break the pinch bolt.

 

[SHOtimer]

FYI: The rears are actually easier if you don't break the pinch bolt.

I thought the rears were a breeze compared to the fronts.

I also removed the strut with the knuckle still attached and detached them out of the car.

Doug