strut install

[ericdebruyn1]

alright so about 3 monnths ago i decided to get H&R losering springs, so i put them on and i knew i had to replace the struts eventually. and about 2 weeks ago their came a loude knocking noise everytime i hit a small bump. i checked all the bushings for the sway bar they were good then i decided to check the struts to see if they were leaking oil and both the front were so the next day i ordered the adjustible konis from my friends shop..... and i couldnt find a thread that showed how to replace the front struts so this is why i am making it if their is one already then ill deleat it or something

Step 1
the first step is to get all the tools, you can see all the socket wrench sizes in later picturs
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1


Step 2

take the wheal off, if you think you can do this install with the wheals still on the car go cut your dick off and suck on it while you come back and look at this thread to see what you are doing wrong and then you should probily pay someone to do it for you because you could get really hurt.

step 3

take the clip off that is holding the brake line to the strut, also do the abs senser also (i think that is what it is or the tire pressure sencer whatever it is called)

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1


step 4

take the bracket that holds the swaybar end rod to the strut off. it should be a size 14mm socket.

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 5

undo the bolt at the bottom of the strutt that clamps at the bottom. it is easeyest to do if you have a impact gun but my air compresser took a dump on me
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1


once you have that off, get a pry bar and stick it in the hole that is behind the strut.

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1



http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1




step 6

place block of wood hear, put a good anount of weight on the pry bar, and beat the hell out of the wood with somoething heavy, untel the strut pops out of the hole.
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

it is alright to let the brake and all that stuff hang their you dont need to support it with anything.

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 7
losten the bolt on the center of the strut mount, but DO NOT TAKE IT ALL THE WAY OFF OR YOUR EFFED, but if you do take it all the way off then pit a jack under the strutt and jack it up so you can thred the nut back on. size 17 mm socket
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1


step 8
get the size 14mm socket, then take the 3 bolts holding the strut mount to the car compleatly out, and then pull the strut off the car
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 9
you must have spring compresers to do this, you can get these ones at autozone for $30 they suck! i normaly use the ones at my friends shop but i didnt have time to pick them up that day but these work.

put the u bolts as far apart from eachother as you can, do it on both sides, then tighten them down switching off between sids untell it is loose in the strut
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 10
now that the spring is compressed, you can take the bolt from the center of the strut mount al the way off ............ keep this bolt dont throw it away you will need it for the new struts evin thow they provide you with a new bolt.

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 11

throw old struts away, well don't really just in case something is wrong with the new ones


http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1



step 12
seat the spring like in the picture on the bottom and the top.

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 13

re mount the strut mount to the the new strut, this might be a good time to get new sturt mounts but i forgot to get them. http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 14
take the spring compresers off in the reverse order you put them on

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 15

loob up the hole with some wd40 so the strut slips in easy.
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1


step 16

put the strut mount up in place. this might be hard to get the holes to lien up because the inside side the holes are spaced further apart, but put the skews in but not all the way in. do not tighten them, keep it so you can wiggle the strut it will help when putting everything back together.
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 17
put it like this, well how it is in the picture, and wiggle it in it might be a little harder because the struts have not been broken in yet so they will be a little bit longer then the stock ones, and might help if you get a skew driver and pry to try to open up the hole a little its a really tight fit.

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1
once you have it started and all lined up you can put a jack under the entire mount and jack up on it to help force it all the way in and also get a hammer and tap ware the bolt goes to hold the strut in

step 18

put the bolt in and tighten it.

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 19

put the sway bar connecting rod mount back on and pug everything in, also put the brake line back on its mount with the clip that holds it in.

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

step 20

go over everything again to tighten everything, and make shure nothing will fall off your car while driving,
and put the wheals back on

http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1




step 21

go spend time with the girlfriend and buy her lunch, because she is probably tired of watching you spend time working on your car
http://thumbp14-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo...=480&httperr=1

(she is trying to hide)

and you might wan go go get your alignment checked it shouldn't matter but better make sure


when i do the rear i will put up how to do them also


enjoy

[tddvrrn]

what is this fail?

thanks for the effort.

2 things:

1) punctuation! for the love of god, break that shit up into sentences.
2) pic links don't work.

[ericdebruyn1]

Originally Posted by tddvrrn what is this fail? thanks for the effort. 2 things: 1) punctuation! for the love of god, break that shit up into sentences. 2) pic links don't work.

this better then nothing and i know that my spelling and punctuation sucks i am still studying English. English is not my first language.... and i did not know how to put pictures with out the link if you tell me how i will change that part. and i will also do what i can to fix all the punctuation

[tddvrrn]

Originally Posted by ericdebruyn1 this better then nothing and i know that my spelling and punctuation sucks i am still studying English. English is not my first language.... and i did not know how to put pictures with out the link if you tell me how i will change that part. and i will also do what i can to fix all the punctuation

hey, i agree, better than nothing. i don't even care about proper punctuation. maybe just a few random things to separate thoughts, like that- see? easier to read than this type of thing where each thought goes into the other i can't tell where one thought begins and another ends i like ice cream see isn't this kinda hard on the 'ol brain?

that's all

the pics were fail because when i click on the link, i am directed to a page that tells me i don't have permission to see the pictures. so, basically, i can't see what you are describing. and, while your explanations are great, especially if english is your second language, they aren't great enough to negate the need for pictures.

maybe you can just upload the pictures onto the site. when you are posting, scroll down to where it says-
'additional options'

then choose-
'attach files'.

this will let you upload pics. give it a shot. then this thread will be much more useful. i mean, you put all that time in creating the how-to, you may as well sort out the pics, it'll only take a few minutes.

and thanks!

[ericdebruyn1]

alright cool thanks man, ill get on that tomorrow if i have more time

[fooqr]

Front strut install howto