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Old 07-02-2002, 01:20 PM   #1
spshultz
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Question Once struts are off how the hell do you get them back on?

OK,

It has taken me 2 hours to get one strut off. I am putting SPT springs and KYB GR-2 struts on. My old KYB/AGX combo came off with a little muscle but atleast it came off.

But my problem is putting the new set back on. How does everyone do it so easily? I have assembled the entire strut and inserted it into the top strut mount of the body of the car. But the two big holes at the bottom of the strut are so far below the two holes where the brakes are that I don't have enough muscle to push the strut w/spring up to align the holes and insert the 19mm bolts.

Sure www.scoobymods.com shows you how to take them off but not how to put them on. What did everyone do to get these damn things on there?
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Old 07-02-2002, 01:46 PM   #2
ciper
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You've still got the spring compressors right? Just slip one on the front and tighten it slightly until they line up!

Also try removing the sway bar link
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Old 07-02-2002, 01:50 PM   #3
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Once the springs are compressed on the shocks you should be able to get just enough bolt to show through on the top to start threading them. Once they are threaded a little connect the two bolts down by the brakes. After those are in use a jack to muscle the strut all the way to the top until you've got all of the thread through. (did that make any sense? )

Later,
Jim
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Old 07-02-2002, 01:53 PM   #4
spshultz
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OK, this is a really stupid question but when jacking the car up you don't want to jack it up one side at a time correct? Which is what I did. You want to make sure the whole front end is in the air?

That sway bar links idea made me think. Maybe it's pressing up on the side that I have jacked up and won't let the steering knuckle fall enough?

I'll also give the spring compressor a try to. It's mighty tight in there. I'll tell ya, the first time is always a real B#$ch!
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Old 07-02-2002, 02:06 PM   #5
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I think it's possible to do it left-right instead of front-back, but I think the latter would definitely be easier.
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Old 07-02-2002, 02:42 PM   #6
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You're on the right track.

The whole front should be up in the air. I've done these a bunch of times and the spindle is always BELOW the holes for the strut. I usually put the floor jack under the control arm and jack it up to match it to the strut.

jack
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Old 07-02-2002, 03:25 PM   #7
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Your best bet is to remove one of the swaybar endlinks. You'll be fighting with it the whole time if you don't, as you've already discovered.
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Old 07-02-2002, 03:38 PM   #8
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I did the install about a week ago. I did left front and left rear and then switched because I have a single car garage and can't get around both sides of the car at the same time.

Remove the swaybar endlink. The control arm will drop down and the strut will easily go in. If you don't, you risk tearing the cv boot with the bottom of the strut.

Wait about a week for the car to settle, then get an alignment.
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Old 07-02-2002, 05:09 PM   #9
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You tried to jack one side at a time with the sway bar still connected?!

I assumed both wheels were up in the air, you must have had a hell of a time getting them even close! Your lucky you dont have upgraded bars with stiff links or I doubt you would have got the struts out in the first place.


as silverscooby said, get a couple of the top mount nuts started to hold the strut in place. Then while the sway bar link is disconnected turn the stearing wheel towards the side you are working on. This will allow the strut mounting spot to swing outwards, just pressh towards the strut until the bottom bolt will go in. Then just press a little more till the top lines up.
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Old 07-02-2002, 09:12 PM   #10
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Yep ciper, one side at a time. It worked perfectly. I only had to remove the swaybar link on the passenger side front. The rest slipped right into place with no trouble at all.
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Old 07-03-2002, 12:39 AM   #11
spshultz
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I just wanted to say thanks for all the replies. After I posted last I went outside and put my floor jack under the engine at the jack point and lifted the entire front end in the air. It worked like a champ!

But who ever put those 19mm bolts on last torqued them down way way way to hard. I was jumping up and down on the breaker bar to get them loose. And I had to leg press the bar when I had to lift up to loosen them. I figure they were atleast 250ft. lbs. or better.

I torqued them all to 140ft. lbs. and hope that they don't loosen up.

Anyway it took 12 hours of blood, sweat and bad language to get them done.

But, the SPT springs and KYB GR-2 struts are great. I had 3 blown struts and that made for a very bouncy ride. This new combo makes for a good long highway setup but still handles pretty decently. Two thumbs up.
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