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I'm all set to do my struts (for the first time on a 240). I've got all new bushings, turbo sways from the p-n-p, new ball joints (badly needed) and some Boge Pros (couldn't justify the $$ for Bilsteins). I'll borrow an impact wrench to get the top nut on/off, rent the spring compressors, and I'll figure on a big pipe wrench for the gland nut. And I'll take the control arms into the shop to get the bushings pressed in while I'm wrestling with the struts.
Am I all set? Should I buy any other misc. parts?
I'm basically figuring/hoping that I won't have to change the strut bearings. I've read that the strut bearings are pretty beefy and can last the life of the car, and I suppose if I were flush I might replace them just for good measure, but right now is not the time to spent almost $200 just for good measure. I have religous opposition to using Scantech for high labor repairs like this, and I just can't stomach paying for the OEMs right now if I don't know I need to replace them - they cost more than I paid fcpgroton for the strut inserts! Is there a surefire way of telling whether or not I'm going to need to replace the strut bearings before I tear into the job? The car's got about 160K, and in otherwise excellent condition. I've heard "if you turn the steering wheel and you hear squeaks, the bearings are probably bad," but that's not necessarily true - I know from experience that a lot of things can cause squeaks when turning - balljoints, etc. Is it possible to isolate and diagnose the condition of the strut bearings with them still on the car?
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