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Replacing struts- a few lessons (long) 200

Strut Replacement Procedure. Also study Bentley 720-2, 720-5, the IPD catalogue tech tips, and other sources like this thread. There are various approaches that work. The main thing is to be safe about it. No guarantees as to accuracy of this list. Works for me.

1. Loosen top strut nut one turn with wheels on the ground
2. Put car on jackstands, at least the front
3. Remove front wheels
4. Loosen gland nuts
5. Remove end link top nuts. 17mm socket
6. Remove brake line bracket bolts. 12mm socket
7. Remove inner brake line clamps. 8mm socket
8. Disconnect tie rods. 18mm
9. Release fasteners for front and rear A-arm bushings.
10. Put jack under A-arm near wheel.
11. Release then remove 3 nuts on top of strut tower under hood. 13mm
12. Carefully lower strut assembly to outside of fender.
13. Support with two 3/16 rod special hooks into sway bar hole.
14. Compress spring safely. 3 coils between jaws of compressor.
15. Remove top strut nut. Air impact wrench if not reusing strut.
16. Remove bearing mount, spring seat, spring, bumpstop/boot.
17. Remove strut gland nut.
18. Pull out old strut, compare length to new, put in new.
19. Tighten gland nut with NeverSeize. Make sure nut is not fully seated into tube and not bottoming out on tube itself. Make sure new strut insert is held tightly in tube.
20. Clean spring seat.
21. Install compressed spring, bump stop, spring seat, bearing/mount.
22. Tighten top nut (15 lbs) using Lisle special tool. Don’t spin strut inside itself.
23. Release spring compressors carefully, making sure spring is seated properly.
23. Raise strut assembly into strut tower while guiding end link into sway bar.
24. Torque top 13mm nuts to 15 pounds.
25. Tighten gland nut some more.
26. Torque tie rod ends to 44 lbs. with Loctite.
27. Install wheels on car. Put weight of car on wheels. Bounce car a bunch. Roll back and forth a bit if possible to settle front tires.
28. Torque front and rear A-arm bushing bolts to specs.



--
Thanks for all the help. DougC 1981 242, Turbo bars and wheels, M46 ----------- 1993 245, B230 NA L-Block, M46, Turbo bars.






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New 7 Replacing struts- a few lessons (long) [200]
posted by  Adirondack Blues  on Thu Jan 25 08:59 CST 2007 >


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