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help installing strut assembly

L

lekmedm

New CEG'er
Joined
Oct 4, 2002
Messages
8
Location
Annandale, NJ
Hi all! Well, the front right coil spring on my '96 Mystique broke! :( Now, I have a replacement strut assembly, but I'm having troule putting it in. Is there any trick to this? Do I need to disconnect the steering doo-dad that goes to the spindle? I just can't seem to get anyhere near to getting the base of the strut into that mount point on the spindle.

HELP!

TIA.
 
Yes. Check out the sticky under the suspension forum. You will also need a spring compressor. Check out autozone.com for a repair manual, they have great pics for this. Good luck
 
getsum111 said:
Yes. Check out the sticky under the suspension forum. You will also need a spring compressor. Check out autozone.com for a repair manual, they have great pics for this. Good luck
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip about the Autozone site. I completely forgot about that. I have the whole assembly, so I don't need a spring compressor for this job.

Does anyone have any tips on getting a rusty cotter pin out of the tie rod end?
 
lekmedm said:
.Does anyone have any tips on getting a rusty cotter pin out of the tie rod end?
Click to expand...

Use a pair of pliers to push it together. Then tap it out with a hammer. If it breaks, just use a small hammer and small nail to tap it out. Either way, you need a new cotter pin. What is the brand and part number of the "easy struts" you are installing? I think mine are due. :eek:
 
Monroe's "Quick-Struts" are available almost everywhere. You can look up the application data at Monroe's website which should be findable in under a minute using Google.

Steve
 
I went on Monroe's website 2 or 3 months ago but it did not list one for the Contour. If you know of an application which is acceptable for the Contour, kindly post the part number. Thanks.
 
I just got my whole strut assembly from a junk yard.

Anyway, I finally found the time to get the tie rod end off, but I still can't get the new assembly in. :( There's just not enough room. Is there a trick to putting one of these back in? It looks almost like it's too long, but it's the same length as the old one. (Now I can't believe I got the old one out to begin with!)

This project is taking way too long. Help!
 
first you need to get the ball joint out of the hub, to aid in this loosen the strut pinch bolt and slide the hub as high as possible on the strut, then use a pry bar or a helping hand to push the a-arm down separating the ball joint from the hub, you can also loosen the top retaining nut on the strut to allow it a little more room to move

to install just reverse
 
BrApple said:
first you need to get the ball joint out of the hub, to aid in this loosen the strut pinch bolt and slide the hub as high as possible on the strut, then use a pry bar or a helping hand to push the a-arm down separating the ball joint from the hub, you can also loosen the top retaining nut on the strut to allow it a little more room to move

to install just reverse
Click to expand...

Please forgive my ignorance, but I don't understand what you mean by getting the ball joint out of the hub. I did pretty much the procedure givien at the AutoZone repair site. There was no need to get the ball joint out of the hub. My problem now is getting the assembly onto the spindle.
 
hub/spindal is the same thing. you need to have it free to get the strut assemble into the car then the hub is put onto the strut and then the ball joint is connected.


so did you remove the drive shaft becasue I don't know how else you would be able to get teh hub and strut out at the same time, it is much easlier to serarete the ball joint on the control arm from the hub then remove the hub from the strut and pull the strut from the car then reverse ...
 
At this point I can't tell you by what miracle I got the original strut off.

So you're saying basicly to get the spindle off the LCA? I was thinking of that, but I didn't want to potentially get myself into trouble with another part. Do I really need to remove the drive shaft to do this?
 
no don't remove the drive shaft ... the best way to get the strut in is to install it by itself, then install the hub onto the strut then reconnect the ball joint, do this by sliding the hub up the strut as far as it will go then get the ball joint in then set the strut so you can reinstall the pinch bolt ...
 
Strut and Spring Assembly



Removal
All Vehicles
µ 1. CAUTION:
Use an Allen key to prevent the piston rod from rotating.

Loosen the top mount nut by five turns.
2. Loosen the wheel nuts.
3. Raise and support the vehicle.For additional information, refer to «Section 100-02».
4. Remove the wheel.
µ 5. Detach the brake hose support bracket.
µ 6. Detach the stabilizer bar connecting link from the strut.
µ 7. Remove the tie-rod end retaining nut.
µ 8. Using the special tool, release the tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle.
Vehicles with anti-lock brakes
µ 9. Detach the wheel speed sensor and cable.
All Vehicles
µ 10. CAUTION:
Secure the caliper and anchor plate assembly out of the way to prevent damage to the flexible brake hose.

Detach the caliper and anchor plate assembly.
µ 11. Remove the brake disc.

l Remove the retainers (if equipped).
µ 12. Remove the wheel knuckle to strut pinch bolt.
µ 13. Remove the lower arm to wheel knuckle pinch bolt and nut.
µ 14. CAUTION:
When the lower arm is detached from the wheel knuckle the ball joint seal must be protected to prevent damage.

Detach the lower arm from the wheel knuckle.
µ 15. CAUTION:
To avoid damage to the halfshaft joints and boots, do not bend the inner halfshaft by more than 18 degrees, the outer one by not more than 45 degrees.

Detach the wheel knuckle.
µ 16. CAUTION:
Use an Allen key to prevent the piston rod from rotating.
Note:
Support the strut and spring assembly.

Remove the top mount nut.
µ 17. Remove the strut and spring assembly.

Installation
All Vehicles
µ 1. Position the suspension unit.

l Install the top mount nut finger tight.
µ Refer to corresponding illustration.
µ 2. Position the wheel knuckle on the suspension unit.
µ 3. Install the lower arm to the wheel knuckle.
µ 4. Install the lower arm to wheel knuckle pinch bolt and nut.
µ 5. Install the wheel knuckle to strut pinch bolt.
µ 6. Install the brake disc.

l Install the retainers (if equipped).
µ 7. Install the caliper and anchor plate assembly.
Vehicles with anti-lock brakes
µ 8. Install the wheel speed sensor and cable.
All Vehicles
µ 9. Note:
Install a new retaining nut.

Install the tie-rod end to the wheel knuckle.
µ 10. Attach the brake hose support bracket.
µ 11. Install the stabilizer bar connecting link to the strut.
12. Install the wheel.
µ 13. Tighten the wheel nuts
µ 14. CAUTION:
Use an Allen key to prevent the piston rod from rotating.

Tighten the top mount nut.
 
Unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of time to work on this project, but I need to get it done...

Soooo.... I've removed the pinch bolt from the spindle, but I can't get the spindle off the ball joint. I'm afraid I'll ruin the ball joint if I stick something under there to pry it up. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
Yo,

new to this thread, but not the topic.. Ps, pictures of what you have done would be nice for reference..

Anyways! I will be doing the same job you are very shortly and have read up a bit on doing from struts.

I found a few videos on youtube of different makes of cars getting new strut ASSEMBLIES, just like you have, so maybe search on there for some clues. From what I've seen, you are pretty much there, just need some muscle.

Have you taken the sway bar link off? I watched a ford taurus strut replacement last night and he took that off in order to get the A-arm down low enough to put the bolts into the bottom of the strut.

Anyways, hope some of this helps, best of luck

Jason
 
jasonvan9 said:
Yo,

new to this thread, but not the topic.. Ps, pictures of what you have done would be nice for reference..

Anyways! I will be doing the same job you are very shortly and have read up a bit on doing from struts.

I found a few videos on youtube of different makes of cars getting new strut ASSEMBLIES, just like you have, so maybe search on there for some clues. From what I've seen, you are pretty much there, just need some muscle.

Have you taken the sway bar link off? I watched a ford taurus strut replacement last night and he took that off in order to get the A-arm down low enough to put the bolts into the bottom of the strut.

Anyways, hope some of this helps, best of luck

Jason
Click to expand...

you do realize that this thread is almost 3 years old...
 
Well everybody always rags on the newbs to search , search, search. So the newb searches finds a related thread and posts. Shouldn't matter if thread 3 days, 3 years or 10 years old. Better to have all related info in one thread.

But him giving the advice part if kinda funny though. Talking like the guy still has his suspension apart.
 
Silver Bullet said:
Well everybody always rags on the newbs to search , search, search. So the newb searches finds a related thread and posts. Shouldn't matter if thread 3 days, 3 years or 10 years old. Better to have all related info in one thread.

But him giving the advice part if kinda funny though. Talking like the guy still has his suspension apart.
Click to expand...

well like silver said, all i did was search, read, and post.. didnt look for a date.. my mistake.
 
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