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Help replacing Front Strut

E

ejim

New CEG'er
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Messages
5
Does anybody have step by step instructions for changing front strut ? for 98 contour lx, suppose any would work. I only see one bolt nut atop the strut with allen wrench slot inside that bolt...is this the tension nut or mounting and a second tension nut below that?


Thanks
 
you put an 18mm wrench on the nut and a torx on the top to loosen it and once it's out there is another nut holding the spring on. and be sure to use a good spring compressor when doing this cuz we didn't and i almost took the plate to the face. and not sure on where you live but if the car has alot of rust and the struts are original, just be patient getting the strut out of the knuckle.
 
You MUST use a set of spring compressors to disassemble the spring/strut assembly.

spring_compressors.jpg


I would also suggest a large pry bar to push down on the LCA (using the subframe as a leverage point) to pop the ball joint out of the knuckle without using a pickle fork, which ruins the ball joint.
 
Thanks....This is perfect ! Has anybody used the spring compressors from Harbor Freight? I"m cursious... JRichardson, what kind of spring compressor did you guys use? Tutorial is great, one question though or confirming, so you totally remove the first nut (retaining nut) and is safe to do so, then remove whole assembly from the car, next...compress the springs and then remove the second nut (spring tension nut) ? so you can remove the strut?
 
I've done alot of car work, but, I'm just want to make sure I understand the 2 nuts on the strut housing, and the correct sequence, those springs make me a bit edgy..lol
 
I"m cursious... JRichardson, what kind of spring compressor did you guys use?
Click to expand...
we used one like in the above picture but it didn't go around the spring as much and it slipped off while it was under tension
 
Sounds like your asking about the nuts on the top end of the strut...top one holds the assembly in the car, bottom one holds the assembly together.
Spring compressors arent rocket science, I picked up a set from autozone.
 
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