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Rear Struts, spring compressor needed?

D

daenku32

Be Gentle I'm New Here
Joined
Jun 21, 2001
Messages
3
Location
Middle of nowhere, IN
This is the first time I've worked on the suspension, and I'm following Haynes repair manual to do it. However, the spring compressors I loaned from autozone don't fit inside the spring well as shown in the manual. Is it really necessary to compress the springs if they are already relaxed (or are they)?

Also the manual instructs to remove tie-bar, stabilizer bar, etc, from the 'knuckle', when I only see one bolt holding the strut to the 'knuckle'. Am I missing something here? Are the other bolts keeping pressure on the spring or something? Why can't I just remove the bolt holding the strut and just drop the whole knuckle assembly down a bit, sway bars and all? Is the strut or the spring keeping the knuckle where it is?

Since the site went through the change I have hard time finding the instructions to do this. Any help?
 
IIRC, you won't need compressor until spring/strut assembly is off. Been while since I've done this, but the strut mount should hold it together.
 
just remove the sway bar endlink from the control arm and then the strut pinch bolt, no need to remove everything else. the strut assembly can be removed without the spring compressor, as the top strut mount holds everything together. now to disassemble, normally you would use a spring compressor to compress the spring enough to loosen tension on the top nut (and this must be done for the fronts) however the rear springs are weak enough (even aftermarket springs) and are not compressed very far that you can simply push them down by hand and use an impact to remove the top retainer nut.
 
as stated you don't need spring compressors to get the assembly out. however they can make it easier. my father took the craftman set he has and cut a hex into the opposite end of the threaded rod so the compressors could be fit into the shock tower. make it alot easier to install and remove.

with the height difference from stock to aftermarket rear springs you need spring compressors with stock but not with the aftermarket springs.
 
OK thanks. I'll have to do this over the weekend instead. The strut is attached to the knuckle too tightly to get off unless I get some more lubricant and a longer tool (giggidy-giggidy). The bolt has been on for pretty long, since they are still the original struts.
 
I tried mine this week and I unbolted the pinch bolt, sway link, and The suspension arm to drop the knuckle as far as possible. It wasn't enough to get the base of the strut out of it. I will have to mess with it when the weather warms up.
 
Well, hopefully tonight I'll get the nuts loosened up a bit, and I'll give it a try tomorrow. As far the springs go, I'm almost tempted to just cutting them at this point, although I'm not sure if that would be a safe operation. The car on the side with the bad strut is sitting so low that I think the spring has just lost all of its resistance. Probably contributed to the shock finally giving when it did. So I'll be getting a new ones tomorrow.

Well, there is always the brother-in-law if I get myself too much into trouble here. =)
 
every time that ive changed the rear springs ive found it easier to remove the entire knuckle/spring assembly to get at it. why fight everything up in the air when you can take out one or two more bolts and get at it easy
 
to remove the rear strut assemble just dissconnect the sway bar. then the knuckle and suspension arms will drop down out of the way. then remove the rear strut assemble.
 
Agreed with what others have said. To add, however, spring compressors aren't needed to assemble the rear struts/springs. A little bit of body weight will do the trick.
 
striker2 said:
at least someone agrees with me.
Click to expand...

I don't want to ever try dissassembling a stock strut assembly with out putting spring compressors on the springs.

now aftermarket, either eibach or h&r are fine. even the front H&R springs do not need spring compressors.
 
BrApple said:
I don't want to ever try dissassembling a stock strut assembly with out putting spring compressors on the springs.

now aftermarket, either eibach or h&r are fine. even the front H&R springs do not need spring compressors.
Click to expand...
its only the rears that can be done that way, you must use a spring compressor for the fronts though. it doesnt even take much weight, and the rear springs are barely compressed when assembled, ive done it several times. find a stock spring/strut and just push down on it and you will see.

edit: this is why when the rear struts are blown the car sags and bottoms out on the bump stops, because the springs alone are not strong enough to support the weight of the car.
 
I absolutely 100% agree. I was able to press down on the retaining plate and thread on the bolt myself. It's a piece of crumble cake!
 
zorrex said:
I absolutely 100% agree. I was able to press down on the retaining plate and thread on the bolt myself. It's a piece of crumble cake!
Click to expand...

striker2 said:
its only the rears that can be done that way, you must use a spring compressor for the fronts though. it doesnt even take much weight, and the rear springs are barely compressed when assembled, ive done it several times. find a stock spring/strut and just push down on it and you will see.

edit: this is why when the rear struts are blown the car sags and bottoms out on the bump stops, because the springs alone are not strong enough to support the weight of the car.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have done SO many suspensions, and I have never had to use spring compressors for the rear springs on any contour or cougar, aftermarket or stock...
 
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