removing strut questions..

latham83

New Member
Jul 24, 2003
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i'm doing a strut install tommorow, and my chilton's book tell's me to remove the 3 nut's that hold the stock camber plate down?? do i have to do this? from what ppl were saying on here it seemed like all you had to remove was the big nut on top of the strut??
i don't wanna mess up my alignment, but i am going to get it aligned anyway afterwards just to be safe...

and is there something i need to mark down at the axle/bottom of the strut so i don't mess up alignment there??
 
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I don't know what good taking off the bolts for the camber plate would do.

Regardless, you must remove the top nut. To do that, you'll need an impact wrench. The electric impact wrenches work fine (Wal-mart ~$60, Home-Depot ~$200).

To remove the top nut, do it with the car on the ground, or a jack under the control arm. That puts some pressure on the strut top. Also, you'll need to do the same to put the nut back on.
 
Another popular manual says to do the same thing as your Chiltons. I have NO idea why they say to do that. Perhaps it's to create extra work and ensure that you get an alignment. :rolleyes:

As S&2B's said, just undo the strut rod nut itself. If you dont have impact tools, I have a hand-tool variant method that works well for me.

Good luck.
 
If you dont have impact tools, I have a hand-tool variant method that works well for me.
Good luck.
I looked, and looked, and looked. I couldn't find the tool. I tried a big screwdriver and open-end wrench. That didn't work for me.

Where did you find the tool? Or, did you make your own? I'm not crazy about using an impact wrench and spinning the top of the strut inside the body.
 
I looked, and looked, and looked. I couldn't find the tool. I tried a big screwdriver and open-end wrench. That didn't work for me.

Where did you find the tool? Or, did you make your own? I'm not crazy about using an impact wrench and spinning the top of the strut inside the body.

I've had very good luck using a prybar (like this) in the strut slot. Before coughing about the cost, I use a cheapo pry bar but that was the first decent representation I found. Mine came from HF IIRC.

I hold the prybar horizontal in the strut slot (not like a screwdriver - we have no leverage that way). With the prybar parallel with the ground, I can hold the strut rod from spinning while using a wrench on the strut nut. I loosen and tighten them up that way because, like you, I don't like 'blapping' those nuts on and off. Sometimes blapping one off is unavoidable but I've never had to blap a nut back on.

Oh, I'm too poor for most specialized tools, so anytime I post about some method I use, rest assured I'm not doing anything the way you're supposed to. :rlaugh:
 
Cool idea! Yea, holding a screwdriver (or what ever) vertical means no leverage.

I'm starting spring change #N in this weekend. Don't ask. :) I'll try that method to get the nuts off/on. I'm also concerned about the top seal on the strut getting worn/damaged by doing the nut blapping off/on.

Thanks again!
 
yea i like the sound of that method too..only thing is, you cant get a torque wrench on the top of that nut then.. i think they want like 50-60 ft/lbs... im not good with guessing the torque blind.. :(