9000 Struts
Introduction
Introduction
If your car is bouncy on the highway, there is a good chance that you need new front struts. The rear shocks seem to last forever with these cars!
This job is pretty easy and can be done in one half day in your driveway.
The only special tool you will need is the spring compressor. I bought a $20 one from an online supplier.
It worked okay, but the compressor mounts did slip down the spring rather easily which caused a big headache trying to tighten the compressor down.
The next time I attempt this job, I will try to find something to can grip the spring better to prevent slipping or just tape the compressor to the spring!
9000 Struts
Removing the strut
Removing the strut
The first thing to do is to loosen the top strut nut.
The best tool for this is a 13/16" spark plug socket which also has a hex nut at the top.
This is so you can turn the socket with a wrench and have the Allen wrench down the middle of the socket.
The only need to loosen the nut a 1/2 turn. You will remove the whole thing later on.
I didn't have the correct socket, so I just used a pipe wrench to turn the socket while holding the
Allen wrench still.
It worked okay, but it was difficult to determine the amount of torque I applied when tightening it back up!
Do this for both sides.
Now, loosen the lug nuts, jack up the car and remove the front wheels.
The strut is held on with 5 bolts. 3 on the top and 2 lower ones.
Just undue all of these and the strut will fall out. Be sure to move the clip for the ABS sensor out of the way before removing the strut!
9000 Struts
Removing the strut
Removing the strut
The first thing to do is to loosen the top strut nut.
The best tool for this is a 13/16" spark plug socket which also has a hex nut at the top.
This is so you can turn the socket with a wrench and have the Allen wrench down the middle of the socket.
The only need to loosen the nut a 1/2 turn. You will remove the whole thing later on.
I didn't have the correct socket, so I just used a pipe wrench to turn the socket while holding the
Allen wrench still.
It worked okay, but it was difficult to determine the amount of torque I applied when tightening it back up!
Do this for both sides.
Now, loosen the lug nuts, jack up the car and remove the front wheels.
The strut is held on with 5 bolts. 3 on the top and 2 lower ones.
Just undue all of these and the strut will fall out. Be sure to move the clip for the ABS sensor out of the way before removing the strut!
9000 Struts
Swapping the hardware
Swapping the hardware
Now comes the fun part!
You need to compress the spring so you can remove the bearing without launching it through your ceiling!
Place the compressor as close to the ends of the spring as possible.
For me I had to go one ring above the end.
Try to compress the spring evenly by turning each side right after each other.
Once you see that the spring is loose on it's mount, that is good enough.
Now you can remove the top nut that you loosened before.
Pull off the bearing, strut mount bracket and then pull off the spring.
The last thing to do is swap the hardware from the old strut to the new one.
Remove the rubber stop and pull off the rubber boot.
There is also a small metal ring that goes on the bottom of the strut where the spring sits.
Place the metal seat on the bottom of the strut and then put the rubber boot on the new strut and add the stop.
Now put the spring back on making sure to line up spring with the seat.
Place the top mount and strut bearing back on the strut.
The rubber boot has a tail on it which must be lined up with the notch in the strut mount.
Once everything is lined up, tighten down the top nut and then remove the spring compressor.
Now you can place the strut back on the car and tighten the 5 mounting bolts to spec.
The last step is to torque down the top nut to 50 foot pounds or until your small pipe wrench doesn't move it anymore!
Do the same thing to do other side and you are good to go!
Put the wheels back on, let the car off the jack and torque down the lug nuts.
It's time for a nice cold beer!