How to Replace Front Struts Part 2 - EricTheCarGuy

[@ericthecarguy]

@1968DodgePolara Compressing rear springs is not nearly as stressful but getting them out of the car is more of a challenge because often you need to remove the rear seat to get to the upper mount, sometimes you can access it from the trunk, I honestly don't remember on your vehicle where they are located.

[@ericthecarguy]

@allisongirl100 Thank you very much for that comment as when I started making ETCG videos I was hoping either to show people how to do things or how things are done so that they would know the next time they needed work done. BTW you really don't replace just one strut normally, you really want to do them in pairs so be prepared for them to suggest doing both sides, this is something I recommend too. Thanks again for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@alexscothern Thank you very much for that comment. The only reason that you would need an alignment after installing struts is if you have adjustable mounting bolts on the struts themselves, if not you should be fine without it but it's a good idea to have the alignment checked on a vehicle about once a year anyway. Thanks again for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@ThePaigeII It depends on the design, most strut replacement jobs don't require an alignment, if there are eccentric bolts holding the strut to the knuckle or some other adjustment on the strut then there should be an alignment done as soon as you are done replacing them.

[@timalexander4890]

I just did my 95 T-bird, all arms, springs, struts and links. Never did it before so your videos helped me get it all done! Had it aligned and it rides like new again. Your videos are really good, down to earth and on spot! Thanks.

[@ericthecarguy]

@mrexecutive1 Well you are correct, some vehicle set up's use cam bolts to adjust camber and caster for the alignment, in this case however that is not true.The splines on the shank of these bolts are to hold them in place and keep them from working loose, if they were meant for adjusting the alignment the shank would be smooth and the head offset which was not the case with these fasteners.I will be covering more than one make for this procedure and hope to get one in with the bolts u speak of.

[@ericthecarguy]

@inc2000glw I do my best to post every week, I hope to bring it to 2 posts a week by the end of the year if I can. Thanks for watching, subscribing, and for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Rolandg07 Glad I could help, it's always nice to hear so thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@ericmindy Depends on the set up, if there aren't eccentric bolts or slotted holes in the upper mount then an alignment will not be necessary. In other words if the alignment angles are not adjustable via where the strut mounts to the chassis you wont' need an alignment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@caki86 Not normally, the thing to look for is adjustable cam bolts on the bottom of the strut or slotted holes where the upper strut mounts to the body, if you see either one of those then it would need an alignment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@JohnnyMan684 I'm very happy to help build confidence, it's probably the main reason I do this. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@bapabob Good call. You might also consider seeing if Quickstruts are available for your application as they are complete assemblies that don't require a spring compressor.

[@ericthecarguy]

@hypnos315 In most cases not, if you have cam or eccentric bolts holding the strut assembly to the knuckle however you will need an alignment, if they are regular straight bolts then you should not have to. Also if you have slotted holes on the upper strut mount then you may need an alignment as well but if you don't see anywhere where the strut can be moved or adjusted you should be fine.

[@ericthecarguy]

@musicman12054 Absolutely, in fact I did a video on torquing cylinder head bolts and wheels. If your wondering why I don't torque things during this kind of work it's because I really haven't found a need to. That's not to say there aren't specs for this stuff but even at the factory they use air tools to assemble this stuff, air tools can be pretty consistent in their torque if the air pressure is constant so don't rule them out. I've used them in this manner for years without incident.

[@ericthecarguy]

@soccerskilj I've seen some mercs with a different set up than this especially since most are rear wheel drive they use struts separate from the coil spring so you may run into that but I'm not as familiar with those so I don't really know. It is common practice to replace struts in pairs however. Thank you very much for your comment, it's always great to make new friends.

[@ericthecarguy]

@WG587 It's always nice to have what someone is looking for. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@PalaniRides Glad I could help give some insight, good luck and thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@bligity420 You wouldn't have struts on that truck but rather just shocks. These are much easier to replace and don't require compressing the spring to do. Thanks for the comment.

[@johnmahler9159]

Erik, You are a very competent mechanic. Few are as safety aware as you. You also have a great facility with tools such as pneumatic tools. Thanks for the insight. I have chahnged a lot of springs from eliptical, coil with shock, torsion bars and air bags. Somehow I had never encountered strut replacement. Thank you for the great training. Now I know I can do this. I am not adverse to using garages, and know everyone needs a job. When my shop said $890.00 for struts. I said NO!

[@ericthecarguy]

@deck0327 The springs are responsible for ride height so if it's sagging and you need to replace struts it's worth the consideration.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Horatio50B You might also consider a set of "quick struts" that come preassembled with new springs already installed, with those it would just be a matter of removing the old struts and installing the new.

[@ericthecarguy]

@nfs480 Both of those are excellent suggestions and useful information. If you feel more comfortable using a torque wrench do it, I just use my air tools because I'm used to them and it saves time, your way would be more correct however. As for broken fasteners, yea, happens from time to time and dealing with that is something that everyone needs to deal with from time to time so a video there would work for a lot of people. Great suggestions.

[@NoMoosic1]

Outstanding instruction. Helped a non-mechanical musician do the job himself on a 1988 Chrysler Lebaron Premium Convertible. Thanks, Eric!

[@ericthecarguy]

@flipwiggins Good eye. The reason it's like that is because it was easier to fit the clamps on that way. I don't think it makes a safety difference however if you hold the clamps with zip ties or vice grips it makes it safer when using this method.

[@ericthecarguy]

@deck0327 Thank you, I work pretty hard at making them into things that I would want to watch, it's nice when others like to watch them too. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@7digitalSunday That is a leveling sensor and I believe it is a part of the strut assembly and cannot be transferred to another strut. I think you will have to get a strut of the same type in order for that system to work properly. Someone must have already switched your set up because I think that originally came with air bags instead of springs.

[@ericthecarguy]

@waterwart The seals inside the strut wear out and they begin to leak, once this happens the strut can no longer dampen the suspension travel effectively. No you can not use automatic transmission fluid as it will eat away at the rubber parts because it is petroleum based.

[@ericthecarguy]

@hayleyvogy I think the process is very similar to this. You might consider a set of "quick struts" that come preassembled so that you don't have to deal with the spring compressors, this will save you time and might save you from potential injury as well.

[@ericthecarguy]

@xmustanguyx I have a Campbell Hausfeld 26 gallon running at 125psi. If I were to do it again I would have gone for a 60 gallon that ran a 220v motor as the 26 gallon has trouble keeping up sometimes. The 26 gallon would be good for occasional work in the garage for the DIY but not for professional use.

[@ericthecarguy]

@MrKaoVue Until you release the compressors the mechanism can rotate, on these there is a bearing plate at the top of the strut that is suppose to pivot so that you can turn the wheels.

[@ericthecarguy]

@pennykicks I just installed a set of quick struts today and I can say that it was nice to just swap them out. Much safer. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@socalRooster I just checked it and it did the same thing for me. I would recommend watching the full version of this video anyway as there is no break in the middle.

[@ericthecarguy]

@BOB24502 Make sure you get an alignment when your done, I'm hoping your installing a camber correction kit too so that you can adjust it, if not the insides of your tires will wear prematurely. Good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

@scienceisgod1 Good question, over time they will 'sag' and cause the ride height to be off, you can check the service manual for what the height should be and where to measure but also replace them if they are broken obviously, which happens a lot on Hondas BTW.

[@ericthecarguy]

@shieldcracker Not on this type, if the bolts going through the knuckle are 'cam bolts' meaning they have an eccentric shank, then yes, mark the bolts, if they go straight through like these don't worry about it. Great question and comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@genepierson It's not so much for safety purposes but rather it's just good practice. Whenever you renew anything in the suspension system i's a good idea to do both sides to maintain a balance.

[@ericthecarguy]

@LayneC10 In this case no, if the bolts at the base of the strut were eccentric that would be the case but here it just had straight bolts so the alignment should be OK. I'm wishing I had mentioned this in the video. You are correct that Camber would be the angle that would be effected however. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@sastaroo Yes there is, they are called KwikStruts, they come complete and ready to install.

[@ericthecarguy]

@fancypantsnyc Yea, that's exactly how I would handle it but be careful and lock the compressors down so that they don't move while you are removing the strut. Thanks for the comment and good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

@colvin216 In my experience you can usually place the upper strut mount very well just by using the witness marks in the upper strut busing. Marking them however is not a bad idea. Thanks for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@phatcawk Not really no unless the lower bolts are cam bolts which makes them adjustable but for the most part the struts will not effect the alignment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@suddnstar I think you may be referring to quick struts that come preassembled, if your just replacing the strut and not the spring and strut then you need to perform this procedure.

[@ericthecarguy]

@deck0327 You might try quick struts as they come preassembled with bearings installed, all you have to do is change them out, no special tools or anything.

[@ericthecarguy]

@turner850 You don't need to but if you have them in your hand you might consider it as they tend to 'sag' over time and alter the ride height. YOu might also consider quickstruts that come with everything you need ready to bolt onto the car.

[@ericthecarguy]

@ihasanopinion Yea, it's ride height. There is actually a spec with a measurement and where to take the measurement to check it, it's mostly found in service manuals but I've seen some alignment shops with books that have this info in them as well..

[@ericthecarguy]

@lsbproductions01 The struts on that car are very similar to these so you will have a pretty good idea of what you are in for. I would not condemn the strut however for the noise, I would lift the front end and look for loose parts first to find the problem, it could be the strut but you want to be sure. You may want to watch the video I did on Finding a Noise to help you find it.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Kpotts17 If it's a Honda I recommend replacing with OE but for domestics your name brake aftermarkets work pretty well.

[@ericthecarguy]

@jamescrowton007 It is possible but also more dangerous as you will be torquing the assembly in many directions which can be hazardous with a spring under pressure like that. You might consider quick struts that come preassembled so you don't have to worry about compressing the springs. Good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

Suspension noises can be tricky, I've spent days tracking them down in the past using a tool called a "chassis ear" where you put leads on places where you suspect the noise coming from to help narrow it down. Sometimes it's a matter of elimination that will yield a result. Good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

@vinceperez158 I'm not fond of adjustable coil overs and in my opinion dropping a car more than an inch isn't practical cause you won't be able to go over speed bumps without killing your front spoiler. I may do a video on lowering at some point if the opportunity presents itself though. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@bakura89 Well I mentioned that in the video because it is an option and as you stated, a safer one at that. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@rydernad Not really, the reason I suggest doing it at this point is because of past experience. My goal is to prevent you from making similar mistakes. I HIGHLY recommend you do this before getting these on the car as you will likely not be able to FULLY compress the struts when the are installed on the car with springs.

[@raymanning98]

Vintage ECC! Tips, shortcuts, safety, a pleasure to watch. Thanx.

[@ericthecarguy]

@pennykicks Actually swapping out one of those bearing assemblies is much easier than you might think. The ABS sensor is part of the bearing assembly if I remember correctly but don't assume that is why the ABS light is on, check the code first before jumping to conclusions. Good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

@walterjovee1 The first thing that comes to mind is did you prime the struts as shown in this video before installing them? If not you may need to remove them and do that because what you describe sounds very much like a strut that was not primed.

[@ericthecarguy]

@biddymagee It sounds like it may have something to do with the upper strut mount. I haven't worked on many of those cars at all but most struts have an upper mount assembly that has a bearing in it that sometimes goes bad producing the symptom you describe.

[@ericthecarguy]

@MrSBChevy I'm happy to help, thanks for the comment and good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

@alfmeno Pretty much. The terminology can be tricky here but I'm going to say they are the same. The difference is when you have the spring "divorced" from the damper such as with a shock absorber which can also be referred to as a "damper".

[@ericthecarguy]

@itubethisonyou In fact they are most crucial for helping to eliminate noise. It's very important they are in place for quiet operation.

[@ericthecarguy]

@R34GTRR35 It often happens when you lower something, it could be the parts or it could be something that is making contact with something else that would not normally have been there if it was at the correct ride height. You might want to watch the video I did on finding suspension noises to help you here. Good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

@gar5952010 An impact does make the job go a lot smoother but you can do it without one, just be mindful of moving the strut assembly around as you remove the nut with the spring compressed. You might consider breaking the upper nut loose while the strut is still on the car on the ground so that you don't have to worry about doing it with the spring compressed.

[@ericthecarguy]

@living4fire I've also known someone who was injured in a similar fashion who was using the wall mounted spring compressor that I showed in the video. I guess this proves that even the best of tools can not make up for poor or unsafe practices.

[@ericthecarguy]

@hercules71185 It's not the safest in my opinion, the best tool is the one I showed in the pic. You can use this tool safely, it works even better if you zip tie or clamp the ends on the spring so that it doesn't move.

[@ericthecarguy]

@azninjarider You might have gotten away with it if you used a camber correction kit but I don't know how they do that on the 05 design, the old ones you got an adjustable upper control arm. To me it sounds like an alignment issue, not sure of the cause because the angle that I think is effected in your case isn't really adjustable, it's usually bent or broken parts that cause a problem in that area. Make sure things are installed correctly.

[@epann2921]

Much thanks. I almost gave up on strut disassembly because I did not have the offset wrench the manual suggested. I checked your video and used my air impact wrench with my neighbors air compressor and got it done. Thanks for the info.

[@ericthecarguy]

@7digitalSunday I wouldn't speculate on the cause of the break as coil springs break all the time but you might try prying the rubber plug that goes into the car out to see if you can find the connector.

[@ericthecarguy]

@living4fire Yea, you don't want that thing spinning when you try and tighten the nut that's for sure, however by design it spins as you turn the wheel left or right when mounted on the car.

[@ericthecarguy]

@TJustice91 I haven't done struts on that particular vehicle but I don't think you have to remove the caliper to get them off, even if you do it's not that big of a deal but I've never had to remove a caliper to replace struts. Let me know if I'm wrong and good luck.

[@mechpatt]

Thanks Eric - your warnings about the dangers of the Spring Compressor tools was excellent.

[@ericthecarguy]

@KingCorvette I wouldn't condemn the strut till you know for sure what the problem is. Have someone push down on the car making the noise while you look for loose stuff. Make sure to check the upper strut mount too, this part is separate from the strut but can cause a condition like you describe.

[@garybatts3145]

Great description of the entire replacement process. You have a gift for simple clear explanations. Thanks!

[@ericthecarguy]

@TheDrywallogist Air tools do make a big difference. Thanks for the comment.

[@bowlingballout]

It's better than magic! Mechanical repairs are pretty fascinating to watch, especially the way you approach it.

[@ericthecarguy]

@TheJEWHUNTER1488 You might consider quick struts as you don't have to worry about compressing the spring you just swap out the entire assembly.

[@ericthecarguy]

@336north Glad you liked it, thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@kobebryant33333 You can buy "quick struts" that come preassembled with new springs on the strut but if you just want to replace the springs you will have to perform this procedure in order to install them.

[@ericthecarguy]

@49nic94 If your referring to the upper mounts then yes I have seen only 2 fasteners I thought you were referring to the nut that holds the strut onto the upper mount.

[@ericthecarguy]

@frankwestphalk I'm very glad you like them, thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@IIGrayfoxII I see. You know I've always wanted to go to Australia and hang out with the gearheads down there ever since I saw Road Warrior as a kid. I think your versions of the cars we have here in the states are a lot faster and have some interesting styling.

[@ericthecarguy]

@musicman12054 Compressors are rated in CFM (CubicFeetperMinuite), look at your air tool and find out what the minimum CFM is for that and buy a compressor that meets the needs of your tool.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Chills327 The right tool makes all the difference, the wall mount unit that I showed in the video would be my tool of choice for this. Good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

@mybrother13 You might want to watch the video I did on Finding a Noise to help you find out where the noise is coming from, the struts may have nothing to do with it. It's also important to compress the struts before installation as I demonstrated in the video, if not noise is the #1 complaint.

[@ericthecarguy]

@TheAdam31 Not really, more of an indication of a bad upper strut bearing, same symptom this one had. It's actually easy to replace the struts at the same time too if they are old as I did with this one.

[@pennykicks]

Hi Eric, great video on this repair, it helped me out greatly in seeing the process of this repair obviously, in addition, it helped me decide if I wanted to buy the individual parts that make up the whole strut assembly for the repair or just to buy the quick strut so that I wouldn't have to worry about all that. I ended up buying the quick struts, very easy to install, relatively speaking. so thanks again!

[@ericthecarguy]

@camera1971 Well thank you for that passionate endorsement, I appreciate it very much.

[@ericthecarguy]

@deck0327 Springs will sag over time and change the ride height but it will save you a little $ if you just replace the struts.

[@ericthecarguy]

@colliecandle Thanks for the comment, glad you liked it.

[@ericthecarguy]

@montysport94 Unless it is a "quick strut" that is preassembled no, it won't come with new upper mounts. The extra step would be that after removing the strut you would need to replace the upper mount before installing the new strut, no big deal really.

[@allisongirl100]

LadyKnowsNow I am gona have to take my car in to the shop to have a Left front strut replaced. I had no idea what a strut was or what it was for. I always like to get on line to find out about anything about my car that needs repaired and I ran across this video. Thank you so much for sharing. When I take my car in I am prepared to know what will take place when changing the strut and the repairman will think that I am really familiar with changing a strut. Good video. Thanks.

[@ericthecarguy]

@eman8290 Struts should be replaced in pairs just as a general practice, the struts themselves don't effect the alignment which would cause abnormal tire wear. It's not a bad idea to check the alignment after replacing struts as a general practice but it's not mandatory.

[@Mr05Tundra]

Hey, I really appreciate people like you taking the time to make videos! Cleared a few things up for when I do my own strut replacement. Thanks!

[@ericthecarguy]

@13FravelJ 'Pivoting' is not the key identifier, the spring being supported by the strut is.

[@ericthecarguy]

@walterjovee1 You should take it back if your not satisfied with the service and if they won't help you notify the better business bureau as they keep track of shops that don't take care of the customers. I suspect they may not have properly primed the struts before installation or they are just cheep struts, you may need to pay more for the struts if it's the ladder.

[@ericthecarguy]

@dcfs2005 If there are no eccentric bolts holding the lower strut to the knuckle then an alignment should not be necessary however it's not a bad idea just to ensure the life of your tires.

[@ericthecarguy]

@GuyRWood Careful, it gets addictive. Good luck and thanks for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@runstang22 Honestly I'm not sure on that set up as I've never installed that type so I don't know if they modified the assembly. Sometimes they sell the bearing separately and sometimes it's part of the upper assembly. You might consider posting this over at my forum as someone there might know.

[@ericthecarguy]

@allclere3 Depends on the vehicle really but 8 hours sounds like a lot, it may include more than just the strut replacement.

[@ericthecarguy]

@mimozastela It's good to stick with the torque specs if you can but if I'm honest as long as you get them tight you should be fine.

[@CM_X5]

This is perfect. I just found out my similar Grand Am needs new struts, first thing I did was check to see if you had a video on just struts in general to get an idea but now I'll know exactly how for my car. Awesome.

[@ericthecarguy]

@valleystylez1 Not at this time no, I'm not really doing much mechanical work these days anyway as I mostly make repair videos. If your interested in becoming a technician I highly recommend you enroll in an ASE accredited school as it is the best way to succeed in this business in my opinion.