How to replace the struts on a 1996-2002 Caravan, Voyager, Town and County part 3: re-assembly

[@a.n.conley8109]

good deal

[@AlwaysDiagnoseVehicleFirst]

When you were installing the new strut assembly and aligning the markings you put on the cam bolt from the old strut assembly and steering knuckle , did you take it in for an alignment check and was told you aligned them perfect or it needed an alignment because it wasn't aligned perfectly?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

I didn't have the alignment checked after this repair.

[@vgbr88]

Thanks. The videos were very well done. Just one minor thing: the shop manual says to install the cam bolts with the nuts facing the front of the vehicle. Probably doesn't make a difference, but I noticed that yours were opposite. Here is the text from the manual: "If strut assembly is attached to steering knuckle using a cam bolt, the cam bolt must be installed in the lower slotted hole on strut clevis bracket. Also, attaching bolts should be installed with the nuts facing the front of the vehicle (Fig. 8)."

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

I mounted the cam bolts the way they were originally installed. I haven't had any problems.

[@EarmuffHugger]

TY SUBBED👍

[@jcplancarte2521]

Wow! After 9 years you are still answering comments? Great job! Question: I am also doing this on a 2000 Caravan Sport 3.3. The old struts, might be originals, did not have the oblong bottom hole and the bolt was not a cam bolt( just a regular bolt just like the top one), i.e. there was no alignment adjustment to be made here. Do you know if this was the original factory design and all replacement struts have the oblong hole, which require the cam bolt and alignment???

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Sorry, I'm no expert on what is factory and what is not. With many parts, changes are made during production runs even for the same makes and models years.

[@jcplancarte2521]

Thanks. I did find out that the original strut had no cam adjustment and came with just round holes and the serrated bolts. The mopar parts diagram show the original set up. But, on the upper right corner, it shows a kit with non-serrated bolts, one of them a cam bolt, to be used when original strut is replaced. I suppose that, when new, the vehicle does not require cam adjustment. But, by the time struts need replacement, other component are also worn out that a cam adjustment is necessary. That mopar parts website want about $74 for each kit, two are required!!! I found the cam bolts at Rockauto for about $7 each. My other option was to go to the pick-your-part junkyard.

[@Aphidman1]

Very helpful, saving us untold hours figuring out all the gotchas. Some of the fasteners were different sizes than on yours, all apparently due to the replacement job done in the shop about 100,000 miles ago.

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

I'm glad to hear it helped. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@johndoe-bl6pd]

I need to know how to get the spring on the new strut. The compression tool doesn't get the spring down far enough for the nut to reach the threads on the new strut. The threaded part doesn't Move up like the old one does so I'm guessing i need to get it to move up some how. Please any help would be great thanks

[@markusflanks4024]

great video. I'm concerned, I have so much work to do! lol

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Good luck with your strut replacement job!

[@carlosbanegas7577]

TANK YOU

[@paulmetcalf5636]

we don't need chit chat we need to know the tools needed!

[@dungeonmaster6292]

You can figure it out