Use a ratcheting wrench or socket/ratchet to loosen the strut mount nuts located on the strut tower. Loosen all of them and remove all but one. Then reach into the wheel well to support the strut while you remove the last nut. Grab the strut bottom and spring and tilt the bottom out toward you.
How to remove a stuck strut?
You can properly remove a rusted bolt without a head following this simple method:
- Put on an eye protection shield first
- Bind a fastener to the rusted bolt
- Strike the head of the fastener forcefully with a hammer
- Try to remove the fastener after you are done removing the headless screw
How much does it cost to replace struts?
When it comes to struts, they are a fair bit more expensive. To replace a pair of struts, the total cost on average is between $400 and $1000, including wheel alignment. An individual strut assembly costs approximately $150 to $350, while the labor cost is $100 to $300 for a pair.
Do struts need to be replaced?
When front shocks or struts need to be replaced, they usually need to be replaced as well. Your owner's manual or your dealer may provide you with the proper maintenance schedule for changing your shocks and struts. Shocks and struts should be replaced every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, according to industry standards.
How to replace front strut?
step 1: Accessing the Strut (0:53) Remove the lug nuts. Pull the wheel free. step 2: Removing the Strut (3:11) Spray penetrating oil around the bottom of the strut. Hit the steering knuckle with a sledge hammer. step 3: Replacing the Strut (4:29) Line the strut up with the bolt holes up top.
How do you take struts off?
Replace Your Struts in 10 StepsStep 1: Assess Your Struts. ... Step 2: Pick Up Replacement Parts. ... Step 3: Measure The Camber Angle. ... Step 4: Remove The End Link. ... Step 5: Remove The Nuts & Bolts. ... Step 6: Separate The Knuckle From The Strut. ... Step 7: remove The Mount Nuts. ... Step 8: Remove The Old Strut.More items...•
What tools do I need to remove a strut?
Tools for Removing Struts Be sure to have these tools on hand before you start the job: An impact wrench, either air or battery powered, for zipping fasteners off. An assortment of ratchets and sockets, metric and/or standard depending on your vehicle. An assortment of wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts.
Can I change my struts myself?
The good news is, some repairs are easy to do at home. Like replacing shocks and struts. It's not a job that you should attempt if you're not familiar working with vehicles, but with a little training and experience, you'll be ready to tackle the job.
How long does it take to remove a strut?
So, how long does it take to replace struts? Typically, it takes around one to two hours to change struts, according to most professional mechanics. Even if you decide to replace them on your own, the estimated time is the same as long as you have previous mechanical skills and follow the process correctly.
Do I need an alignment after replacing struts?
However, your vehicle does have adjustable camber settings and so, yes, the vehicle would have to be aligned if the struts were replaced. Once new struts are installed, if the alignment is roughly within spec., you can wait until you get your new tires to perform the alignment.
How do you compress struts to install?
7:5510:11How to compress a coil spring or strut using a Macpherson ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can either use ratchet with a 21 millimeter socket. Or you can use a 21 millimeter wrench orMoreYou can either use ratchet with a 21 millimeter socket. Or you can use a 21 millimeter wrench or ratcheting. Wrench. You just slip it on the end here. Have it the right way.
What else should be replaced when replacing struts?
If you are replacing a strut on a vehicle, you need to inspect the sway bar links and look up if there are cam bolts that can make camber adjustable. The sway bar links will make sure the suspension is silent after the strut is replaced and they probably need replacement due to wear.
How do I know if my struts are bad?
The Warning Signs Of Worn Shocks And StrutsInstability at highway speeds. ... Vehicle “tips” to one side in turns. ... The front end dives more than expected during hard braking. ... Rear-end squat during acceleration. ... Tires bouncing excessively. ... Unusual tire wear. ... Leaking fluid on the exterior of shocks or struts.
What happens if a strut breaks while driving?
A broken shock absorber will result in your car bouncing around, as well as excessive rolling, squatting and diving. In other words, it won't be comfortable. Plus, your car will be harder to control, especially at high speeds.
How hard is it to install struts?
These assemblies allow you to replace both of your front struts yourself in less than two hours. You'll have to get an alignment done afterward (about $100), but you'll still save about $300 by doing the job yourself. You'll need rust penetrant, wrenches, a pin punch or large screwdriver, and a thin piece of plywood.
How much should struts cost with labor?
To replace a pair of struts, the total cost on average is between $400 and $1000, including wheel alignment. An individual strut assembly costs approximately $150 to $350, while the labor cost is $100 to $300 for a pair.
What does it cost to replace struts?
It usually costs between $150 to $450 per strut, depending on your make and model. Usually, both struts need to be replaced at the same time. Your cost for replacing a pair of struts will be between $300 and $900. Strut replacement can take several hours.
How do you use a strut nut tool?
1:243:027360 & 7404 | Macpherson Strut Tool & Shock absorber tool kit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen fit the socket and the ratchet handle to fit the strut locks straight through the strut lockMoreThen fit the socket and the ratchet handle to fit the strut locks straight through the strut lock extension holds the nut securely. While the securing nut is unscrew.
How do you compress a strut spring without a tool?
1:143:21Cheap & Easy Spring Compressor - DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo all I did was jack up the car. As. You can see. And I got it high enough to put an axle standMoreSo all I did was jack up the car. As. You can see. And I got it high enough to put an axle stand underneath. I'm just putting on there same place underneath the control arm.
Do I need a spring compressor to change struts?
Spring Compressor The shocks and struts on many vehicles are integrated with springs that can pop off and injure you or damage your vehicle if not removed properly. In such cases, you'll need a spring compressor in order to take everything apart safely.
How do you tighten a strut center nut?
1:565:53Vorshlag Tech Tip: How to Tighten Strut and Shock Top Nuts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe only way to do this properly is an impact gun. Either electric or pneumatic.MoreThe only way to do this properly is an impact gun. Either electric or pneumatic.
How to remove struts from a car?from familyhandyman.com
Remove the Strut. Then reach into the wheel well to support the strut while you remove the last nut. Grab the strut bottom and spring and tilt the bottom out toward you. Then lower the strut until it clears the strut tower and lift it out. Rest the strut on the plywood and remove the old strut.
How to change struts on a strut?from wikihow.com
To change a strut, remove the bolts that attach the strut to the steering knuckle. Then, open the hood and remove the outer bolts that hold the strut to the strut tower. Do not remove the center bolt or the strut will fly apart with great force.
Why does my steering knuckle strut fall off?from wikihow.com
Since you've removed the bolts from the steering knuckle, the strut might fall loose after you remove these bolts. It might help to have a partner holding onto the strut assembly while you loosen these bolts.
How to loosen strut nuts?from familyhandyman.com
Lean in and put some muscle into loosening the strut nuts. Remove them and then loosen the bolts. Push the steering knuckle in and out to wiggle the bolts out of the holes.
How to change a tire on a car with a jack?from wikihow.com
First, loosen the bolts securing the wheel with a lug wrench and lift the car with a jack, positioning the jack according to the Owner's Manual instructions for changing a tire. Once the car is raised, position a jack stand under the car for stability. Remove the bolts that secure the wheel and remove the wheel.
How to remove strut mount nuts?from familyhandyman.com
Remove the Strut Mount Nuts. Place a thin piece of plywood under the strut flange to prevent it from damaging the CV boot once you disengage the top portion of the strut. Use a ratcheting wrench or socket/ratchet to loosen the strut mount nuts located on the strut tower. Loosen all of them and remove all but one.
How to remove rust from a strut?from wikihow.com
This is often rusted on and difficult to remove. You might choose to spray some rust loosening spray like WD-40 on equal onto the bolts before you can free them. Try hammering a few times on the knuckle itself to loosen things up a bit before hammering directly on the bolts holding the strut to the knuckle. This might take some elbow grease.
How to remove struts from steering knuckle?
Remove these by removing the nuts from the assembly and loosening the strut.
Where is the nut on a strut?
At the very top of the strut is a large nut on top of what looks like a disc, but is actually the strut bearing. Remove the large nut on top of the strut with ratchet and socket combination, and hold the strut rod with a wrench just below the strut bearing.
Why does my steering knuckle strut fall off?
Since you've removed the bolts from the steering knuckle, the strut might fall loose after you remove these bolts. It might help to have a partner holding onto the strut assembly while you loosen these bolts.
How to change a tire on a car with a jack?
First, loosen the bolts securing the wheel with a lug wrench and lift the car with a jack, positioning the jack according to the Owner's Manual instructions for changing a tire. Once the car is raised, position a jack stand under the car for stability. Remove the bolts that secure the wheel and remove the wheel.
How to stabilize a car during bumps?
4. Drop the sway bar if necessary. Also called the stabilizer or the anti-roll bar, the sway bar works along with the strut assembly to stabilize the car during bumps and irregular road conditions. To do this, you need to remove the mounting bracket with a socket wrench and rotate the sway bar out of the way.
Where are the strut bolts on a car?
Open the hood and locate the strut bolts, usually a circle of three bolts on a pan in the engine compartment, to each side of the car, near the windshield. In the center of the ring of bolts will be the bolt for the strut pan itself.
Where to put a jack on a car?
Depending on the model of your car, you may also need to place your jack under the steering knuckle to raise it slightly and make the bolts visible. Once the strut bolts are out the strut and steering knuckle are separated.
How to remove struts from a car?
Remove the Strut. Then reach into the wheel well to support the strut while you remove the last nut. Grab the strut bottom and spring and tilt the bottom out toward you. Then lower the strut until it clears the strut tower and lift it out. Rest the strut on the plywood and remove the old strut.
How to remove strut mount nuts?
Remove the Strut Mount Nuts. Place a thin piece of plywood under the strut flange to prevent it from damaging the CV boot once you disengage the top portion of the strut. Use a ratcheting wrench or socket/ratchet to loosen the strut mount nuts located on the strut tower. Loosen all of them and remove all but one.
How to loosen strut nuts?
Lean in and put some muscle into loosening the strut nuts. Remove them and then loosen the bolts. Push the steering knuckle in and out to wiggle the bolts out of the holes.
Why do struts cost more to replace?
Driving on worn struts actually costs you more because the unchecked bouncing destroys your tires and quickly wears out other expensive suspension components like ball joints, control arm bushings, stabilizer bar end links and tie rod ends.
How to adjust camber angle on a knuckle?
Reattach your angle gauge and push the knuckle in or out to come as close as possible to the original camber angle. Torque the nuts to spec and recheck the camber angle. Adjust if necessary.
How much are struts on a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The strut assemblies for this 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan cost about $135 each (the strut alone is $70). The strut-to-steering-knuckle nuts and bolts are fairly large, so you'll need 18mm through 23mm 1/2-in.-drive deep sockets and a beefy 1/2-in.-drive breaker bar and ratchet. Some strut bolts are a single-use 'torque-to-yield' (TTY) style that can't be reused. Ask the parts store clerk if yours are TTY. If so, buy new bolts and follow the proper shop manual torque procedure when installing the new struts.
Why are complete struts better than struts?
Complete strut assemblies cost more than just the strut, but they're a much better option because they allow you to do the job yourself and get all new parts. The new spring restores factory ride height and firmness, and the new strut mount and bearing provide smoother turning and quieter operation.
How to compress a strut?from arcandanvil.com
In this case, install the top mount of the strut to the vehicle and position the bottom mount on the floor jack. Start raising the floor jack to compress the strut to the desired length. Finally, secure the wire for installation.
How much force does a gas strut need?from arcandanvil.com
Gas struts may require over 100 pounds of force in order to compress. Use a ratchet strap in order to achieve the force needed for compression. Start by hooking the end hooks of the strap to each end of the strut. Once firmly in place, start tightening the strap until you get the gas strut to the desired length. Install the new spring in place of the old one, and release the strap once you have the spring securely bolted in place.
What are shock absorbers?from arcandanvil.com
Also known as shock absorbers, these struts help create a smoother ride for your vehicle. Attached to the underside of your vehicle as part of the suspension system, they absorb impact from bumps. These have a spring that goes around them on the outside to help with impact absorption.
Can gas struts go bad?from arcandanvil.com
Even though you might never think of it, sometimes the gas struts on your vehicle can go bad. Gas struts can perform several functions, including aiding suspension and keeping the hood open. Taking the bad strut off takes no time and is pretty easy. Getting the new one on, however, requires some creative problem solving.
Can you unhook a sway bar?from arcandanvil.com
On some vehicles you can unhook the sway bar and create enough clearance to install the new strap. If you cannot create enough clearance, you will need to compress the strut. Be very, very careful since a compressed strut holds a lot of tension and can cause a lot of damage if that tension gets loose.
