Front Struts?

[mudduck]

My frnt tires are wearing really funky. Just in patches along the tread, which makes me think its time for new front struts. Oh, and the car is really bouncy in the front end also. How hard or tricky is it to replace the struts?

 

Oh yeah, the car is a 91 Loyale wagon, 4wd.

[85Sub4WD]

not too bad - I just remember a lot of penatranting oil, whacking, and wiggleing - you have to disconnect the front brake lines too - I think it took me an afternoon - mine were rusted pretty bad too

 

Good Luck!!

[alexb1]

you also need a special tool to shrink the spring and take it over to the new shok abzorber , on the way change the rubber protektors wheech are probably toren , at the and take the car to do a wheel alingment (sorry if i misspelt the last word).

 

good luck!

[555Ron]

not too bad - I just remember a lot of penatranting oil, whacking, and wiggleing - you have to disconnect the front brake lines too - I think it took me an afternoon - mine were rusted pretty bad too

 

Good Luck!!

I just leave my lines disconnected. Makes the job easier next time, and i found that the brakes were only slowing me down:cool:

 

*legal disclaimer: not advisable!*

[WJM]

Cut the bracket for the brake lines so you dont need to bleed or disconnect the lines.

 

You will need a spring compressor. Since you are getting an odd wear pattern...go for an alighnment afterwards...normally its not needed on the EA82 cars, there is no way to adjust camber on them anyhow.

 

Taking the struts out of the knuckle is hard if they've not been out since...like...ever. However, on my RX, they come out every month, so....they pop right out.

[erikvr]

If you want to avoid the special tools but save maximum $$$, first, check if the struts are leaking?? No leaks.......good, then take the struts off yourself and rather than buying special tools, take them into a garage to have new shock absorbers installed. 30 minutes of labor. Bring them home and put them back in yourself.

 

If they were leaking, you need new struts. $$orry.

 

My frnt tires are wearing really funky. Just in patches along the tread, which makes me think its time for new front struts. Oh, and the car is really bouncy in the front end also. How hard or tricky is it to replace the struts?

 

Oh yeah, the car is a 91 Loyale wagon, 4wd.

[WoodsWagon]

yeah, pull the clip off that holds the brake line to the strut, then carefully sawzall through the bracket from the side and bend the two halfs back to pop out the brake line. Go real easy on the pinch bolt, lots of penetratin oil and heat if you need it. I took my struts out tonight, and the pinch bolts almost had their heads snap off, even after lots of propane torch aplication.

[mudduck]

If you want to avoid the special tools but save maximum $$$, first, check if the struts are leaking?? No leaks.......good, then take the struts off yourself and rather than buying special tools, take them into a garage to have new shock absorbers installed. 30 minutes of labor. Bring them home and put them back in yourself.

 

If they were leaking, you need new struts. $$orry.

 

What do you mean check if they are leaking? I pulled a tire off and got a good look at them tonight, and it just looked to me that there is just the shock inside of the front spring. Also, you got any tricks to get the bottom of the strut out of the bearing housing. I remember when I did wheel bearings it was a S.O.B. to pop it out of there.

 

I looked around on the board a little bit, but I didn't seem to find much on changing out the front struts, so any helpful hints will be greatly apreciated.

Thanks

[Beegeer]

Also, you got any tricks to get the bottom of the strut out of the bearing housing. I remember when I did wheel bearings it was a S.O.B. to pop it out of there.

 

 

Jam an old screw driver into the slot which clamps the bearing housing onto the stut. Pry it open a bit.