Strut replacement howto (rear)

[pickupman]

Well, like many others, I had cracked springs... or at least one... so I decided to replace them.

here's the basic instructions I used:

1 - remove tire
2 - disconnect the stabilizer bar link at the lower control arm
3 - remove the bolt from the lower control arm to the knuckle
4 - remove the 3 nuts at the top of the strut (not a lot of room but not bad)
5 - remove the bolt at the bottom of the strut
6 - push the lower control arm down as far as it will go
7 - remove the strut

i decided it needed pictures.


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UszCCHk7zzbGm4gwl7oX09XTgo3doEoFOgAP3IZ1Ldc?feat=directlink

First - there are SEVEN bolts (or nuts) that need to be removed:
3 - top of the strut
1 - bottom of the strut
1 - control arm to knuckle
1 - sway bar
1 - toe link

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YCGndEcxNcJEPMxv8p7jmtXTgo3doEoFOgAP3IZ1Ldc?feat=directlink

the strut bolts are obvious (what and why)

The control arm to knuckle bolt is REQUIRED to be removed - this allows for the control arm to drop enough to get the strut out... the moron typing this wasn't sure what the control arm was - "control" didn't really seem like a smaller part than what it was - it's the large frame that the strut seats into...

the bolt in question is in the center of this photo

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FsynUbh_LfCbBh45a_-YG9XTgo3doEoFOgAP3IZ1Ldc?feat=directlink

sway bar bolt: note that this is a LONG bolt with a rubber boot over it... the bolt head is on the bottom of the control arm - need a wrench on the top nut while loosening the bolt


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n32HvLpylC85SKy6mXhYfdXTgo3doEoFOgAP3IZ1Ldc?feat=directlink

the toe link... may not be necessary, but it makes life A LOT easier - gives a convenient spot to put a pipe to wrench the control arm down down
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XnEeJs3w8KBMDMQW05PM49XTgo3doEoFOgAP3IZ1Ldc?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I6pweCXpc2OZRyLeD84LxdXTgo3doEoFOgAP3IZ1Ldc?feat=directlink

All in all, it took 2 hours because we couldn't figure out what parts were what... two guys and a lift could have had it done in half an hour with the appropriate sockets, air ratchet, a couple crescent wrenches, a pipe (breaker bar and to wrench the control arm down), and a prybar....

 

[BigRondo]

Pictures weren't showing up. Fixed it for you.........

Well, like many others, I had cracked springs... or at least one... so I decided to replace them.

here's the basic instructions I used:



i decided it needed pictures.

First - there are SEVEN bolts (or nuts) that need to be removed:
3 - top of the strut
1 - bottom of the strut
1 - control arm to knuckle
1 - sway bar
1 - toe link

the strut bolts are obvious (what and why)

The control arm to knuckle bolt is REQUIRED to be removed - this allows for the control arm to drop enough to get the strut out... the moron typing this wasn't sure what the control arm was - "control" didn't really seem like a smaller part than what it was - it's the large frame that the strut seats into...

the bolt in question is in the center of this photo

sway bar bolt: note that this is a LONG bolt with a rubber boot over it... the bolt head is on the bottom of the control arm - need a wrench on the top nut while loosening the bolt

the toe link... may not be necessary, but it makes life A LOT easier - gives a convenient spot to put a pipe to wrench the control arm down down

All in all, it took 2 hours because we couldn't figure out what parts were what... two guys and a lift could have had it done in half an hour with the appropriate sockets, air ratchet, a couple crescent wrenches, a pipe (breaker bar and to wrench the control arm down), and a prybar....

 

[pickupman]

thanks!

was gonna re-host the photos and fix them today...

now... i think the fronts are my next target... they're squeaking!

 

[esclamada]

you can take out the caliper instead of the tie rod. There's lot of space to move the strut out and back in even with the tie rod in place. It's also easier to deal with the caliper than pounding out the tie rod.



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[13car]

Nice how to. I just completed doing this myself and did it pretty similar. I posted a walk through on my site 2002 Ford Explorer Coil Spring Replacement