Turning strut mount plate? Can you?

[Chevyy1212]

So I want to get this leveling kit in. But for it to work out I need to "clock" or turn the strut mount bearing plate. In the attached picture (for reference). I need to turn #5, 180 degrees. Has anyone done this? Can I just turn it with some convincing or do I need to compress the springs. Or anything else you can think of. Thanks a ton!

 

[shane10]

Yes you can, you will need to compress the spring (a lot) and use a large belt tool (just a big oil filter wrench tool) with quite a bit of force to turn the mount.
I bought a set of KYB quick struts a while back and had to do the same. I believe the bearing plate, upper isolator, and upper spring seat all rotate as one unit.
I brought it in to a local mechanic due to lack of tools, he used a big wall mount spring compressor to relieve the pressure off the top mount, and really cranked it with a belt tool to get it to turn, looked scary.
Good luck

 

[shucker1]

Are you sure it's 180 Degrees?

Top Bearing Plate mounting holes are in a triangle pattern.

If you rotate 180 something is not going to line up right.

 

[shane10]

Are you sure it's 180 Degrees?

Top Bearing Plate mounting holes are in a triangle pattern.

If you rotate 180 something is not going to line up right.

In my case, the KYB's were assembled wrong and didn't line up correctly out of box, I had to rotate the bearing plate/mounting holes in order to install. I assume that's OPs issue?

 

[Chevyy1212]

Are you sure it's 180 Degrees?

Top Bearing Plate mounting holes are in a triangle pattern.

If you rotate 180 something is not going to line up right.

Yea I'm sure it's 180* the spacer lift has the same triangle 3 bolt pattern but exactly opposite of the factory. So they say just spin the shock strut 180* and bolt back up. This doesn't work tho due to the bushing on the bottom of the shock tried every which way.

These are factory not KYBs but it sounds doable

 

[Mbrooks420]

Who makes this lift? If they are going to sell it for the explorer it sounds like they need to make a new part. Inner and flip the pattern. If you can’t get it to work because of the bushing, I’d just have a shop slap three correct holes in it. (Or make a pattern, and do it yourself on a drill press)

 

[Chevyy1212]

Who makes this lift? If they are going to sell it for the explorer it sounds like they need to make a new part. Inner and flip the pattern. If you can’t get it to work because of the bushing, I’d just have a shop slap three correct holes in it. (Or make a pattern, and do it yourself on a drill press)

Yea that can be done I have a machine shop that I have access too 24/7 but at that point I should just scrap these and build my own. I'm not sure why they are designed this way but the shocks do not just bolt back in as they say

 

[Mbrooks420]

If they don’t work as they say, I’d insist on a refund. If they don’t okay nice I’d dispute it with however you paid.

 

[boominXplorer]

Compress the spring some and turn the mount clockwise. I've had to do that in a few situations before.

 

[shucker1]

Yea I'm sure it's 180* the spacer lift has the same triangle 3 bolt pattern but exactly opposite of the factory. So they say just spin the shock strut 180* and bolt back up.

Sounds more logical now Mr. Spock.

AutoZone rents spring compressor tools for struts, so like @shane10 said the spring needs to be compressed.

Be careful with that spring. It's under a lot of load and doesn't care about your fingers if you get them in the wrong place.