1992-1999 Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's and Buick Lesabres Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

Front and rear suspension

Old 07-08-2005, 03:55 PM
  #1  
BANNED
Posts like a 4 Banger
Thread Starter
 
sse for me's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sse for me is on a distinguished road
Default Front and rear suspension

What do I need to know about removing the struts and springs on the front and rear of my 92 sse. I know not to remove the springs off the front struts but how do the rear ones come out? Any tricks to removing the sway bars? Any help is great. Thanks
Old 07-08-2005, 04:12 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
randman1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Western MA
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
randman1 is on a distinguished road
Default

Grab yourself a really, REALLY big breaker bar. I've removed several sets of front struts and one set of rears and all of them have been pretty tough. Strangely enough, removing the strut to knuckle nuts is considerably easier than removing the bolts. I used a 5 foot floor jack handle over the breakerbar in order to loosen the bolts and work some penetrating oil in. I also found that an air chisel with a very blunt tool is a HUGE help to pound the bolts out.

Name:  Takingoffstrutbolts.jpg
Views: 21
Size:  25.0 KB

Name:  AirChiselStrutBolts.jpg
Views: 15
Size:  23.4 KB

You will not need a spring compressor for the front struts unless you intend on separating the spring from the strut. For the rear, I recommend one for safety but BillBost and I removed the rear struts from the donor car without one. I'm not sure I'll do that again to a parts car and would definately use one on a car I cared about the car.
Old 07-08-2005, 04:24 PM
  #3  
BANNED
Posts like a 4 Banger
Thread Starter
 
sse for me's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sse for me is on a distinguished road
Default

Well im parting this car and the struts arent that old. How can i take the rear springs out with out killing my self
Old 07-08-2005, 05:57 PM
  #4  
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
BillBoost37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

After Randy had fought for a while the suspension was staying up and he couldn't get it out. I looked inside the car as the whole thing was gutted, and with the rear dash removed I could easily get to the three nuts holding the top of the struts on each side. I agree with randy...they went down with quite a bang since the car was up on blocks. This relieved all pressure off the struts holding the springs in place.

The FSM procedure is as follows...please realize..this is one of those things that is best done by a mechanic. Saves blood and pain.

Big caution statement that the control arms need to be supported with a suitable jack. Otherwise the coil springs will do what they did to Randy and I.
1. Remove rear seat cushion and seat back to gain access to strut tower mounting bolts. (Do not remove them yet.)
2. Remove tire and wheel
3. If ELC equipped, air tube from strut
4. Support control arm *******
5. STrut to knuckle bolts
6. Strut tower mounting nuts through body slot behind rear seat back.
7. Strut from knuckle
8. If CCR equiped, lower strut and disconnect electrical connector.
9. Strut

Basically support the suspension under the spring, remove all your hardware, then lower it gently. This will slowly relieve the pressure of the coil spring.
Old 07-08-2005, 08:49 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
GAMEOVER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Racine Wi
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
GAMEOVER is on a distinguished road
Default

i had no troulbe removing rear suspension at all
BTW why are you removing rear springs?
Old 07-08-2005, 08:54 PM
  #6  
BANNED
Posts like a 4 Banger
Thread Starter
 
sse for me's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sse for me is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by GAMEOVER
i had no troulbe removing rear suspension at all
BTW why are you removing rear springs?
Someone wants to buy them if i can get them out and stay alive
Old 07-08-2005, 11:13 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
GAMEOVER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Racine Wi
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
GAMEOVER is on a distinguished road
Default

its a cake walk removing them i had no problems
Old 07-09-2005, 01:01 AM
  #8  
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
BillBoost37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

Follow the above instructions and it should be very easy
Old 07-09-2005, 11:23 AM
  #9  
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
 
willwren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
willwren is on a distinguished road
Default

Using a service manual might be helpful, too.
Old 07-09-2005, 11:27 AM
  #10  
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
BillBoost37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

Originally Posted by willwren
Using a service manual might be helpful, too.
Please see service manual instruction posted above.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Front and rear suspension



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:30 PM.