Strut Install Fail, need help.
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
Ok, well... I'm guessing at possible causes/fixes to help out. It'* tougher when one isn't there on the "scene". Guess you need to see if the place you got it will get you a replacement.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,270
Likes: 465
From: Las Cruces, NM
I jacked up the car, and found this:
Right strut:
Left strut:
Pictures speak for themselves.
First I jacked the car from the center, between the a-arms in the rear, and grabbed the pics. Cycled the ignition a couple of times to cycle the compressor. Set it back down, same problem. Jacked on the right spring cup until the left wheel was just shy of coming off the ground. I sat in the back right seat, had breakfast in the car, seemed the best way to get pressure in the struts with my poor options of access. I dropped the jack, and started hopping on both corners. The car settled back down okay, and I drove it just to be sure.
Problem fixed!
Right strut:
Left strut:
Pictures speak for themselves.
First I jacked the car from the center, between the a-arms in the rear, and grabbed the pics. Cycled the ignition a couple of times to cycle the compressor. Set it back down, same problem. Jacked on the right spring cup until the left wheel was just shy of coming off the ground. I sat in the back right seat, had breakfast in the car, seemed the best way to get pressure in the struts with my poor options of access. I dropped the jack, and started hopping on both corners. The car settled back down okay, and I drove it just to be sure.
Problem fixed!
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
You say the pic is self explanitory...yet I've been under these cars plenty and I'm confused as hell. Kinda sounds like you made the strut work/compress, sounds familiar =0)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,270
Likes: 465
From: Las Cruces, NM
The rubber bellow was somehow impeding progress on the left side, where the right side was working properly. The indentation and crease is what I was talking about.
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Speaking for 6 others, I sure could use a simplified but comprehensive diagram of a strut so us old bystander lurker curiosity seekers can understand the mechanics of an strut R&R?
I've changed shock absorbers (never found a before/after performance difference). But I was told of an impending need to replace front struts as my 03Buick as is finding pot holes which don't exist. I do know a strut is a shock with built around co-spring (do you save the old spring?) or a spring with a shock in it.
AfterI watching some yourtube viedeos on the subject I must ask - did you remove the spring compressor?
Are front struts the same as rears?
!! Hear me now --- If I'm constituting a thread hijack, please ignore.!!
Actually, humans find it difficult to ignore. But you know what I mean.
I've changed shock absorbers (never found a before/after performance difference). But I was told of an impending need to replace front struts as my 03Buick as is finding pot holes which don't exist. I do know a strut is a shock with built around co-spring (do you save the old spring?) or a spring with a shock in it.
AfterI watching some yourtube viedeos on the subject I must ask - did you remove the spring compressor?
Are front struts the same as rears?
!! Hear me now --- If I'm constituting a thread hijack, please ignore.!!
Actually, humans find it difficult to ignore. But you know what I mean.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,270
Likes: 465
From: Las Cruces, NM
It should be noted that I replaced the rear struts on this car, which are not the typical McPhearson strut setup. The rear'* on pre-2000 units are designed like shocks, but with mounting points like struts, so the spring does not be removed like the fronts. Now, the fronts, practically the whole front end has to come apart, and likely will be installed by the mechanic.
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