Tips for replacing struts/ Shocks
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Tips for replacing struts/ Shocks
Well its almost the weekend and Im looking for a project to keep busy, So I bought new Monroe stuts and shocks, are there any more items I need on hand before I make the switch? Please let me know if there is before I start taking all of them apart, thanks all 
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1. Why did you post this in the Lounge where the experienced members and Gearheads won't see it?
2. Get a service manual. It would take me an hour to write your procuedure from scratch.
3. Get an alignment afterwards.
2. Get a service manual. It would take me an hour to write your procuedure from scratch.
3. Get an alignment afterwards.
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The tips and techniques in a manual will take you far with this. In many respects, the Chilton'* is better suited for the home mechanic for strut replacment than the FSM is with all the special GM tools.
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Originally Posted by willwren
1. Why did you post this in the Lounge where the experienced members and Gearheads won't see it?
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
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From: Enfield, CT
First tip.. drive to mechanic buddies place.
Second tip.. give him the keys and take him to lunch
Third tip.. Come back the next day when its all done and aligned.
That'* my method for doing it.
Second tip.. give him the keys and take him to lunch
Third tip.. Come back the next day when its all done and aligned.
That'* my method for doing it.
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From: New York City
Originally Posted by BillBoost37
First tip.. drive to mechanic buddies place.
Second tip.. give him the keys and take him to lunch
Third tip.. Come back the next day when its all done and aligned.
That'* my method for doing it.
Second tip.. give him the keys and take him to lunch
Third tip.. Come back the next day when its all done and aligned.
That'* my method for doing it.
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Hey don can you help me wit this...
Hmmmm...
Installs Spring compressor..... * Impact going nuts *..... Removes the nut for the strut mount... Swaps out rubber to ne strut and sets spring.... Installs strut pieces and strut mount... Installs strut mount nut...... * Impact going crazy *..... There all done... LMAO
I recommend replacing the spring rubbers at the very least... Make sure what ever you do you reinstall the strut mount bearing in the proper orientation or you will have strut pops when you turn..
Inspect the Strut mounts and strut mount bearings... If you think either one of these is worn replace it..
Be very careful with the strut spring compressor, it can and will injure you, and if the spring were to pop of the compressor slip off, you could be seriously injured or killed... I can't stress this enough, Take every precaution when dealing with coil springs
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Hmmmm...
Installs Spring compressor..... * Impact going nuts *..... Removes the nut for the strut mount... Swaps out rubber to ne strut and sets spring.... Installs strut pieces and strut mount... Installs strut mount nut...... * Impact going crazy *..... There all done... LMAO
I recommend replacing the spring rubbers at the very least... Make sure what ever you do you reinstall the strut mount bearing in the proper orientation or you will have strut pops when you turn..
Inspect the Strut mounts and strut mount bearings... If you think either one of these is worn replace it..
Be very careful with the strut spring compressor, it can and will injure you, and if the spring were to pop of the compressor slip off, you could be seriously injured or killed... I can't stress this enough, Take every precaution when dealing with coil springs
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Well I got the rears in, fronts are for a mechanic, doing the back was a big PIA, Going to get the rear wheels realigned, monday. Hopefully everyting is ok, thanks for the input Bonneville people. 
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For anyone that is thinking of or going to attempt to replace the struts... make sure you take the time to mark several reference points on the knuckle so that when you go to reinstall the struts you will get the alignment as close as possible... The alignment will still have to be performed, but it will save the tires on the way to the shop.. I mark mine all of the time now..LOL
after you have done the replacements on the H bodies a few times its really not that bad...
But it does leave you wishing that GM would have had a set up kind of like the Nissan'* and Mitsubishi'*.. Where its more of a set it and forget it... almost nothing for adjustment unlike our H Bodies
when its all said and done the struts will be worth it
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after you have done the replacements on the H bodies a few times its really not that bad...
But it does leave you wishing that GM would have had a set up kind of like the Nissan'* and Mitsubishi'*.. Where its more of a set it and forget it... almost nothing for adjustment unlike our H Bodies
when its all said and done the struts will be worth it
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