changing a front strut arm, can anyone give me tips?

PaRaDoX · #1 03-03-2006, 01:14 PM

hey

despite the fact i got my car lowered at a shop they mananged to forget to tell me that my driverside strut arm was completly rooted, and they still put the spring / shocker on it....

ive been talking to hakhawk and he said i can get a spring compressor for $40, ive been told its round $50 for a second hand strut arm at the wreckers... is there anything i need to becareful of changing the strut arm or any extra tools ill need????

i feel confident to do this my self and im sick of paying other people to do half assed jobs that i can do my self...

vt1538 · #2 03-03-2006, 02:01 PM

Its very easy mate.
Jack up vehicle, place on stands & remove wheel.
remove brake caliper.
Undo top strut mount bolts & bottom bolts.
remove strut
compress spring & remove retaining nuts from the top.
I am not familiar with the bearing set up on the vn strut.on the vr you have to watch out for the strut bearing at this stage as it is not caged & the bearings will go everywhere.
Assembly is a reversal of this.

PaRaDoX · #3 03-03-2006, 02:18 PM

cheers mate this will help

can anyone else give me advice on the strut bearing?????

PaRaDoX · #4 03-03-2006, 03:02 PM

ok i took some pics these might help, i think i bent my front sway bar aswell

it was hard to take pictures becuase of the range of the camera and the confined space... the 3rd last and 2nd last pictures are where the wheel sits, its the passengerside, i always tought it sat off centre, and now i know why...

vt1538 · #5 03-03-2006, 04:20 PM

Did I misread the first post mate. Are you talking about the strut being bent or the Z arm that controls the castor setting?

PaRaDoX · #6 03-03-2006, 06:55 PM

ok ok, went to the wreckers today and just picked my self up a control arm, as thats all thats bent in the actual wheel...

this way i wont need to compress the spring back onto the shock

the sway bar link is not straight, its not bent its just on a angle because the strut is sitting funny due to the controller arm,
im gonna get it replaced soon, wheel should sit nicely