Rear Strut install
Thread Starter
10th Gear
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
From: Houston, TX
Rear Strut install
First write-up, so constructive criticism is appreciated.
So I struggled removing the driver side rear strut, so I wrote up the way I ended up getting the passenger side out. Ended up only taking 30 minutes in my driveway with hand tools. I got a spring compressor, thinking that these struts would be under more pressure, but they are not under any real pressure. The driver's side I removed the strut mount from the strut while it was still in the car, and the passenger side I removed after the strut was completely out of the car. Spring was not under a lot of pressure and the top mount came off very easily.
Tools needed:
3/8 allen head
10mm (for rear seat removal)
14mm
17mm
19mm
big pry-bar
First step is to remove the rear seat so you can access the top strut mount
Circled in red are the 10mm bolts you need to remove
Once the top strut mount is visible
Hold the strut with a 3/8 allen and removed the 14mm nut
Now remove the (2) 14mm nuts holding the top strut mount to the car
Strut is now free from the top of the car
Next there is a 17mm bolt and 19mm nut holding the bottom of the strut to the rear spindle
They are easily removed, bolt can be struck with a hammer once nut is removed, if it doesn't easily pull out
Next the stabilizer link needs to be moved to allow the strut to wiggle out of there
Next just push on the rear spindle to allow room for strut to be removed
Once the strut is removed the spring and top mount are already off, so just disassemble, grab new strut and re-assemble.
To re-attach top strut mount on top of spring and new strut, I just placed everything together and pushed really hard with one hand and installed 14mm nut and washer back to top mount.
Its not that hard, the spring does not need to be compressed with any tool to do this part.
For re-installing new strut, I first inserted the top strut mount back into the car and held it on with the (2) 14mm nuts, Next I pushed down on the rear control arms, with the tip of my pry-bar on the bottom of the strut, to line up the strut mount holes.
Now just re-install the rear seat.
So I struggled removing the driver side rear strut, so I wrote up the way I ended up getting the passenger side out. Ended up only taking 30 minutes in my driveway with hand tools. I got a spring compressor, thinking that these struts would be under more pressure, but they are not under any real pressure. The driver's side I removed the strut mount from the strut while it was still in the car, and the passenger side I removed after the strut was completely out of the car. Spring was not under a lot of pressure and the top mount came off very easily.
Tools needed:
3/8 allen head
10mm (for rear seat removal)
14mm
17mm
19mm
big pry-bar
First step is to remove the rear seat so you can access the top strut mount
Circled in red are the 10mm bolts you need to remove
Once the top strut mount is visible
Hold the strut with a 3/8 allen and removed the 14mm nut
Now remove the (2) 14mm nuts holding the top strut mount to the car
Strut is now free from the top of the car
Next there is a 17mm bolt and 19mm nut holding the bottom of the strut to the rear spindle
They are easily removed, bolt can be struck with a hammer once nut is removed, if it doesn't easily pull out
Next the stabilizer link needs to be moved to allow the strut to wiggle out of there
Next just push on the rear spindle to allow room for strut to be removed
Once the strut is removed the spring and top mount are already off, so just disassemble, grab new strut and re-assemble.
To re-attach top strut mount on top of spring and new strut, I just placed everything together and pushed really hard with one hand and installed 14mm nut and washer back to top mount.
Its not that hard, the spring does not need to be compressed with any tool to do this part.
For re-installing new strut, I first inserted the top strut mount back into the car and held it on with the (2) 14mm nuts, Next I pushed down on the rear control arms, with the tip of my pry-bar on the bottom of the strut, to line up the strut mount holes.
Now just re-install the rear seat.
