Strut Assembly: Disassembly
WARNING:
DO NOT remove strut shaft nut before coil spring is compressed. Coil spring is held under pressure and must be compressed, removing spring tension from upper mount and pivot bearing before shaft nut is removed.
- Position strut assembly in strut coil spring compressor following manufacturer's instructions. See Fig 1 . Position lower hooks on coil spring first, then upper hooks.
- Compress coil spring until all coil spring tension is removed from upper mount.
- Install Strut Nut Wrench (6864) on strut shaft retaining nut. See Fig 2 . Install a 10 mm socket onto hex located on end of strut shaft. While holding strut shaft from turning, remove nut from strut shaft.
- Remove upper mount from strut shaft. See Figure .
- If pivot bearing needs to be serviced, remove it from top of upper seat by pulling it up off the seat. See Fig 3 .
- If upper spring seat or isolator need to be serviced, remove them from top of coil spring pulling both up off spring, then removing isolator from seat.
- Remove clamp from bottom of coil spring and remove strut out through bottom of coil spring.
- If not previously removed, lift pivot bearing, upper spring seat or isolator off coil spring. See Figure .
- Release tension from coil spring by backing off compressor drive fully. Push back compressor upper hooks and remove coil spring from spring compressor.
- Remove dust boot and jounce bumper as an assembly from strut shaft by pulling both straight up and off strut shaft. Dust boot cannot be separated from jounce bumper until after they are removed from strut shaft.
- Remove jounce bumper from dust boot. Jounce bumper is removed from dust boot by collapsing dust boot until jounce bumper can be pulled free from dust boot.
- Remove spring isolator from lower spring seat on strut.
- Inspect strut assembly components for the following and replace as necessary:
- Check strut for any condition of shaft binding over full stroke of shaft.
- Check upper mount for cracks and distortion and its retaining studs for any sign of damage.
- Check upper seat for stress cracks and wear.
- Check upper spring isolator for severe deterioration.
- Check for binding of strut assembly pivot bearing.
- Check dust boot for rips and deterioration.
- Check jounce bumper for cracks and signs of deterioration.
NOTE:
If coil spring needs to be serviced, proceed with this step. If coil spring does not need to be serviced, go to step 10
.
NOTE:
Prior to removing spring from compressor, note location of lower spring coil end in relationship to compressor to ease assembly of components later.