are rear struts a 2 person job?

jT · Post by jT » Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:10 pm

yeah so i'm just going over the instructions for replacing the rear shocks and the one little thing that ties me up is this

11. Loosen, but do not completely remove the 3 nuts securing the strut assembly to the strut tower.
Grasp the strut assembly to keep it from moving, then remove the 3 mounting nuts at the strut tower.

(not so much this first part--since ill more or less just let the thing drop out, more this second part)

Next, lift the top of the strut assembly up into the strut tower aligning the studs on top of the upper mount with the three
mounting holes in the strut tower. While holding the strut assembly in place, install the three mounting nuts on the upper mount studs inside the
luggage compartment.

now i dont know about you but the length of my arms are average. how do you hold the strut in place while reaching up into the trunk to attach the nuts!?!?

just wanting any tips on this before i start it tomorrow or wednesday

maybe if i am standing up and reaching down i can grasp the strut -- maybe -- while attaching the nuts.. but that would require some leaning on the car and i dont want to put too much unneeded pressure on it since i'm using cheapo stands, and the front wheels will just have plastic wheel chocks... heh.........

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:15 pm

i did the suspension on my neon myself 5 times. (had a buddy help me once to get it done faster)

you'll have no problems figuring it out when the time comes to do it. you don't have to pay that much attention to instructions to remove it. it's simple. take off the top three nuts, take off the bottom two bolts. take strut out.

like i said, you'll figure it out

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:22 pm

You can do it on your own, but damn if a 2nd person doesn't come in handy...

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:57 pm

The only thing the second person is good for helping with is getting the beer.

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:31 pm

lol or mountain dew if u dont drink. the second person is helpful when reinstalling the strut either u put the strut in and he puts the nuts on or the other way around.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:05 pm

fixitmattman wrote:The only thing the second person is good for helping with is getting the beer.

Good Call.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:30 am

It depends on the ability of said 2nd person. It could shave the install time in half, or take longer and give you a headache. Mostly they are good for pushing pedals and holding stuff, and of course beer duty is always nice.

jT · Post by jT » Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:33 pm

so i just finished. took about 2 hours or so maybe a little longer... not too difficult just a pain in the ass to get the mount bolts lined up..

first problem i ran into this morning was that i thought i had a 1/4" extension for the DIY strut nut tool... well i didnt.. went to one store they didnt have any, then to another (same place i got the spring compressor)..

second problem is that i didnt notice / pay attention to the fact that the struts i bought dont have a sway bar bracket ... so now my sway bar is just hanging there with noplace to bolt onto.. doh.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:49 pm

Oh dear.....you need to do something about that LOL, you can't have the bar hanging there. Make sure you get an alignment asap. Its neccessary whenever you take the strut off the knuckle.

What struts did you buy??

jT · Post by jT » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:38 pm

yellowpatrol's used ones.

only did the rear today.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:23 pm

Ohhh that makes sense as to why they didn't have a rear sway bar bracket then. I get it now.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:07 pm

There is a friendly canadian member that can get you the brackets you need, daaboots. Not sure if he has any left though.

jT · Post by jT » Sun Aug 24, 2008 5:32 am

so it looks like there are no OEM sway bar tabs for vertical sway bar bolts? only horizontal ones, and home-made vertical... that really sucks

not looking to pay $50 just to attach the sway bar (according to the thread he's sold out anyways).. and dont have the tools needed to make my own.....

hmm.. should have paid attention more in the beginning.. i thought i was going to regret buying used shocks just because they were used, now i regret it for not getting correct ones! w/e at least im not bouncing all over the road anymore.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:16 am

Damn that sucks. I guess you have to pick your poison at this point, crappy rear struts or no rear sway bar. The cheapest way out would probably be to get rear gr2 struts, unless you can find the rear brackets from a member.

I'll look when I'm at the junk yard this week, but it's slim pickin's at the yard lately.