struts?

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:04 pm

ok i dont have bad struts on the back on the new car, and i was thinking being the ones on the wrecked car are almost new, can i just take the whole strut spring and switch it over and not worry about an alignment ? and being the front are good on my car should i leave them and just keep the front for when they go bad or just switch all 4 at the same time?

neonslg09 · Post by **neonslg09** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:29 pm

you ever thought about getting aftermarket struts or lowering the car?

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:38 pm

ya but i dont have the extra cash to do that and i cant go to low bc the roads in northern ny = shit, i just want that damn sqeeking noise to stop along with the way the back end bounces drives me nuts..lol and i fig being my olds ones are in great shape why not use them!..lol

and the money i do have is for someones cai that might be forsale coming sunday..!!! javascript:emoticon(':rockon:')

neonslg09 · Post by **neonslg09** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:50 pm

oh yea, i remember you tellin me that. hmmm, i say switch over the stock struts and get a rear wheel alignment

shouldnt be too much and

and woo cai!

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm

so it does need an alignment after i do that.. i was told i didnt but i was like " it has struts on the back of it i think it does" and this was a mechanic telling me i didnt need it. but i dont want the tires to get ate either!!!...

neonslg09 · Post by **neonslg09** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm

lol thats why they offer a four wheel alignment

yea your gonna need an alignment

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:07 pm

thats what i thought

...... thinking of putting that cam in this weekend!!!

neonslg09 · Post by **neonslg09** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:22 pm

do etttttt!!!!!!

Maddog · Post by **Maddog** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:02 pm

Chris, just swap all 4 strut/spring assemblies, and call it a day

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:44 pm

ya thats what im gonna do. im having a hell of a time gettin the damn engine out... i need some torches! everything is so damn rusted on it its not funny!!!

Maddog · Post by **Maddog** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:53 am

Do you have an impax(sp) gun? That would make it much easier...

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:14 pm

ya i have an impact and all the tools i need to take them off!! ..

OB · Post by OB » Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:57 pm

You won't need an alignment unless you meet one of the following criteria:

1. Springs are different heights.
2. Struts/knuckles are slotted for camber adjustment.
3. Strut mounting location is different.

Camber and caster are considered "non adjustable" from the factory on these cars. So even if you brought it in to be aligned, they would not be able to correct for those angles. Toe is adjusted with tie rods, which are 100% unaffected by replacing struts/spring assemblies. Regardless, toe is your tire wear enemy, not camber (unless it is excessive).

Anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to post up.

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:14 pm

oo so i wont need any alignment for the back then!? bc im just taking the rear ( spring strut assembly and switching from one car to another) ...

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:15 pm

As long as the OEM bolts are used, you should be very close. The only thing that is going to change, is any small manufacturing tolerance differences between the donor and the replaced ones.

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:17 pm

yulp the oem bolts i take off the car will be reused!!! even though i "might " not need an alignment should i just play it save and have it done? being im puttin 4 new tires on the car after i change the struts over??

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:38 pm

If the old tires seemed to be wearing evenly, then I wouldn't worry too much. If not, then yes, I would spend the $50 ish for a 4 wheel alignment. $50 is cheaper than 4 tires.

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:41 pm

$50 you mean $100, i wish i could get all 4 wheels for $50 but they only do a front end alignment for $50 where i live.. the tires on the donor car where wearing even , the tires on the car i have now are racing slicks from what im guessing is ppl burning the tires!?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:55 pm

Wow, I only paid $50 something 3 months ago for a full 4 wheel alignment. (That's with "crash bolts" so they had to adjust everything) If the rears were fine on your car, then I wouldn't worry about them. I would just swap the stuff, and keep a close eye on the wear. If it starts looking funny, or if you run your hand across the tire and it feels like one way catches and the other way doesn't, then get an alignment.

cbjones26 · Post by **cbjones26** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:59 pm

ok thank you.. wish me luck .. bc im doing this swap tomorrow, just gotta go back up to my g/fs parents and load the compressor and air tools back into the neon and then to my dads, im hoping this doesnt take to long to do! im gonna look and find out what size everything is so ill have everything read before i start!, i also gotta get the LCA off the car and the rack and pinion but that can wait for a few days,