Stangkiller90
Jul 17th, 08, 06:53 PM
(I have a 1994 Z28)
Maybe I'm an idiot but I could not for the life of me figure out how to dismantle the strut assembly from the car. I've changed many suspensions on other vehicles numerous times, granted nothing is easy with the F-bodies, but a strut shouldn't be too much different anywhere, right? The rear shocks were no trouble, but I wasn't expecting any headaches from them.
Anyway, I looked at the directions of steps involved in the job and it says to loosen (not remove) the main set of nuts and bolts under the hood, at the stop of the strut towers (ok, began on the passenger side and did that). Following the rest of the steps, it says to remove the caslte nut and cotter pin assembly from the upper control arm (two sets of castle nuts and cotter pin assemblies, i removed the upper set closest to the strut). Then, I read to remove the two nuts holding the bottom of the strut in place. At this point, I figured that the wheel would drop and free the strut due to disconnecting the upper control arm from the strut tower. NOTHING HAPPENED. I tried compressing the spring, prying the the thing out of it's seat avoiding the tie rod and other parts around it, and the thing would not give or move even a little bit. Am I missing something crucial and/or particular to camaro suspension? Or were the directions not thorough? Could anyone perhaps provide me with detailed directions or pictures of steps? Any advice would be helpful, cause I'd like to avoid the labor charge of a dealer or mechanic if I could.
Thanks a lot!
Maybe I'm an idiot but I could not for the life of me figure out how to dismantle the strut assembly from the car. I've changed many suspensions on other vehicles numerous times, granted nothing is easy with the F-bodies, but a strut shouldn't be too much different anywhere, right? The rear shocks were no trouble, but I wasn't expecting any headaches from them.
Anyway, I looked at the directions of steps involved in the job and it says to loosen (not remove) the main set of nuts and bolts under the hood, at the stop of the strut towers (ok, began on the passenger side and did that). Following the rest of the steps, it says to remove the caslte nut and cotter pin assembly from the upper control arm (two sets of castle nuts and cotter pin assemblies, i removed the upper set closest to the strut). Then, I read to remove the two nuts holding the bottom of the strut in place. At this point, I figured that the wheel would drop and free the strut due to disconnecting the upper control arm from the strut tower. NOTHING HAPPENED. I tried compressing the spring, prying the the thing out of it's seat avoiding the tie rod and other parts around it, and the thing would not give or move even a little bit. Am I missing something crucial and/or particular to camaro suspension? Or were the directions not thorough? Could anyone perhaps provide me with detailed directions or pictures of steps? Any advice would be helpful, cause I'd like to avoid the labor charge of a dealer or mechanic if I could.
Thanks a lot!