REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
240, 700, 900, S90 and V90 Series
See Figure 1
- Raise and safely support vehicle.
- Remove the wheel.
- Disconnect the tie rod end.
- Place a floor jack under the control arm.
- Disconnect the sway bar link.
- Unbolt the brake lines from the bracket and detach them from the clips.
- Remove the cover over the strut nut.
- Disconnect the coil wire and place it out of the way.
- Hold the strut shaft with tool 5037 or equivalent and loosen the nut a few turns with tool 5036 or equivalent.
- Mark the position of the upper mount in the housing, then remove the nuts and washers.
- Carefully lower the jack and pull the strut and spring out of the housing.
To install:
- Guide the strut assembly into the body.
- Install the upper mount according to the earlier marking and tighten to 30 ft. lbs. (40 Nm).
- Tighten the strut nut to 111 ft. lbs. (150 Nm) using socket 5036 and holder 5037 or equivalents.
- Press nut cover back on and connect the coil wire.
- Install the sway bar link and tighten it until the distance between the washers is 1.65 in. (42mm).
- Install the brake line bracket and clips. Make sure that the brake lines are sitting correctly in the wheelwell.
- Install the tie rod end.
- Install the wheel.
- Lower the vehicle and test.
Fig. Fig. 1: Typical MacPherson strut assembly
See Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8
- Raise and safely support vehicle.
- Remove the wheel.
- Disconnect the sway bar link from the strut.
- Remove the ABS sensor lead from the strut and brake bracket, but do not disconnect.
- Install support tool 5466 or equivalent under the control arm.
- Remove the two nuts and bolts holding the strut to the steering knuckle.
- Remove the upper nuts attaching the strut attachment to the body.
- Remove the spring and strut assembly.
- Install the spring and strut assembly in the spring housing and fasten it using new nuts; tighten them to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).
- Connect the strut to the steering knuckle using new bolts and nuts.
- Tighten them to 48 ft. lbs. (65 Nm) and angle tighten 90°.
- Connect the sway bar to the strut using new nuts.
- Install the ABS sensor lead to the strut and brake pipe bracket.
- Remove the support tool.
- Install the wheel.
- Lower the vehicle.
Fig. Fig. 2: Remove the ABS sensor lead from the strut
Fig. Fig. 3: The strut is attached to the knuckle by two bolts (and nuts)
Fig. Fig. 4: Remove the two strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts
Fig. Fig. 5: Threading the nut onto the bolt after removal is an easy way to keep track of them
Fig. Fig. 6: Separate the strut from the spindle
Fig. Fig. 7: Remove the three bolts holding the strut to the body, but never remove the large nut in the center while still in the vehicle
Fig. Fig. 8: Carefully remove the strut from the vehicle
OVERHAUL
240, 700, 900, S90 and V90 Series
- Remove the strut from the vehicle.
-
To remove the spring:
- Attach spring compressor tool 5040 or equivalent to the spring. The two parts of the tool should be opposite each other and have three coils between the claws.
- Compress each side alternately until the strut is loose inside the spring.
- Hold the strut shaft with tool 5037 or equivalent and remove the nut with tool 5036 or equivalent and lift off the upper mount, spring retainer, spring and rubber bumper.
On vehicles equipped with gas pressure struts, the bumper has been replaced by a rubber bellow and disc.
- To remove the strut, unscrew the retaining nut and pull the shock insert out of the casing, using tool 5039 or equivalent for standard struts, or tool 5173 or equivalent for gas struts.
- Insert the strut insert into the housing and tighten the retaining nut to 111 ft. lbs. (150 Nm).
- Install the bumper or bellows and disc on the strut, making sure that the top of the bumper is lower than the top of the strut shaft
- Install the spring so the compressor tool bolt holes face upwards.
- Install the upper mount, washer and nut but do not tighten fully.
- Remove the compressor loosening the bolts alternately and make sure that the ends of the spring fit correctly into the upper and lower plates.
- Install the strut in the vehicle.
See Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18
- Remove the strut from the vehicle.
- Mount the spring and strut assembly in a vise and secure it.
- Install spring compressing tool 5407 or equivalent and alternately compress the spring.
- Remove the bolt and washer from the strut attachment using socket 5467 and counterhold 5468 or equivalents.
- Remove the strut nut using socket 5469 and counterhold 5468 or equivalents.
- Remove the bearing dustcap and remove the bearing locknut.
- Remove the spring seat and bearing, rubber stopper, boot, and check them for damage.
- Remove the compressed spring from the strut.
- Compress the spring to about 12 in. (30.5cm) in length.
- Install the rubber stopper.
- Install the washer.
- Install the compressed spring.
- Install the spring seat and bearing.
Make sure that the spring ends are properly seated.
- Install the spring attachment, washer, and nut and tighten it to 52 ft. lbs. (70 Nm) using socket 5467 and counterhold 5468, or their equivalents.
- Slowly and alternately remove the spring compressor.
- Install the strut in the vehicle.
Fig. Fig. 9: Install the strut spring compressor tool onto the spring
Fig. Fig. 10: A tool set, such as this one from Lisle®, is available to aid in the removal of the strut bearing
Fig. Fig. 11: One tool fits over the nut, and the other is used to hold the shaft while the retaining nut is removed
Fig. Fig. 12: Remove the nut ...
Fig. Fig. 13: ... followed by the bearing dust cap
Fig. Fig. 14: Use the shaft tool to aid in the removal of the bearing locknut
Fig. Fig. 15: Remove the bearing and upper spring seat ...
Fig. Fig. 16: ... then remove the compressed spring
Fig. Fig. 17: Dont forget to remove the strut boot if replacing the strut
Fig. Fig. 18: Disassembled strut components include a strut tube (1), retaining nut (2), bearing dust cap (3) and locknut (4), bearing and upper spring seat (5), boot (6) and compressed spring (7)
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