Front air strut replacement?

[turn_on68]

I am getting ready to replace my front struts. I have the replacements.Can anyone tell me what size the lower bolt or nut is on them. I would hate to get the wheels off and then don't have a big enough socket to fit over them?

 

[my95mark8]

I think it's a 21mm.

 

[MediumD]

I can't say for sure but 21mm definately sounds right.

 

[torquemonkey]

Just a thought; before you get to into the work, jack the car up and try out your sockets to find the right one. Perhaps even pull the car up on a curb and save yourself the work of jacking the car up.

 

[turn_on68]

I did check them and it was a 13/16th socket. 7:30AM until 2:30PM to do it. The left side bottom bolt would not come out even with a 5 Lb hammer. Finally got it out. Then the right side new strut was too hard for me to compress it to get the bottom over the lower control arm. Finally got one of those green bars you use in the yard to hold fencing and it gave me the leverage I needed. Man what a job for a 62 year old to have to do!

 

[torquemonkey]

Good Job!!

I have done my right side twice. I am all to familiar with that bottom bolt being tight.

 

[4.6powa]

i ended up cutting the old strut, and taking the whole lower controll arm out, sticking it in a vise, and slamming it with a 3 lb. hammer, and a can of pb blaster.

 

[my95mark8]

When I replaced my struts, the right side was a pain. I took the nut off, then broke the flag off the other side, then used an impact gun to break it loose. That got it to turn, but it would not come OUT. I put the nut on, and used an air hammer, and regular hammer, and alot of rust penetrant to finally break it free. This is after repeatedly soaking it with rust penetrant for about a week before. Damn New England...
The driver's side, I took off the nut, tapped the bolt lightly with a hammer, and it slid right out with hardly any effort at all.

 

[my95mark8]

i ended up cutting the old strut, and taking the whole lower controll arm out, sticking it in a vise, and slamming it with a 3 lb. hammer, and a can of pb blaster.

Does the lower control arm bolt at the frame have the same problem getting stuck as the lower strut bolt? I see you are in Cranston, you have basically the same weather we have here in Mass, which causes things to rust.

 

[4.6powa]

Does the lower control arm bolt at the frame have the same problem getting stuck as the lower strut bolt? I see you are in Cranston, you have basically the same weather we have here in Mass, which causes things to rust.

the controll arm bolt didnt give me much of a problem. be sure that you mark the cam on it to what position it is at so you dont mess up alignment. taking it out, it didnt slide right out...im not sure if it is supposed to or not, but it was easy enough just to keep spinning it, until it threads out.

 

[turn_on68]

I have to know about replacing the upper and lower control arm bushings. O'Reilly's has Moog for the lower I think it is at $50 per side. Is there a cheaper place to buy them? Are Moog the best money can buy? The upper I think he told me has the whole upper control arm and the bushing, is that the only way they come, at $100 per side? So now I am looking at another $300 in parts? The rubber bushing cover has split open and I am sure they will not hold grease. The Moog are polyurethane, with no grease fitting on the bottom of the bushing does that mean the polyurethane don't need to be greased?

 

[my95mark8]

the controll arm bolt didnt give me much of a problem. be sure that you mark the cam on it to what position it is at so you dont mess up alignment. taking it out, it didnt slide right out...im not sure if it is supposed to or not, but it was easy enough just to keep spinning it, until it threads out.

Thanks, I will probably be replacing mine soon.