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Just did the engine cover struts...15 min right side, 25 left (removed the blower). This little tool helped by inserting into the pin clamps and twisting slightly to expand the clamps (on the forward ones...the others are easy enough to reach). It also made replacing the front trunk struts much simpler a few months ago by inserting and twisting slightly to loosen the retaining ring on the bottom end.
Craftsman Professional Screwdriver 1\8 in. X 10 in. Model# 47164
Great write up by Mr. Shaw. Just got my frunk struts replaced and took about 30 minutes. Only difficult part was getting my big 'ol noggin in there to try and see the ball joints to pop out the bottom of the shock during the removal of the old shocks. Everything else went pretty smoothly.
Ok, I will admit to being a neophyte working on this thing but if anyone managed to do this job in 30 minutes without wanting to kill someone then I'm calling you out. I still haven't managed to get one old strut off and I've tried 3 or 4 times. I have a 1990 C-2 and you can't see squat. I bought the flex light, the long screw driver, and its still just a royal pain in the ***.
The first time you do it, it's definitely a PITA.
Once you line it up though, it's pretty straight forward.
Getting them out is the easy part of course :P
The first time you do it, it's definitely a PITA.
Once you line it up though, it's pretty straight forward.
Getting them out is the easy part of course :P
pull up an old thread about how to replace... was a piece of cake and im not mechanical
It took me about 20 min. for both sides, not including searching for the correct,odd tools to use. Didn't use the long screwdriver at all, but a lever instead for the removal of the old ones. It was relatively hard to get in-between the mount and the sheet metal of the car.
Fitting the new ones was easy when I used a small screwdriver lodged behind the spring to keep it open, mount the shock in place and removed the screwdriver that reliesed the spring to click in place.
I used the Marc Shaw method for the front struts and made up this little tool for the rears. The wedge shape spreads the clip, keep pushing and the clip comes right off and stays on the tool. Same thing in reverse to replace clips. No lost clip, no swearing.
05-18-2013, 01:09 AM
