strut problem? help!
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Joined: 06-10-08
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From: chicago
strut problem? help!
i took wheel off and checked sway bar end links they seem ok, so i pushed up plastic boot on strut and they were wet. so i asume they are shot, what are some decent struts and can i do this myself in the garage? any detailed help would be great. this is my daily driver 06 ls 4 door with 48k. thanks
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Joined: 12-18-05
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From: North Jersey
stock replacements are like 30-35 each. can get the tc ones for i think 45 from gmpartsdirect
as far as changing the struts, it's not too hard. easiest way is with spring compressors (i bought my set for like 15) and an impact wrench. (i used a cheap one from walmart. was about 30. worked great, but didn't lst too long.) only thing you really need the impact for is that top suspension mount nut (the big one you can see in the engine when you pop the hood. it's in the middle of the 3 nuts holding the strut up)
there's writeups on how to do the changes, and there's posts about what to do if you don't have spring compressors or an impact. maven figured out how to do it without the compressors, and halfcent has a nice way to do it without the impact. someone also recently posted a tool set for getting the top nut off. if you have any other questions that are not covered, post up in halfcents thread, or feel free to shoot me a pm. i've done many installs on all the various cobalts.
as far as changing the struts, it's not too hard. easiest way is with spring compressors (i bought my set for like 15) and an impact wrench. (i used a cheap one from walmart. was about 30. worked great, but didn't lst too long.) only thing you really need the impact for is that top suspension mount nut (the big one you can see in the engine when you pop the hood. it's in the middle of the 3 nuts holding the strut up)
there's writeups on how to do the changes, and there's posts about what to do if you don't have spring compressors or an impact. maven figured out how to do it without the compressors, and halfcent has a nice way to do it without the impact. someone also recently posted a tool set for getting the top nut off. if you have any other questions that are not covered, post up in halfcents thread, or feel free to shoot me a pm. i've done many installs on all the various cobalts.
When you sau "wet" do you mean theres oily film on stuff making ity shiny or thaty there are big drips of oil running down the strut?
The oily or shiny look is normal, drips arent.
Struts are actually more like $150/pair or $230/pair for SS/TC.
The oily or shiny look is normal, drips arent.
Struts are actually more like $150/pair or $230/pair for SS/TC.
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Joined: 02-18-07
Posts: 313
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From: Long Island, New York
off topic sorry but
would the Koni's be better off in a fe5 strut housing as opposed to a fe1 strut housing or the strut housing or is it basically the same. Excluding the better fe5 bar's, endlinks, axles, control arm's and the rest of that fun stuff that separates the base suspension from the SS?
would the Koni's be better off in a fe5 strut housing as opposed to a fe1 strut housing or the strut housing or is it basically the same. Excluding the better fe5 bar's, endlinks, axles, control arm's and the rest of that fun stuff that separates the base suspension from the SS?
off topic sorry but
would the Koni's be better off in a fe5 strut housing as opposed to a fe1 strut housing or the strut housing or is it basically the same. Excluding the better fe5 bar's, endlinks, axles, control arm's and the rest of that fun stuff that separates the base suspension from the SS?
would the Koni's be better off in a fe5 strut housing as opposed to a fe1 strut housing or the strut housing or is it basically the same. Excluding the better fe5 bar's, endlinks, axles, control arm's and the rest of that fun stuff that separates the base suspension from the SS?
stock replacements are like 30-35 each. can get the tc ones for i think 45 from gmpartsdirect
as far as changing the struts, it's not too hard. easiest way is with spring compressors (i bought my set for like 15) and an impact wrench. (i used a cheap one from walmart. was about 30. worked great, but didn't lst too long.) only thing you really need the impact for is that top suspension mount nut (the big one you can see in the engine when you pop the hood. it's in the middle of the 3 nuts holding the strut up)
there's writeups on how to do the changes, and there's posts about what to do if you don't have spring compressors or an impact. maven figured out how to do it without the compressors, and halfcent has a nice way to do it without the impact. someone also recently posted a tool set for getting the top nut off. if you have any other questions that are not covered, post up in halfcents thread, or feel free to shoot me a pm. i've done many installs on all the various cobalts.
as far as changing the struts, it's not too hard. easiest way is with spring compressors (i bought my set for like 15) and an impact wrench. (i used a cheap one from walmart. was about 30. worked great, but didn't lst too long.) only thing you really need the impact for is that top suspension mount nut (the big one you can see in the engine when you pop the hood. it's in the middle of the 3 nuts holding the strut up)
there's writeups on how to do the changes, and there's posts about what to do if you don't have spring compressors or an impact. maven figured out how to do it without the compressors, and halfcent has a nice way to do it without the impact. someone also recently posted a tool set for getting the top nut off. if you have any other questions that are not covered, post up in halfcents thread, or feel free to shoot me a pm. i've done many installs on all the various cobalts.
stock replacements are like 30-35 each. can get the tc ones for i think 45 from gmpartsdirect
as far as changing the struts, it's not too hard. easiest way is with spring compressors (i bought my set for like 15) and an impact wrench. (i used a cheap one from walmart. was about 30. worked great, but didn't lst too long.) only thing you really need the impact for is that top suspension mount nut (the big one you can see in the engine when you pop the hood. it's in the middle of the 3 nuts holding the strut up)
there's writeups on how to do the changes, and there's posts about what to do if you don't have spring compressors or an impact. maven figured out how to do it without the compressors, and halfcent has a nice way to do it without the impact. someone also recently posted a tool set for getting the top nut off. if you have any other questions that are not covered, post up in halfcents thread, or feel free to shoot me a pm. i've done many installs on all the various cobalts.
as far as changing the struts, it's not too hard. easiest way is with spring compressors (i bought my set for like 15) and an impact wrench. (i used a cheap one from walmart. was about 30. worked great, but didn't lst too long.) only thing you really need the impact for is that top suspension mount nut (the big one you can see in the engine when you pop the hood. it's in the middle of the 3 nuts holding the strut up)
there's writeups on how to do the changes, and there's posts about what to do if you don't have spring compressors or an impact. maven figured out how to do it without the compressors, and halfcent has a nice way to do it without the impact. someone also recently posted a tool set for getting the top nut off. if you have any other questions that are not covered, post up in halfcents thread, or feel free to shoot me a pm. i've done many installs on all the various cobalts.
Last edited by NWAE Cobalt; Feb 5, 2009 at 01:47 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Senior Member
Joined: 03-07-06
Posts: 7,224
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From: west virginia
stock replacements are like 30-35 each. can get the tc ones for i think 45 from gmpartsdirect
as far as changing the struts, it's not too hard. easiest way is with spring compressors (i bought my set for like 15) and an impact wrench. (i used a cheap one from walmart. was about 30. worked great, but didn't lst too long.) only thing you really need the impact for is that top suspension mount nut (the big one you can see in the engine when you pop the hood. it's in the middle of the 3 nuts holding the strut up)
there's writeups on how to do the changes, and there's posts about what to do if you don't have spring compressors or an impact. maven figured out how to do it without the compressors, and halfcent has a nice way to do it without the impact. someone also recently posted a tool set for getting the top nut off. if you have any other questions that are not covered, post up in halfcents thread, or feel free to shoot me a pm. i've done many installs on all the various cobalts.
as far as changing the struts, it's not too hard. easiest way is with spring compressors (i bought my set for like 15) and an impact wrench. (i used a cheap one from walmart. was about 30. worked great, but didn't lst too long.) only thing you really need the impact for is that top suspension mount nut (the big one you can see in the engine when you pop the hood. it's in the middle of the 3 nuts holding the strut up)
there's writeups on how to do the changes, and there's posts about what to do if you don't have spring compressors or an impact. maven figured out how to do it without the compressors, and halfcent has a nice way to do it without the impact. someone also recently posted a tool set for getting the top nut off. if you have any other questions that are not covered, post up in halfcents thread, or feel free to shoot me a pm. i've done many installs on all the various cobalts.
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Joined: 03-07-06
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From: west virginia
lol...whats the general concept on doing this(no i dont mean well to put the springs on lol)? im mainly interested because im going to be putting my lowering springs on my new tc struts here before too long
The Jist?
you use the vehicle and a jack as the spring compressor, thet vehicle keeps you safe from failing or improperly used compressors.
With a lift, an impact wrench, a jack and not distraction it takes me 30 minutes to change rear springs and front struts and springs
you use the vehicle and a jack as the spring compressor, thet vehicle keeps you safe from failing or improperly used compressors.
With a lift, an impact wrench, a jack and not distraction it takes me 30 minutes to change rear springs and front struts and springs
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Joined: 03-07-06
Posts: 7,224
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From: west virginia
hhmm never ever gave that a thought. id be installing the springs and struts at the same time so basically i would have to seat the spring and everything properly and then jack the strut up while keep everything inline and the strut bolts up in the tower and then tighten down the main strut bolt once jacked up? hhmm sounds easy enough
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Joined: 03-07-06
Posts: 7,224
Likes: 1
From: west virginia
hhmm never ever gave that a thought. id be installing the springs and struts at the same time so basically i would have to seat the spring and everything properly and then jack the strut up while keep everything inline and the strut bolts up in the tower and then tighten down the main strut bolt once jacked up? hhmm sounds easy enough
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Joined: 03-07-06
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From: west virginia
thats basically how you do it though right? id have to do it from the ground as i dont have a lift. probably do one side at a time going around the car. just jack it up decently high and use a jackstand and then do your trick. when you jack it up do you jack it up via the knucle/hub whatever its called or just by the bottom of the strut
thats basically how you do it though right? id have to do it from the ground as i dont have a lift. probably do one side at a time going around the car. just jack it up decently high and use a jackstand and then do your trick. when you jack it up do you jack it up via the knucle/hub whatever its called or just by the bottom of the strut
You lift up on the bottom of the control arm.
Ill try and get up early just for you and do this saturday
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Joined: 03-07-06
Posts: 7,224
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From: west virginia
haha thanks. i believe i get what your saying now. just bolt up the bottom of the strut and press up on the control arm like you said. i have two high lift jackstands and a jack so that wont be a problem. thanks maven
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Joined: 02-03-08
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From: Port Perry Ontario
by the way for all you redline guys out there like me it sucks to be us it dont work this way lol
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