Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Topic: Sway bar links done...ABS light on.... (Read 4105 times) previous topic - next topic

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

February 15, 2009, 08:12:09 PM

Ive been contemplating whether i should replace the struts in my car myself(front only), or pay the mechanic shop 416 dollars (again,front only). Ive never done any type of suspension work before so i dont really know what i would be getting into, and i havent researched it much yet because i dont want to waste my time if its too much of a challenge. So, my question to you guys is, is there anything in particular that is really challenging about it?

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #1 – February 15, 2009, 08:58:10 PM

I just put some on my 88 sport. Do it yourself and save the money. There is nothing to it, 2 bolts on the bottom and one nut on top. Just put a jack stand under the control arm to keep the spring compressed and you shouldn't have any problems. I had to take the rotor off to get the bottom bolt out. I left the strut mount on and just took the nut off the top of the strut and it slides out.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #2 – February 15, 2009, 09:05:15 PM

Ok, so you would jack the car itself first right? Would i put the jackstand under the spring before i started unbolting the strut?

Quote

I left the strut mount on and just took the nut off the top of the strut and it slides out.
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Im guessing it slides out of the top? Sorry so many question, i wanna make sure i understand how to do this, the online manual at autozone is confusing as hell.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #3 – February 15, 2009, 09:06:41 PM

+1

It's one of the easiest things to do. Put the car on stands, pull the front wheels, pop the hood, loosen the two bolts/nuts on the spindle, loosen the retaining nut at the top of the strut, use a floor jack to support the control arm, then remove the nuts, bolts, strut. Just don't strip any threads! And watch your knuckles around the spindles.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #4 – February 15, 2009, 09:08:20 PM

Quote from: 20thanniver-ls;256997

Ok, so you would jack the car itself first right? Would i put the jackstand under the spring before i started unbolting the strut?

yes jack the car up put a jack stand under the spring on the control arm

Quote

Im guessing it slides out of the top? Sorry so many question, i wanna make sure i understand how to do this, the online manual at autozone is confusing as hell.

it slides out the bottom

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #5 – February 15, 2009, 09:11:07 PM

Yea that sounds wicked easy lol. When supporting the control arms i just raise the jack just enough so when i unbolt the strut completley and take it out the spring dosent come out?

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #6 – February 15, 2009, 09:11:10 PM

That top nut will most likely require an impact gun to get it off there. You're not going to just twist it off with a ratchet.

The two spindle bolts will probably require a little heat in addition to the impact to get them loose.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #7 – February 15, 2009, 09:14:00 PM

Quote

That top nut will most likely require an impact gun to get it off there. You're not going to just twist it off with a ratchet.

Ive got a dewalt electric impact, its not pnuematic but it should work.

Quote

The two spindle bolts will probably require a little heat in addition to the impact to get them loose

Got that covered as well thanks for the advice;)

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #8 – February 15, 2009, 09:14:21 PM

Quote from: Chuck W;257003

That top nut will most likely require an impact gun to get it off there. You're not going to just twist it off with a ratchet.

The two spindle bolts will probably require a little heat in addition to the impact to get them loose.

Thats what i had to do.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #9 – February 15, 2009, 09:20:27 PM

Ok, I dont want to sound like a moron but....

1. Jack up car, remove wheels, support control arm.

2. Loosen top bolt and two bottom bolts, reomve strut.

3. Slide in new strut, tighten bolts.

4. Lower control arm support, put tires on, lower car.

Just want to be sure thats all ther is to it....

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #10 – February 15, 2009, 09:25:20 PM

You got it

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #11 – February 15, 2009, 09:28:58 PM

Thanks for the inspiration guys, gonna get it done next weekend. Probably shoulda asked this firrst, but how do you know if the struts are bad? When i go over bumps i hear like a clanging noise when my tires go up and down. I had this problem once before on another car (93 cougar) thought it was the control arms but that wasnt it, so im thinking struts. Sound about right?

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #12 – February 15, 2009, 09:34:31 PM

Yea thats most likely a bad strut.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #13 – February 15, 2009, 09:37:23 PM

Is there any torque spec for the bolts or is it just as tight as i can get them?

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #14 – February 15, 2009, 09:47:19 PM

Just make them tight I wouldnt worry bout torque.