Front Struts Replacement
#1
Front Struts Replacement
I recently replaced the front struts on my '09 with ACDelco "Ready Struts". I watched a couple videos on YouTube; highly recommended. Just thought I'd pass on that the job is really easy EXCEPT:
I sprayed the three lower mounting nuts a couple times with Nano Universal and Kano Aerokroil (both are great) before starting the job. I didn't think to spray the six upper studs under the hood. The first of these studs sheared right off which was OK. Two of the other nuts came off fine; the other three studs broke at their welds and just spun. It took a diamond cut off wheel on my Dremel to clut the nuts off. I swear those nuts are made of titanium!
I used my electric impact gun on the bottom stuff and the nuts came right off. The sway bar links were replaced previously, and the Moogs have a hex "nut" on the back, so I was able to hold the stud with a wrench. Otherwise, the OE link stud will probably just spin.
Final note, an oddity on the new struts: the upper nuts on the driver's side take a 13mm socket but on the pass. side, take a 12mm socket. Maybe they aren't all that way, just a last effort to mess with me.
I sprayed the three lower mounting nuts a couple times with Nano Universal and Kano Aerokroil (both are great) before starting the job. I didn't think to spray the six upper studs under the hood. The first of these studs sheared right off which was OK. Two of the other nuts came off fine; the other three studs broke at their welds and just spun. It took a diamond cut off wheel on my Dremel to clut the nuts off. I swear those nuts are made of titanium!
I used my electric impact gun on the bottom stuff and the nuts came right off. The sway bar links were replaced previously, and the Moogs have a hex "nut" on the back, so I was able to hold the stud with a wrench. Otherwise, the OE link stud will probably just spin.
Final note, an oddity on the new struts: the upper nuts on the driver's side take a 13mm socket but on the pass. side, take a 12mm socket. Maybe they aren't all that way, just a last effort to mess with me.
#4
Much improved ride; I didn't realize how "bouncy" it was. Changed the rear shocks, too.
I think the studs are the same, but I'll check. The nuts look identical with the built-in washers. Yes, torque is very light.
I think the studs are the same, but I'll check. The nuts look identical with the built-in washers. Yes, torque is very light.
#6
The OE's were both 13mm, the two new ACDelco's are, curiously, different. I just checked and the studs are the same; it's just the socket size is different. Maybe one is just a much different production date or something. Both came from Rockauto; fully assembled no chnage of spring, bearing, etc..
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