Help me with strut install!!

[talon749]

Whats up guys, I just got new suspension, and upon the disassembly of the stock stuff I cant get the "cup" off the stock strut, I have the tociko blues, do I even need this part? Also, I am a bit confuzled on what to cut? Also, any tips for getting the rear struts off the car?? the bolt wont break loose! Help!!!

 

[daren_p]

What do you mean by the "cup"?, are you talking about the upper mount that holds the shock to the body? If so you will need an impact gun to get this off. The only thing you should have to cut is the bump stop, if you are putting in lowering springs. Once you get the factory shock/spring assembley taken apart, remove the dust cover from the shock piston and you will see a small foam piece on the piston shaft, this is the bump stop. Cut of the amount shown in the install instructions. You do this to keep the same amount of suspension travel as you had before the lowering springs.

What bolts won't break lose on the rear? What have you tried, impact gun, breaker bar, WD-40, heat?

 

[midwesteclipse]

While doing all of this, make sure you are using spring compressors. If you don't have any, most auto parts stores have a rental program. Auto zone or advance auto parts, I know there's more stores. You just don't want to hurt yourself or someone else from the force of the compacted (stock) spring. A impact is your friend on this job.

 

[midwesteclipse]

http://www.vfaq.com/mods/GCkit-2G.html

Same steps as a standard strut install.

 

[talon749]

Alright I took a pic to show you guys just what I am talking about....

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The part in red is what I am talking about....how do I get everything off? I know I need the yellow part and the dust shield, but what about that part in red? and how do I get everything off the strut I need?

 

[midwesteclipse]

That part is the cup assembly which holds the dust cover over the piston rod. Once you get you remove the piston rod bolt, which is the bolt on top of the bracket assembly, you should be able to work everything free by pulling it all off. You may need to spray some penetrating oil on most of the rod and it's parts. It took some time but I got everything loose by having a friend hold one end and me pulling on the other. But again, use spring compressors while removing the nut.

 

[midwesteclipse]

And to the other question. Yes, you need the cup to retain your dust cover.

 

[daren_p]

You need a spring compressor to first compress the spring, then an impact gun to remove the bolt that holds the shock piston to the upper mount. Once this is removed you can remove the dust shield and bump stop which need to be transfered to the new shock.

 

[niceeclipse_rs9]

You might have to cut the metal sleeve holding the cup assembly. The sleeve has a tendency to seize onto the shock piston. I used a dremel cutting bit to cut through the sleeve as close as possible to the cup then I used a nut splitter from harbor freight to expand the sleeve to slide it out.

 

[talon749]

algiht thanks guys...im soaking it in wd-40 right now...i got my rear off I had to take off my rear swaybar to have enough room for the strut to come out but i got that all off, thanks guys, hey when I took my struts off they have no rebound when I push them in, and the rear springs had no force, sorry I didnt use a spring compressor, but how bad was my stock suspension messed up? I did probally 9 or 10 auto x races with it, and my car has about 90k miles, and I had like 5 or 6 in wheel gap front and back on my stock stuff, how low will this stuff sit now?

 

[Rx3]

You should take a picture of the top of the cup. You live in ohio, so if it rust welded itself to the shaft you will have to cut the thing off and get a new dustcover from Mitsu.

 

[talon749]

as requested.....

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IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/impreza749/IMG_04401.jpg[/IMG]

 

[talon749]

ahh sry

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[niceeclipse_rs9]

Yup, its the metal sleeve that’s rusted on there. Try pb blaster otherwise you are going to have to cut it as I suggested above. The bottom portion closer to the cup is were it is rusted, so its hard to get any lubricant in there. My dsm had 54K miles on it and both rear shocks had this problem. Good luck.

 

[Venum]

Mine looked worse than that, and I didn't cut it.
Get some PB penetrating spray, WD-40 will not do the job that you want. Spray a few times with the PB and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Hammer a screwdriver between the cup and the collar (the silver sleeve on the top). Just keep getting the screwdriver in there and using the leverage off of it to break it free. Sooner or later you will get it.

Also, listen to the other guys about the spring compressor being on there while doing this.

You're going to want to get a new collar as well, go to Napa- they sell a nice little kit that has all the rubber bushings and the collar in one box. Re-use the dust cover and cup (if you don't it can void a warranty).

-venum