Front

Damper/Spring Replacement

Special Tools Required
Strut spring compressor, Branick MST-580A or Model 7200, or equivalent, commercially available.

Removal
1. Raise the front of the vehicle, and support it with safety stands in the proper locations. Remove the front wheels.





2. Remove the flange bolt (A) and brake hose mounting bracket (B) from the damper.





3. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the lower arm ball joint, and remove the castle nut (B).
4. Remove the lower arm ball joint from the knuckle using the special tools.





5. Remove the flange nuts (A) from the top of the damper.





6. Remove the flange bolt (A) at the bottom of the damper.





7. Lower the lower arm, and remove the damper assembly (A).

Disassembly/Inspection





1. Compress the damper spring with a commercially available strut spring compressor (A) according to the manufacturer's instructions, then remove the self-locking nut (B). Do not compress the spring more than necessary to remove the nut.
2. Release the pressure from the strut spring compressor, then disassemble the damper as shown in the Exploded View.
3. Reassemble all of the parts, except the spring.
4. Compress the damper assembly by hand, and check for smooth operation through a full stroke, both compression and extension. The damper should extend smoothly and constantly when compression is released. If it does not, the gas is leaking and the damper should be replaced.
5. Check for oil leaks, abnormal noises, or binding during these tests.

Reassembly





1. Assemble all of the damper components except the self-locking nut onto the damper unit. Align the spring bottom end (A), the stepped part of the lower spring mounting cushion, and the step on the lower spring seat (B).
2. Install the damper assembly on a commercially available strut spring compressor (C).





3. Position the stud bolt (A) in the damper mounting base as shown.
4. Compress the damper spring with the spring compressor.





5. Install a new self-locking nut (A) on the damper shaft.
6. Hold the damper shaft with a hex wrench (B), and tighten the self-locking nut to the specified torque.

Installation





1. Lower the lower arm, and position the damper assembly (A) in the body.





2. Loosely install the flange nuts (A) onto the damper studs.





3. Position the damper bottom on the lower arm (A), and connect the lower arm and the lower ball joint (B).
4. Install the flange bolt (C), and lightly tighten.
5. Raise the suspension until the vehicle just lifts off the safety stand.





6. Install the castle nut (A) onto the lower ball joint pin, and tighten it to the specified torque value.
7. Install a new cotter pin (B).
8. Tighten the flange bolt connecting the damper bottom to the lower arm to the specified torque value.
9. Tighten the flange nuts on the top of the damper to the specified torque value.





10. Install the brake hose mounting bracket (A) and the flange bolt (B) to the damper, and tighten the bolt to the specified torque value.