New strut mount install giving me problems HELP!

[green94camry]

OK I went and rented a seceind set of spring compressors , one wasnt compressing the spring far away from the bottom of the strut mount, so I couldnt get the ears on the strut mount to mate with the cutouts in the strut piston to prevent the piston from turning when tightening the nut. Even with another set on there. Any suggestions. I can line up the strut mount with the rod and push down while turning the nut and it will catch for a second and then slip off the cutouts on the piston. I think it is because the apring compressors only attach at the middle coils and not the ends.

I am going to try using one set of compressors to compress the spring attached at the ends this way the entire spring compresses not just the middle. Compressing the middle does bring the spring down off the mount but not far enough. Once I have it compressed from the ends Ill attach the upper mount so that it is engaged in the detents in the strut ro. then I'll attach the other spring compressor to the middle coils as normally done to hold the tension then slowly release the compressor attached to the ends and take them off. Then when I release the compressor attached to the middle coils the spring will seat righ up against the cusion and mount. Sound good? I think this is the best way to do it.

[fredk]

what on earth are you talking about?

[green94camry]

Originally Posted by fredk

what on earth are you talking about?

ahhh...replacing struts. Go out and buy a manual and turn to the suspension section and read up then maybe you'll understand. But if you dont know what strut's strut mounts and spring compressors are, i really don't need your help, thanks anyway.

[fredk]

ive been replacing struts for 25 years, i just cant seem to grasp what you are doing, are you using those little screw compressors and are you trying to change the rubber mount on top?

[Ken4]

I had to read it twice to understand! Anyway I dont think it will work, there is just not enuf space to do what you're doing. If you have more or less positioned the piston groves and aligned the top seat properly and manage to get the lock nut on, it will most likely be sitting in the groves properly. To tighten to specs, simply mount the strut back on the vehicle and tighten there.

[green94camry]

Originally Posted by Ken4

I had to read it twice to understand! Anyway I dont think it will work, there is just not enuf space to do what you're doing. If you have more or less positioned the piston groves and aligned the top seat properly and manage to get the lock nut on, it will most likely be sitting in the groves properly. To tighten to specs, simply mount the strut back on the vehicle and tighten there.

OK maybe I was a little wordy. Simply put the spring wont compress far enough down with the new upper spring cushion on to install the strut mount to the rod properly. I am bring it to a shop that can compress it way down so I can intall the mount aligned with the rod and tighten the nut. When I put the nut on now it just spins the strut piston as I turn it. THe upper mount MUST be LOCKED into place on the rod so the rod does not spin. It's been a nightmare job. All went well until I had to reassemble the new strut-it was very very frustrating. Once these cars hit 180,000 you can spend everyweekend doing maintenance if you want to and still not fix everything. After these struts are done I am selling the car. Time to go when your hobby is working on cars but your daily driver always needs something replaced, that's when your hobby becomes work. I love those toyota commercials where they show people showing that they have 250,000 miles or 300,000 miles, what they dont show is that they are on their back in the driveway everyweekend fixing stuff.

Don't get me wrong the car has saved me TONS of money over the past 5 years but even after I am done with the struts, there is still an exaust leak. an oil leak, a water leak from the windshield, the rear rotors are not looking too hot, rear sway bar bushings etc etc etc. The camy has been great but it's mileage is really catching up to it, I am going to stat looking for a new car this month.

[Ken4]

You just need a helper. Compress your spings to the max (middle section). Align everything properly. Press down on the top seat using your body weight while your helper screws on the nut.

[toyomoho]

As Ken4 states, get someone to help. The shop manual covers changing shocks and is available on-line through the TN link in the General Camry Forum section..

[D0UG]

Originally Posted by green94camry

OK maybe I was a little wordy. Simply put the spring wont compress far enough down with the new upper spring cushion on to install the strut mount to the rod properly. I am bring it to a shop that can compress it way down so I can intall the mount aligned with the rod and tighten the nut. When I put the nut on now it just spins the strut piston as I turn it. THe upper mount MUST be LOCKED into place on the rod so the rod does not spin.

Many folks have replaced the struts and/or upper mounts only to experience a lot of thumping and bumping noises because they did not align the piston rod with the mount as you describe. You are doing it correctly. The springs often coil-bind before they compress enough to get everythign lined up right. Having a helper to push down on the spring is defintely the easiest solution.