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Ok, the front Quick Struts are in. It was the easiest thing I've done on a car in ages. I did have an impact wrench, a 1/2" drive 110Volt job. I think it could have been pretty hard getting it apart without the impact wrench, so beg borrow or buy one. Less than one hour to complete.
I hit the bolts with liquid wrench type stuff a couple days before. The one bolt that was amazingly tight was the bolt that holds the brake line to the line support on the strut. While you are spraying stuff try to get some on the back side of that bolt.
Do figure out a way to tie up the wheel hub and brake assembly or it could flop down and break something that you'd best not break.
Jacked up the car and put safety stand under there too. Impact wrench zip off the lug nuts. Spray some fresh rust buster on the two big nuts that bolt the strut to the wheel hub and the nasty little bolt that holds the brake line support.
With wheel off and hub and break tied up get the brake line bolt out, turn the steering wheel to move it to convenient angle. I used 14mm deep impact socket on the impact wrench.
Take the three nuts off the top of the strut, the ones under the hood in a triangle pattern. Don't even think about touching the big nut in the center at the top of the strut!! That could release deadly suspension spring mischief and hurt you. My top nuts were 12mm but some are larger, perhaps 14mm.
Now tackle the big 19mm bolts that hold the bottom of the sturt. Impact wrench with deep socket and the steering wheel turned all the way to the right did the trick.
On the left side the old strut dropped right out with a little twisting of the hub and brake assy. On the right side it dropped down between the brake line and the hub but the line was long enough I could work it down and out.
While the struts were out I drilled my top mount holes to 13/32" to accomodate the larger bolts on the new Quick Struts. Note to self, buy new batteries for the cordless drill.
With my helper I shoved the new Quick Strut up into position and started the three nuts on top. With some poking and shoving line up the lower holes and get the big bolts back in. I tightened the big one as tight as my 1/2" impact would go. This isn't the most accurate thing but I didn't have a high end air impact so there was little danger of me breaking those big bolts. I couldn't make them tighter with a hand wrench when I was done so I'm 90 percent sure they aren't falling out. And you DO NOT want them to get loose, bad accidents will result in that.
Do NOT forget the little bolt for the brake line mount or you will find it in your hardware tray when you are done and have to take the left wheel back off. Not that I would do that.
Tighten up the top nuts, wheel back on, lug nuts, hub cap, jack stand out, jack down, smile with satisfaction.
There's not many steps so I don't think I forgot anything. There might be a better order to do them in, too.
Disclaimer: I'm no expert, this is only entended to give you an overview. Cars are heavy, springs are dangerous, knuckle skin will come off, so venture into such undertakings at your own risk.
The brake line support bolt is 14mm, the big bolts and nuts on the bottom are 19mm.
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