Strut Assembly: Installation

CAUTION: When installing a strut assembly, make sure strut being installed has correct coil spring for that side of vehicle. Do not interchange two sides.

Install strut assembly into strut tower, aligning and installing three studs on upper strut mount into holes in tower. Install three mounting nut/washer assemblies. See Figure. Tighten nuts to 28 N.m (250 in. lbs.) torque.

If servicing left strut assembly, place coolant recovery bottle in its normal mounted position and install nuts fastening it in place. (Refer to COOLING/ENGINE/COOLANT RECOVERY PRESS CONTAINER - INSTALLATION)

CAUTION: Steering knuckle to strut assembly attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during installation. Install nuts while holding bolts stationary in steering knuckle.

CAUTION: If strut being serviced is equipped with a slotted lower clevis bracket mounting hole and eccentric cam strut attaching bolt, eccentric cam bolt must be installed in lower (slotted) hole in strut clevis bracket. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Package Bolts Correctly Installed (Left Side Shown)

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STEERING KNUCKLE

2 - FLANGED BOLT IN TOP HOLE

3 - CAM BOLT IN BOTTOM HOLE

4 - STRUT CLEVIS BRACKET

NOTE: Strut clevis-to-steering knuckle bolts are installed differently on each side. Left hand side bolts are to be installed from vehicle rear to front. See Figure. Right side bolts are to be installed from vehicle front to rear. See Figure.

Align steering knuckle in clevis bracket of strut. Install strut clevis-to-steering knuckle attaching bolts. See Figure and Figure. Install nuts on ends of bolts and tighten to 81 N.m (60 ft. lbs.) torque. Then, tighten nuts an additional 1/4 (90°) turn after that torque is met.
Install stabilizer bar link mounting stud through rearmost hole in bracket on strut assembly.
CAUTION: When installing nut on mounting stud of stabilizer bar link, do not allow stud to rotate in it's socket. Hold stud from rotating by placing an open-end wrench on flat machined into stud. See Figure.
Hand thread nut on end of stabilizer bar link stud. Hold stud from turning by placing an open-end wrench on flat machined into link's mounting stud, then tighten nut while holding wrench in place. See Figure. Tighten nut to 88 N.m (65 ft. lbs.) torque.
Attach wheel speed sensor routing bracket to strut assembly. See Figure. Tighten screw to 13 N.m (115 in. lbs.) torque.
Install tire and wheel assembly (Refer to TIRES/WHEELS - INSTALLATION) . Tighten wheel mounting nuts to a torque of 135 N.m (100 ft. lbs.).
Lower vehicle.
Perform wheel alignment as necessary. (Refer to SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE)