Front strut assembly rebuild?

Mopargarage · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:19 pm

Can you rebuild the front strut assembly? I'm having trouble getting the shock out of the spring. I compressed it and got the top strut plate off but it doesn't want to come out. The repair manual is very vague on how to get the shock out of the spring. Any instructions or tips would be awesome.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:25 pm

If you are using a wall mounted strut spring compressor, it pretty simple.
Compress the spring.
Remove the top but.
Let the shock drop or from underneath or release the spring and remove it from the shock.

Mopargarage · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:32 pm

flash7210 wrote:

If you are using a wall mounted strut spring compressor, it pretty simple.
Compress the spring.
Remove the top but.
Let the shock drop or from underneath or release the spring and remove it from the shock.

It's a floor mounted strut compressor. It's not dropping out. How do I release the spring? If it was so simple I wouldn't be asking for help. Lol

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:38 pm

Spring tension is the only holding it together.
If you’ve removed the top plate then all tension has been released.
The rubber isolator might be stuck to it but that’s it.

Mopargarage · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:43 pm

flash7210 wrote:

Spring tension is the only holding it together.
If you’ve removed the top plate then all tension has been released.
The rubber isolator might be stuck to it but that’s it.

It's definitely all stuck tight. I can't even move the shock.

Mopargarage · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:44 pm

flash7210 wrote:

Spring tension is the only holding it together.
If you’ve removed the top plate then all tension has been released.
The rubber isolator might be stuck to it but that’s it.

Have any tips on getting all that loose?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:46 pm

Pull hard

Mopargarage · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:48 pm

Ugh. I wish it was that easy. I'll have to figure out a way because it's not coming apart by hand. Hmm

Mopargarage · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:55 pm

flash7210 wrote:

Pull hard

One last question before I go at it again. Do you pull the shock out from the top or the bottom?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:59 pm

I did it.
On the ground with a cheap spring compressor.
I will never do it that way again and I don’t recommend anybody ever do it that way.
But I did it.

You can do this

The bottom of the spring presses against a rubber isolator which presses against a metal ridge that is part of the shock.
The shock will only come out from the bottom.

Mopargarage · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:29 pm

flash7210 wrote:

I did it.
On the ground with a cheap spring compressor.
I will never do it that way again and I don’t recommend anybody ever do it that way.
But I did it.

You can do this

The bottom of the spring presses against a rubber isolator which presses against a metal ridge that is part of the shock.
The shock will only come out from the bottom.

I was able to get it it apart. Had to bust the mini pry bar.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:57 pm

Yep you can do it if you want to risk killing yourself if things let go at the wrong time. Much better to visit your local friendly repair shop that does that sort of thing for a living with your parts and have them do the spring compression/shock remove and install. Cheap, easy and safe. FYI yes I have seen a spring unexpectedly let go and darn near kill either me or my buddy; fortunately neither but it was way too close for comfort.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:41 pm

Mopargarage · **Posted:** Sat Mar 09, 2019 11:45 pm

I have a floor mounted strut compressor. So stop telling me how dangerous it is. It's the reason I bought one. I previously stated I had one. Lol

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Front strut assembly rebuild?

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