DIY - Convertable Strut Removal

General discussion forum about the 240sx, and a great place to introduce yourself to the board!
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Hijacker
Posts: 14373
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150
Location: Fredericksburg, VA

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Ok! I just did a strut change on my 240 vert, and droptopsilvia and i were discussing struts earlier today. What I want to do is do a quick little appendium to Fiznat's DIY struts.

The rear struts are a pain to get to because of all the bracing that's in the way. The easiest way to get to the strut towers is to remove the rear seat.

For those of us who don't know how to remove the rear seat, you need to unbolt two 10mm bolts at the bottom of the seat that I've got marked by the two screw drivers. Use a deepwell socket and a short extension to get them.



Now you need to lift to seat up to get it off of the top mounting tabs. I have them marked in the pic.



Break the bottom mount of the strut off so it's hanging by the perch mounts. Now, start with the rear bolt (it's a 12mm) by sticking your hand under the vinyl cover. It's the part that acts as the trunk seperator. I opened my trunk so I could get some light.



Next is the hard part. The bolt is situated directly under the auto-tensioner for the rear belts and it was just too tight to fit a 12mm 3/8's drive ratchet in there. What I had to do was take my 3/8's breaker bar with a 12-point socket and just slowly turn the bolt. This should be the last bolt so the perch will slowly fall down. I tried it first and the bolt raised my wrench into the auto-tensioner -_- . To make life really easy, try to find a metric ratcheting box wrench. I have a standard set and 12mm is right in between standard sizes.



the last pic has a maroon line above the breaker bar to show how little room is between the auto tensioner. It takes some monkey wrenching to get the socket on there. Do as much as you can with your fingers.

There! now you have it! Installation is reverse of removal. Duh. Just have someone prop the strut up (i felt so sorry for my best friend lol!) and start threading the front nut on. So if anyone ever asks you "how the heck do i remove my rear struts on my vert?!?!" now you know.


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fiznat
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Car: Grown up :(
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sweet dude.. .uhmm maybe you should add this to the DIY stickey post? This is good information, I think it should be added to what's already there.

Thanks man! ;)

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Hijacker
Posts: 14373
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150
Location: Fredericksburg, VA

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i guess i could :p I wasn't gonna do it initially cause it was your thread

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fiznat
Posts: 5651
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2002 10:15 am
Car: Grown up :(
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lol thanks :D go for it though, your information only makes it better!

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Hijacker
Posts: 14373
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150
Location: Fredericksburg, VA

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there we go. added! thanks for letting me add that


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