S14 Strut Replacement

[ArdmoreS14]

I just replaced my rear struts havent tackled the front yet becuase they have not arrived. I did not know if there was a write up on here so here goes, remember these are just the rears!! First off DONT BE AFRAID to do it cause it is easy...Some people might do it differantly than i did but it took me a little over 3 hours to do left and right with no mishaps...Tools you will need:Floor Jack, Jack stand(only needed one did each side seperatly), 17mm socket, 10mm socket, 12 mm socket, 14mm wrench, spring compressor(Auto Zone rents them for $40), long stuot bar I used my floor jack handle, and a torque wrench(optional i guess but good idea to have one anyway).... and vise grips.

1. Decide which side you will do first!! I went with right side because there is room to work.

2.Chock the front wheels and engage the hand brake.

3. (Right side) Loosen(dont take completly off yet) Lug nuts, bottom bolt on strut(17mm), top bolts(10mm) that are under rear deck cover inside car beside the rear speakers...Do not loosen middle bolt of strut yet!!! Bottom strut bolt is kinda a booger I used a torque wrench b/c it is longer.

4. Jack right rear up and support with jack stand.

5.Take off tire.

6. Take bolt off bottom of strut bolt and bump off stud.Watch out cause the rest of the suspension will go up but not with alot of force, this is where I used jack handle to slow it down....

7. Now inside the car take the two nuts off that are holding strut in place. Have someone hold strut on the outside until you got them off.

8. Now stand the whole assembly up with a vice or in between a center block so you can work on top without having to hold it up.

9. With a 14mm wrench and vise grips loosen middle nut, but just loosen it dont take completely off cause spring is still under pressure!!!!

10.Mark top plate and spring with white out or finger nail polish to reference when putting back together.

11. Now with spring compressors take spring down evenly until the top plate can be moved with your hand. It does not need to be taken down all the way only maybe 20 turns i think but you'll see.

12. Now take middle nut off with vise and 14mm wrench. The top plate will now come off. Remember how it all comes apart!!!

13. Now take spring off strut and set to side. At this point I cleaned all the parts rubber and metal.

14. With new strut in place put spring over it and put parts back on in order.

15. Now goes on the top plate, line up your marks that you made, tighten middle nut

16. Loosen spring compressor slowly checking your marks, to be sure the line up once spring has pressure on top plate..

17. Once thats done tighten middle nut on all the way.

18. Back to the car now, insert the top bolts in there holes and put nuts on finger tight.

19. With floor jack handle pull suspension back down and bottom of slip strut back on..

20. Tighten all bolts Top and bottom..

21.Put tire back on and tighten lug nuts.

22.Once car is back on the ground tighten everything to correct torque.

Left side is basicly the same with one exception, the muffler! I took mine off to have more room to work especially to get to that bottom strut bolt.. Thats the rears now enjoy your smooth ride. Any questions email me or reply on here. Or if I left anything out or if there is an easier way to do something, I aint scared of critisism!!! Good Luck 240s Kick @SS!!!!