took off work for some 'quality time' with the Q

[3Q Jay]

Monday's project: broken strut mount on the 97t.

replaced: LF strut, bearing, mount, dust boot, gasket. while in the area, did the left rack boot and the sway bar bushings. would have done the sway link [more on that later].

since i wanted to change rack boots anyway, and i get nervous about ripping the balljoint/tie rod end rubber parts with the pickle fork, I opted to remove the lower control arm intact.

DIY hints [i won't list every bolt size, etc. since y'all can turn wrenches...]1. the fstb does not need to be completely removed, only remove the backing nut to get at the [inboard] strut mount nut.2. it may help to break torque on the strut center bolt while everything is still hooked up. of course, you don't want to back it all the way off, as it holds the spring in......3. the A-LB pickup is attached to the back of the hub. remove it carefully and hang it out of the way. you already know to hang your calipers so as not to stress the lines.4. out of order, but you need [well at least want] to remove the caliper and rotor to get out of your way and make it a bit more manageable for manhandling. 5. be sure and count turns on the steering link as you untwist the tie rod. liquid paper, or a scribe line works well. also, undoing the little clamp that secures the outer rubber end of the boot helps to keep from twisting the boot.6. the sway link needs to be undone to remove the strut. i presoaked the nuts with liquid wrench, but still had one frozen. ended up disconnecting at the swaybar and removing with the link attached.

tension rod needs to be undone if you do it this way [or you get to separate the ball joint from the spindle]







yikes, it's been stripped!!actually, the floor jack helped save my back during reinstall.....

[FarFetched]

Couple of blows from Dead Blow(very heavy one) would have loosen that stubborn tie rod end at once. Trust me!It's a quite a project on a garage floor!Cheers!

[3Q Jay]

now, how does one align [set] the camber on one of these???



this view also shows the sway link that wouldn't unscrew. stuffed in a 6mm hex, but couldn't get enough torque/rounded corners with a flare nut wrench. ended up wasting an hour on that part and hacksawing the dang thing off. then, of course the local nissan AND local inf dealer did not have the nut in stock....

[3Q Jay]

here's the new mount and the two pieces of the old one!



i'll save you the drama of using spring compressors and all...here's where it got interesting. I was undoing the octagon so i could install the new cartridge, and hydraulic fluid started leaking all over....



oh, i get it... the factory deal was an integral strut with the housing!big sigh of relief when the cartridge slid right in....

ok, so Falk already knew that. maybe he posted it and i missed it...

[Jesda]

Linked at q45.org. Awesome writeup!!!

[pretzelboy]

Damn Jay! You're good with tools....I had you pegged for an engineer or rocket scientist....I'm impressed.....too bad I missed all the fun.....next time You up for something big like dropping the transmission or pulling the motor?

[3Q Jay]

ugh! no. my back cringes just thinking about it. when i was about 20, i used to take the cast iron intake off of my ford 'fe' 390, bent over the front grille. anyone remembers the fe will understand.... oh yeah and r&r trans while lying on the flat of my back... foolhearty kid. been paying for it since.

thanks for the complement, Randy.

Jesda, that's cool you linked my writeup....

[pretzelboy]

Wisdom comes with age....

[Falkdesigns]

Nice write up. Don't you find the integration of the strut housing kind of retarded? I think the cartridge like the KYB SR's I put in makes so much more sense, I love the way my car rides with the combo of Tein and KYB SR's. Anyhow, I hope to meet you and see your car next Wed's night!

[Rex]

Nice write up, but how's it handle now, and what was the "symptoms" of the broken mount?

[3Q Jay]

Wisdom comes with age....

does this mean i have to grow up?

Rex, it was really nasty anytime the strut would move. the sound seemed to come from under my left foot [although the actual mount is up high i know]. kindof puckta,bump,bumbbpaa.

much better now. i still have to do the other side, i decided to wait and order tension rod inserts, and the rf mount, just because my labor to get that far makes it worth the 33.19 for the new mount. even if not broken yet, i'm sure the rf mount is not far behind. looking at the design, seems like this would be a high failure item.

i'll state the obvious: having everything secure makes a difference; i TEMPORARILY drove down to the nissan dealer with the sway link out [no nasty comments, please] while hunting for the nut that I rounded, and it was bumping just a bit. felt real tite with the link and everything else secure.

also, just ordered the tension inserts from IoS.

[maxnix]

Maybe Ross will move this to IOM?

[srwood1]

Thanks - just finished this same project - also had a broken left strut mount on my 97 Q - must have been a design flaw on the car. Did both sides and the car handles amazing once again.

[srwood1]

Also, if you haven't ever replaced the boots on the steering link, do it while you have it apart. It's an easy job and mine were cracked and split. I made a quick run to the auto parts store and slipped them on while I was putting everything back together. Fortunately caught it before any deterioration of the ball joint occured.