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FRONT AIR STRUT REPLACEMENT
Submitted by BLUECOLLAR / 01-20-02

  

The opinions expressed here are the opinions of the individual author and do not necessarily
 represent the views of LincolnsOnLine.com. Undertake these procedures at your own risk.





INSTALLATION

  1. Turn off suspension switch. Jack up front of car and put jackstands under subframe allowing suspension to hang. Stab air bladder with a "lockblade" knife and twist to allow air to escape. (No, you don't leave the knife in the air bladder! After all the air has escaped, remove the knife.)


  2. Remove 10mm bolt holding brake line to strut. Remove solenoid connector and air line. 


  3. Remove 18mm nut attaching sway bar link to strut. 
    (TIP - hold link stud with a 5/16 wrench and loosen nut with an 18mm wrench to take off.)


  4. Remove 21mm bolt attaching strut to knuckle.


  5. Using a long AND STRONG pry bar, position pry bar on top of strut rod (rod coming from front of subframe and going to lower control arm) and the end underneath subframe.


  6. Push down while tapping top of knuckle with a hammer.


  7. Remove 1-13mm nut holding plastic cover over top of struts. Disconnect actuator connector.


  8. Remove 3-13mm nuts attaching strut to strut tower taking care on the last one (the strut will fall down).





LUBE OUTSIDE OF LOWER STRUT BEFORE SLIDING INTO KNUCKLE!
(Just spraying some simple white grease will work fine for lubing the strut into the knuckle.)

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