Strut Cartridge Replacement??

[jpachard]

All, I need to replace the cartridges on my front struts. I wanted to know if I need anything special in order to do this(tools etc.) I searched the archives and all I came up with was how to's on complete strut replacement.

Cheers, James

[Harold_89_911]

No special tools required. I wrote a brief description of my novice experience in the last post of the following thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/55296-replacing-front-shocks.html#post358314

Before I did this job, I did find a few other threads on this procedure on the board which were helpful. Also, looked at the Bentley and Wayne's book. Like I said, job is not too difficult

[dickster]

just did mine recently.

you will need a large pipe wrench(?), like plumber use, to undo the top bolt (or rather to hold the large washer while you undo the nut).

[dtfastbear]

You'll need jackstands, because if you only jack up one side of the car at a time, you'll never get the strut housing to lean out from under the fender. The sway bar fights it.

Jack the whole front of the car up and put it on stands.

I learned this the hard way

Dean

[jpachard]

Smashing!! Thanks for the responses, I have my warantee ones being red labeled from Koni as we speak.

Thanks for the help, looks like I will get my Dad over for the obligatory "extra pair of hands"....

Cheers, James

[autobonrun]

If a spanner wrench is available, then get it. It's sort of a C shaped wrench with a tooth on one end that is used to turn the fitting that threads down into the strut housing. As stated in the earlier posts, a pipe wrench will work. The wrench cost me about $45 and I'll probably only use it once but you never know.

It also can be used to hold the concave metal bushing on top of the shock housing when you loosen the bolt. If you look, you'll notice it has the same type of indention. If you don't have a spanner wrench, start thinking in advance what you will use to hold this bushing while you turn the bolt.

I'd also recommend having an impact wrench available. Spray some type of penetrant like PB Blaster on the shock bolts in advance and this will also help. One of my bolts would not come off by hand but came of in 2 seconds with the impact wrench.


The spanner wrench looks like this:

[Jdub]

The wrench that Auto shows is much like the bottom bracket tools one can find at a bicycle shop (note that they are NOT auto-adjusting, but rather a set radius - a pivoting tool would be very useful if the pin is solid). Bicycle Research or Park Tools can cough one up for around $12.00 but I cannot say if the radius will fit nicely.

I am about to find out though as I am going to do a R&R on the front and rear suspension of my SC.

John