INSTRUCTIONS & PRECAUTIONS

Complete Strut Assembly Figure A

SAFETY NOTES
Be sure to read this instruction sheet along with any other instructions provided with
this particular product before making any attempt to remove the current strut from the
vehicle under repair.
DO NOT REMOVE THE SPRING RETENTION NUT. The spring is compressed and Upper
can cause serious injury if released without the proper tools. mount
Gas pressurized struts such as this one are not to be heated or opened under any Spring Retention Nut nuts
circumstances. (Do not remove!) (3 shown)
Eye, hand, foot and head protection are required.
Figure B
The existing (used) modular assembly must be discarded in a manner considered
safe by official working standards. Be sure to keep it well away from children. Keep
all other people at a safe distance from your work area. Do not attempt any form Lower
of disassembly. mount
bolt
Torque all nuts and bolts to proper specification.
The replacement of the old coil springs with this new strut assembly will cause a
vehicle to appear higher. This is most apparent on older vehicles whose springs
have sagged due to high mileage. Allow time for the vehicle’s weight to adjust the
springs to their final resting height.
Strut assemblies should be replaced in pairs to maintain equilibrium from left to right
in the vehicle.
The chromed piston rod (polished metal portion of strut unit) must not be grasped
with any type of tool. Any marking of the piston rod surface will damage the oil seal
and invalidate the warranty.
Safety rated “jack-stands” are to be used at all times when a procedure requires you
to be under a motor vehicle.
[FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL VEHICLE REPAIR MANUAL] Figure C

Removal INSTRUCTIONS – ALL TYPES

1. Locate the upper mounting nuts of the bearing plate (see Figure A). Loosen each, but
do not remove. Make a mark on any one of the mounting studs as a reference point Pinch-bolt
and on the vehicle body next to that stud. Now locate the same stud on the new strut
assembly and make the same mark accordingly. This will allow proper orientation Spindle
during reinstallation.
2. Raise the vehicle. Make certain that the frame is supported securely to avoid sagging
and damage to the vehicle.
WARNING: FAILURE TO PROPERLY FOLLOW STEP 2 WILL PUT YOU
IN DANGER OF A SERIOUS AND POSSIBLY FATAL INJURY. SERIOUS
DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE UNDER REPAIR MAY ALSO RESULT.
3. Remove the wheels from the corners of the vehicle that are to receive new
strut assemblies.
4. Continue by removing all items attached to the strut. These may include (but are not Figure D
limited to): brake hoses, stabilizer bar drop links, tie rods, and ABS (anti-lock braking
system) connections. Retain all fasteners for potential re-use. If these items are not
reusable, be sure to obtain the correct fasteners when reassembling.
5. Caution must be taken to not damage any suspension or braking components during
disassembly operations. Do not allow suspension or brake components to hang Lower
unsupported. Use a support structure or retention strap to prevent damage. mounting
bolts

Lower
mounting
nuts
SPECIFIC REMOVAL STEPS REFERENCE
SINGLE-BOLTED STRUT
FOR VARIOUS STRUT CONFIGURATIONS
Spring
Single-Bolted Strut Retention Nut
1. For a single-lower-bolt style shock (as shown in Figure B), unfasten and retain the lower mount (Do not remove)
bolt for later use.
2. For applications using a pinch bolt with the bottom of the strut located in the knuckle (as Upper Mount
shown in Figure C), inserting a large flat blade screwdriver in the split line can help to facilitate Dust Boot
easy removal of the strut. Remove the knuckle from the strut assembly with a rubber mallet if
necessary.
Double-Bolted Strut Coil Spring Bumper
1. Mark the bolt heads to denote the upper and lower positions, then remove the bolts (bolts are
often different sizes). Retain the removed hardware. Loosen the old strut from the knuckle
(see Figure D).
2. With the lower end of the strut disconnected from the knuckle, support the strut while removing
the upper retention nuts.
3. Remove the old strut assembly from the wheel well and set aside.
WARNING: SERIOUS AND EVEN FATAL INJURY CAN OCCUR FROM REMOVAL
OF THE SPRING RETENTION NUT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THIS
BE ATTEMPTED. DISPOSAL OF THE OLD UNIT MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH Lower
LOCAL ORDINANCES. Mount

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Realign the new strut assembly in the strut tower housing using the markings made previously on
the upper mounting studs and the vehicle body. Hand-tighten the upper mounting nuts. Keep in SINGLE-BOLTED STRUT
mind that some rotation of the upper bearing plate might be needed to properly align the lower (Pinch Bolt)
end of the strut assembly with the knuckle. Upper
Mount Spring
Note: Some strut units are fixed and non-rotational. Stud Retention Nut
(Do not remove)
SPECIFIC INSTALLATION STEPS Upper Mount Bumper
FOR VARIOUS STRUT CONFIGURATIONS
1. For coil-over shock applications (such as those represented in Figure B), install the lower
mounting bolt and finger-tighten the nut. Do not torque to final specification at this time; this Coil Spring
joint cannot be torqued to final specification unless the suspension is at the proper vehicle ride Dust Boot
height. See “General Installation” section below for instructions on final tightening of this joint.
Failure to follow these instructions will result in improper vehicle height.
2. For strut applications with a pinch-bolt style mount (such as those represented in Figure C),
line up the strut retention tab with the knuckle pinch joint split line. Reversing the removal
process, separate the pinch joint with the screwdriver and use the rubber mallet to tap the Stabilizer
spindle assembly onto the strut until fully seated. Ensure the pinch bolt passes through the Bar
hole in the retention tab. Properly torque the bolt to the specifications found in the vehicle Bracket
repair manual.
3. For strut applications with double lower mounting bolts (such as those represented in Figure
D), align the knuckle to the strut clevis and install the bolts in the correct upper and lower Retention
positions as noted before removal. Connect the lower mounting nuts and bolts onto one Tab
another (see Figure D). Properly torque the nuts to the specifications found in the vehicle
repair manual.
DOUBLE-BOLTED STRUT
GENERAL INSTALLATION GUIDE Upper Mount Spring
1. Re-install remaining items disconnected during the disassembly process. These may include Stud Retention Nut
(but are not limited to): brake hoses, stabilizer bar drop links, tie rods, and ABS (anti-lock (Not shown)
Upper Mount
braking system) connections. Torque bolts to specifications found in the vehicle repair manual.
2. Replace wheels and torque lug nuts to the manufacturer’s specifications. Bumper
3. Lower the vehicle onto its wheels.
4. Tighten the upper strut mounting nuts to proper specification. Dust Boot
Coil Spring
5. For coil over shock applications as in Figure B you must now torque the lower mounting
bolt that was finger tightened (step 1 in above “Installation Instructions”) to the proper
torque specification.
6. Following reassembly of the vehicle, the wheel alignment should be checked and adjusted
to manufacturer’s specifications. If you are not trained to perform this operation, it is
recommended that you have an alignment conducted by a professional automotive
service facility.
WARNING: IT IS MOST IMPORTANT NOT TO OVER-TIGHTEN ANY OF THE NUTS Double-Bolt
OR BOLTS ON THE VEHICLE. EXCESSIVE TORQUE WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO Holes
THREADS OR THE BOLT/NUT ITSELF. EACH BOLT/NUT MUST BE TORQUED
TO EXACT MANUFACTURER’S SPECIFICATIONS IN ORDER TO AVOID VOIDING
WARRANTIES AND TO MAINTAIN A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING VEHICLE.

©2011 Federal-Mogul Corporation. MOOG is a trademark owned by Federal-Mogul Corporation or one of its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. MGSTIN 04/18/11