I'm about to change the struts (front:cartridges only, ...rear:full assemblies) on the 'beater' ('93 Buick Regal ). I'm looking for 'tips' anyone might have, ...along with my specific question with regard to the "oil" that needs to be replaced when changing the cartridge only. What type of oil is used for these things? (the oil apparently is in the 'housing' that the cartridge sits in.)
Thanks, Kevin
Posted by 35th6spd (Member # 1243) on :
Obviously the rears are just bolt ins; the fronts, remove the spring, unscrew the cap with a pipe wrench or large monkey wrench, dump all the oil and insert the cartridge...the new cartridge has its own oil self contained
Posted by RagSS (Member # 1127) on :
quote:remove the spring, unscrew the cap with a pipe wrench or large monkey wrench, dump all the oil and insert the cartridge...the new cartridge has its own oil self contained
...The fronts... I was planning on replacing the cartridges with the strut housing still in the car and was going to use a spring compressor to reduce spring tension, ...but don't think I need to remove the springs...??? I know the new cartridge is oil/gas charged, but thought there was also 'oil' in the strut housing (Chiltons seems to indicate this). When you mention, "dump all the oil..." I think this is the oil they (Chiltons) refers to changing, ...do you know what type of oil this is? Thanks again for any input,
Kevin
Posted by 35th6spd (Member # 1243) on :
I changed hundreds of these things, and I can tell you the way to go is putting the whole unit in a vise and compressing the spring there... after you loosen the top nut a little (the pressure from the spring will help keep the shaft from spinning)...the original strut uses the housing as the outer shell, the new cartridge is self contained, like a big shock absorber, and just sits in the housing,so the OEM oil can be discarded; if you are replacing the cartridges with GM ones, you will need some type of hydraulic oil, but I never went that route, guess GM parts guy could tell you - good luck!
Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
If its anything like my Beretta (L-body).... you cut the top off the old strut after you use a spring compressor... then you pull the guts out and simply drain the oil. The new cartridge simply slips inside the old strut housing. On my car I put Koni's on it for auto-x.
[ 16. October 2003, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: MM ]
Posted by RagSS (Member # 1127) on :
...Thanks for the reply's, ...now I understand the thing a little better. I assumed (and you know what that does) that the originals had a 'factory' cartridge already in them, ...not the case. As you guys mention, ...you're actually ripping the unit apart and sliding a self contained unit (the replacement cartridge) into the old body, ...where the oil was/is.
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