Changing front struts

how difficult is it to change the fron struts on a 93 Metro. Do you have to get a spring compressor
and where are they available?

I guess my real question is it a DIY project?

The rears are easy, the fronts not too bad. Fronts definitely require a compressor. Some places like Advance Auto Parts have a tool lending program, pretty sure you have to buy the parts from them though. I bought a set of spring compressors from Harbor Freight for $16 or so, happened to go on sale as I was contemplating this job. TireRack is selling the KYB GR2 struts for $45 a piece, good price on a great strut.

how many things do you have to remove to change the struts?

Not to difficult at all on the Metros

Front Strut Change - 1989-1994 Geo Metro - As shown in these pics and description below:
Note: All Nuts and Bolts are Metric sizes.

1. "Slighty" loosen (Dont Remove) all 8 lug nuts on the front wheels of the car, Then raise and support the front end of the car with jack stands and chocks on the rear wheels, Open the hood of the car.
2. Remove all 8 lug nuts and the front tires.
3. Remove the metal clip that holds the brake line to the strut bracket.
4. Place a floor jack under the bottom of the control arm on the side of the car you are working on to support the lower control arm, slightly jack it up, just enough to take the weight off of it.
5. Remove the 2 "Strut Bracket" nuts and bolts (#2) that hold the strut to the spindle Assembly.
6. Lower the floor jack slighty, just enough for the strut to clear the spindle mount that it sets in.
7. Now loosen all 3 "Strut Support" Nuts (#1) that hold the top of the strut into the upper shock tower under the hood.
8. Now either grab ahold of the strut spring inside the wheel well and slighly lift it up to take pressure off the nuts on top, or have an assistant help you and hold it up while you take all 3 nuts off the top, then lower the strut down and take it out from the wheel well.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/MrBBody/Strut-Front.gif

This pic below is an exploded view of the strut assembly. As previously stated, you'll need to rent a "Strut Spring Compressor"....They go on both sides of the strut coil spring and you crank them down evenly to take the pressure off the spring, and unscrew the center nut (#1) of the strut that holds the whole assembly together......Assembly is the reverse of this process. Remember to position the coil spring back in place the way it comes out of the strut assembly (Indexing it)....In other words, make sure the coil spring is sitting in the same position in the new strut pearch, and in the same positon it was sitting against the rubber strut gasket (#13) before you reassemble the new strut assembly. Torque all nuts to the proper specs in the list below with a torque Wrench (Wheel Lugs included)!


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/MrBBody/Strut-Front-explodedview.gif

Suspension Torque Specs

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/MrBBody/Suspensiontorquespecs-1.gif

GM Line Rat,

Great post, I did all the struts on my 92 metro last year. Front were not a problem at all. The rears were a PIA because the pinch bolts would not loosen up and I eventually busted one. :banghead:

Replacing struts is fun. I like it. Just exercise caution. Don't position yourself in such a way as to get struck if the compressor(s) fail as resulting trauma can be dismembering and/or fatal.

-MechanicMatt

My 93 Metro is setting too low in the front.
Would new struts help?

My 93 Metro is setting too low in the front.
Would new struts help?

If it sits too low you'll need to replace the springs. While your at it you should replace the struts too.

I'm doing the struts all around on a 96 Metro - is there anything substantially different about the 95-00 cars, vs. the 89-94 cars, or can I just follow the steps listed by GM Line Rat?

Thanks!

One tip...before jacking up the front of the car to remove the wheel, loosen the strut nut a couple of turns. Don't loosen it enough to take it off! This makes it easier once the strut is compressed with the spring compressor and your taking the thing apart.

Good tip about starting the nut while things are still under tension. No difference in procedure on older cars or newer, 96 Metro. Other than a couple of parts being longer because the width of the car is greater, they're identical in construction.

The rears are easy, the fronts not too bad. Fronts definitely require a compressor. Some places like Advance Auto Parts have a tool lending program, pretty sure you have to buy the parts from them though. I bought a set of spring compressors from Harbor Freight for $16 or so, happened to go on sale as I was contemplating this job. TireRack is selling the KYB GR2 struts for $45 a piece, good price on a great strut.
This. I got the tirerack KYB GR2 struts a little while ago... they seem to be great quality

One tip...before jacking up the front of the car to remove the wheel, loosen the strut nut a couple of turns. Don't loosen it enough to take it off! This makes it easier once the strut is compressed with the spring compressor and your taking the thing apart.

Strut removal and install procedure updated! Even though the lug nuts for the front wheels on the metros only torque at 45-50 Ft Lbs, You should always "Slightly" loosen lug nuts on the ground before raising a car and removing the wheels.