front struts

[stripe]

I tackled the front strut job my self.
I bought the monroe econo pack.
What a breeze to install 3 nuts on top and 2 bolts on bottom.
Total cost $300 and about 2 hours.

This job is very easy if anyone needs any pointers I can help.

Cheers
stripe

[Tech II]

Did you have an alignment done?

[stripe]

Originally Posted by Tech II

Did you have an alignment done?

what is ti align?

there no adjustments.

Cheers
Viper1

[stripe]

Originally Posted by Tech II

Did you have an alignment done?

what is to align?

there no adjustments.

Cheers
Viper1

[enslow]

I'm not expert with struts, but I wouldn't trust that the geometry of the new strut be exactly identical to the strut you removed. Therefore I wouldn't expect the toe, caster, or camber to remain the same. It should be close but not necessarily the same.

The toe may not be adjustable from the strut, but if the lower mount is off by a couple of degrees from the original strut, toe will have to be adjusted from the tie-rod. Caster and camber, I believe are adjusted at the top mount of the strut. You loosen the three nuts at the top of the strut tower and move forwards/backwards or side to side to adjust caster and camber.

[stripe]

Originally Posted by enslow

I'm not expert with struts, but I wouldn't trust that the geometry of the new strut be exactly identical to the strut you removed. Therefore I wouldn't expect the toe, caster, or camber to remain the same. It should be close but not necessarily the same.

The toe may not be adjustable from the strut, but if the lower mount is off by a couple of degrees from the original strut, toe will have to be adjusted from the tie-rod. Caster and camber, I believe are adjusted at the top mount of the strut. You loosen the three nuts at the top of the strut tower and move forwards/backwards or side to side to adjust caster and camber.

unless you reem out the holes not realy any way to do it.

The one-piece strut only fits in one way.

Cheers
Stripe

[Tech II]

I guarantee you, if you loosen those two lower bolts in the strut, and you push in and out on the lower end of the strut, you can change the angle between the knuckle and the strut.....may be very slight, but it's enough to change the camber on a vehicle(we are talking degrees of movement here)....even with OEM struts that are not slotted....aftermarkets tend to have slotted lower holes in the bottom of the strut...

Have seen guys reuse struts, after replacing mounts or springs, and use the outline of the holes in the strut and the top of body to resinstall....checking the alignment, it is off......of course, maybe the alignment was off before the jb was done, but you never do an alignment check BEFORE replacing parts.....

It amazes me how many people have new tires installed because of a tire wear problem, but never have an alignment done when they buy their new tires.....those tires will wear the same way, and not last as long...

[BNaylor]

Good post. I corrected your typo (Struts) on the thread subject.

I just replaced the 2 front struts on my '99 Regal LS with the Monroe-Matic quick struts first week of May. Total cost which included free shipping was $120 U.S. Beats using a coil spring compressor and swapping out just the strut. Plus replacing the strut mount/load bearing at an extra cost. About an hour labor each side. See pics below.

BTW - Feel free to write up a tech procedure and post at the Buick Tips & Maintenance forum. Also, I had the front end alignment checked and the camber was well within specs so no adjustment needed. The toe in/out was off but due to replacing a worn outer tie rod end.

[stripe]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Good post. I corrected your typo (Struts) on the thread subject.

I just replaced the 2 front struts on my '99 Regal LS with the Monroe-Matic quick struts first week of May. Total cost which included free shipping was $120 U.S. Beats using a coil spring compressor and swapping out just the strut. Plus replacing the strut mount/load bearing at an extra cost. About an hour labor each side. See pics below.

BTW - Feel free to write up a tech procedure and post at the Buick Tips & Maintenance forum. Also, I had the front end alignment checked and the camber was well within specs so no adjustment needed. The toe in/out was off but due to replacing a worn outer tie rod end.

I used the econo struts with only a 1 year guarantee looked the same.
You can adjust the tie-rods but that is it.

Cheers
Stripe