I am 90% done with the front spring change out (done with the spring compressors so I can return them to Autozone after work tonight) and I have to say, having the shock towers hidden up under the windshield makes this a pain in the butt!
Here is a quick wright up.
Step 1: Remove the wipers by prying off the cover over the nut, remove the nut, and then remove the hold downs for air inlet screen at the base of the windshield. With the inlet screen loose you can reach under it to the base of the windshield wipers and pry them off of the motors. When the wipers are removed you can now remove the air inlet screen.
Step 2: With the air inlet screen out of the way, you can now get to the windshield wiper motors and remove them to gain access to the shock towers.
Step 3: Jack up the car, put it on jack stands and remove the front wheels.
Step 4: Remove the brake line and wheel speed sensor from the strut assembly.
Step 5: Remove the front swaybar end link. (must have allen wrench to hold shaft still while taking off the nut)
Step 6: Take the nuts off of the two bolts holding the bottom of the strut assembly. Soak in PB blaster or similar and wait a few min, then pound the bolts out (they are knurled shank bolts, can's screw them out)
Step 7: Take out the three bolts holding the top of the strut assembly and remove assembly from car.
Step 8: Use a spring compressor to compress the spring removing the tension from the top hat of the strut assembly.
Step 9: Pop off the plastic cover on the top of the assembly, if you don't have the specific GM tool, use a star bit held in vice grips to hold the shock shaft still while using the correct size socket and vice grips to turn the nut. The star bit held by the vice grips is inserted through the drive hole in the top of the socket, thus requiring the socket be turned with vice grips instead of a ratchet.
Step 10+: Remove old spring and replace with new spring, using spring compressor, star bit, socket and two pair of vice grips... then do everything above in reverse
I finished up the passenger side yesterday afternoon, and finished changing the spring on the drivers side, just need to re-install the drivers side assembly, and re-install the wiper motors, air inlet screen, and wiper blades.
Looking at the service manual, the rear should be MUCH simpler!
Keith
Here is a quick wright up.
Step 1: Remove the wipers by prying off the cover over the nut, remove the nut, and then remove the hold downs for air inlet screen at the base of the windshield. With the inlet screen loose you can reach under it to the base of the windshield wipers and pry them off of the motors. When the wipers are removed you can now remove the air inlet screen.
Step 2: With the air inlet screen out of the way, you can now get to the windshield wiper motors and remove them to gain access to the shock towers.
Step 3: Jack up the car, put it on jack stands and remove the front wheels.
Step 4: Remove the brake line and wheel speed sensor from the strut assembly.
Step 5: Remove the front swaybar end link. (must have allen wrench to hold shaft still while taking off the nut)
Step 6: Take the nuts off of the two bolts holding the bottom of the strut assembly. Soak in PB blaster or similar and wait a few min, then pound the bolts out (they are knurled shank bolts, can's screw them out)
Step 7: Take out the three bolts holding the top of the strut assembly and remove assembly from car.
Step 8: Use a spring compressor to compress the spring removing the tension from the top hat of the strut assembly.
Step 9: Pop off the plastic cover on the top of the assembly, if you don't have the specific GM tool, use a star bit held in vice grips to hold the shock shaft still while using the correct size socket and vice grips to turn the nut. The star bit held by the vice grips is inserted through the drive hole in the top of the socket, thus requiring the socket be turned with vice grips instead of a ratchet.
Step 10+: Remove old spring and replace with new spring, using spring compressor, star bit, socket and two pair of vice grips... then do everything above in reverse
I finished up the passenger side yesterday afternoon, and finished changing the spring on the drivers side, just need to re-install the drivers side assembly, and re-install the wiper motors, air inlet screen, and wiper blades.
Looking at the service manual, the rear should be MUCH simpler!
Keith
