Assembling New Front Strut Parts

[pwmin]

A little while ago, I replaced my front mounts and struts and I'm not totally sure that I put them back together correctly, namely if I put the thicker part of the mount facing the correct direction. Does anyone have any pictures of putting all of that together? I would greatly appreciate it or to be pointed to some threads. I plan on swapping out the front springs, so I want to make sure I put everything back together correctly. Oh, yeah, for my 98 Regal to be clear.

 

Thanks

[brake]

On my Grand Prix, there was only one way they could go back together. The lower mount can be installed the wrong way but it will rub on the inner fender and even cut into it if you installed it that way and drove long enough. My flex hose was right in the way, too.

 

Top mount bolts are spaced in such a way on my car that you can only install it one way.

 

I installed my newly assembled front struts and realized it would tear the shit out of the inner fender because I had the lower spring seats backwards.

[jman093]

Perhaps this will help?

 

[pwmin]

On my Grand Prix, there was only one way they could go back together. The lower mount can be installed the wrong way but it will rub on the inner fender and even cut into it if you installed it that way and drove long enough. My flex hose was right in the way, too.

 

Top mount bolts are spaced in such a way on my car that you can only install it one way.

 

I installed my newly assembled front struts and realized it would tear the shit out of the inner fender because I had the lower spring seats backwards.

 

Perhaps this will help?

 

I believe it is part number 4 that is in question. It does not show it well in that picture, but one side is thicker than the other and I'm not sure if the thicker or thinner side is supposed to be facing outwards. The more that I look at it, though, it seems that the end facing outwards is the thinner end. Is that what you're seeing? I think that's the way I did it because the strut tower is slightly angled down towards the middle of the car. I had my car aligned w/ new struts, but not these and the only thing I'm noticing is the steering wheel moved a little, but tire wear seems even and it seems to handle fine. I doubt I wouldn't have noticed the steering wheel after I had it aligned, but I guess it is a small possibility. After I finish the springs, struts, etc. I'll get it aligned again. Thanks for the picture, but for some reason it doesn't show what I'm concerned about. Would you by chance happen to have that picture for the rear strut assembly?

Edited March 15, 2012 by pwmin

[Andrew]

i had the same exact problem when i took my struts apart. People said there were arrows or some way to tell between that spacer and the mount, but i couldnt see anything. I think i chose to point the small side towards the car, figuring it had to do with being on-center.

[pwmin]

i had the same exact problem when i took my struts apart. People said there were arrows or some way to tell between that spacer and the mount, but i couldnt see anything. I think i chose to point the small side towards the car, figuring it had to do with being on-center.

guess it doesn't matter that much, then. I need to get mine re-aligned, though. I found out that I put the springs on the wrong ends of the car:extrapuke: The funny thing is the pictures of the Monroe strut assemblies show more coils in the front springs, but the stockers have more coils in the rear springs. I may need to just skip coilovers and get some intrax springs since I cut the "rear" springs to match the front. Oh, well, they were the cheapo $80 DNA motoring springs. I don't really want it any lower, anyway because of the wheels and tires I'm going to be using...don't want any rubbing issues. That and I'd like to keep the warranty from my AGX struts, so I don't really want to hack them up. Doesn't look like I can cut the springs.