Suspension / ChassisQuestions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?
Welcome to ThirdGen.org!
Welcome to ThirdGen.org.
You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join the ThirdGen.org community today!
hey guys im redoing my engine compartment, and i wanna remove the plate in the engine bay that the struts on. how do i remove that plate? i see three bolts. will that remove the plate?
Depending on how long you will have the plates off you will either have to compress and remove the coil springs or place a jack under the control arms for some time while you do the work. After you decide which one you will do the next few steps are easy..
1. Remove cover from upper strut mount.
2. Use 2 wrenches to remove the nut on the strut.
3. Remove 3 nuts which you had referred to. ( take off plate and retaining bracket)
Thats it. 1 thing you have to remember is that you are going to have to either scribe around the strut mount (before you remove it) or put it back on and have a shop get it to its original mount location.. Seeing as you want to redo the engine bay im assuming you will paint, so if you scribe it you might not see your marks once painted unless the scribes are really deep..
If the engine is still in the car you could do that, if its not i would compress the springs and pull them so your not jacking the control arms up and lifting the car off the stands and possibly risking dropping the car if for what ever reason the jack(s) gives way and the car falls and doesnt drop on the stand right. Its more your preference, whatever you feel comfortable with. Id compress the springs regardless (my preference). Just remember you have to get those mounts lined up to where they are currently.
__________________ if it aint broke..then break it and fix it...how else you gonna learn.
im thinking of taking them off sandblasting em, painting them aluminum and reinstalling.
If the OE mounts have never been swapped out (they'd be 25 years old or so), you might consider purchasing new. Should you come to that decision, you'll need new retainers as well:
Sedond that, I'd go with new. There's a rubber bushing inside that will wear and fail.
I've swapped them out before without compressing the spring, body not jacked up, resting on suspension. Done it with engine in and engine out. Had to use a jack to lift the body slightly to re-install but 99% of the upwards pressure on the mount is from the strut charge (strut wanting to extend) not spring pressure.
__________________ "A man who voluntarily drives a car like that and still manages to maintain such impervious confidence that it will faithfully start the next time he turns that key is an encouragement for us all to take greater risks in life."
