I want to remove my strut tower to paint - what is the best way? if i unbolt and remove will i be able to push the strut back down by hand to reinstall?

 

The strut is a Mcpherson type (sort of). Just support the lower control arm with a jack stand and unbolt the strut.

 

Whatever you do dont pull the nut off the shaft that comes up through the strut assembly. If you do that without spring compressors on there you had better be calling your dentists and plastic surgeon because that thing will fly apart and smack you in the head so fast you wont know WTF just happened!


But that being said, jack the car on the K-member and take out the perimeter bolts and the struts should drop down a bit and hopefully out of your way.

 

i just want to take the strut tower from under the hood off - not the strut off the car

 

if i pull the strut tower brace off from under the hood - why will i need to support the lower control arm?

 

Just unbolt the strut at the top, but support the control arm because the spring that is located in the control arm will decompress. Then you will need to refer back to 84z28350's post because that thing will shoot out like a rocket.

Are talking about an aftermarket tower brace that spans between both towers or the bracket that holds the strut in the tower?

 

not a brace - the bracket with the three bolts and the center strut bolt

 

That is what I thought you were refering to. The strut is what holds the enitre control arm, spindles, wheels together to the car. The other end is bolted to the K member on the otherside of the control arm. Undo the top of the strut and that spring will decompress and the whole assemble will drop to the floor. The struts in our cars are not coilovers. If you take the wheel off and look you will see what I am talking about. The spring sits in a basket and the compression of the assembly is what hold it in. They are not bolted to anything.The strut holds everything together, in that compressed state.

 

Also realize you will likely need to get the front end aligned when you put it back together.

 

should the front end be off the ground - or just put a jack under the lower controll arm?
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if i jack the bottom will anything "pop" out the top? and will i be able to compress the strut by hand to reinstall?

 

By loosening the big nut on the strut it's not going to magically explode in your face unless you've got the wheels off the ground and no safetys under the a arms. Just don't loosen the strut mount without supporting the aarms on jackstands and you'll be fine. It's easier to align the mounts when you go to install them with some of the weight off the car, I usually jack it up until the tires are almost lifting. Mark the strut tower so you can install it exactly where it was originally and you shouldn't need an alignment.

Edit- yes you can compress the strut by hand, it can be a PITA though. You can also align the strut mount with the vehicle weight on the tires using a hammer or gorrila strength, though it's a lot easier to just adjust them with the tires off the ground.

 

If he wants to remove the bracket completely to paint he will have to jack the car in the air. Otherwise the strut and wheel would go through the inner fender. Hence, the support the a-arms or it can be dangerous.

I couldn't imagine trying to compress one of those springs by hand. There is a lot of pressure in those. I just use a jack under the a-arm. Hence, the support the a-arms or it can be dangerous.

 

Just raise the car and place jack stands under the lower control arms (a-arms). After that you'll be able to safely remove the strut mounts. This would also be a good time to inspect the strut mount and the strut itself since it's now half way off. And yes you will need an alignment after you get everything back together. Marking the position of the strut mount before taking it off will help you get it close.