Do I have to get an alignment after taking the 2 nuts at the top and the strut out?

I dont have to take the whole strut out, right? Just the top end, leave the bottom end in?

well, are your struts still good or are they worn> or are you planning on putting aftermarket ones there? if they are worn, or you want aftermarket ones, this is a good time to do that. if your keeping the old ones, then just do that one perch. as for the allignment, you shouldnt have to do one, but you will find out when the perch gets done.


Did I mention I drive a 2000 Lumina now?-----wigm-tuners.org member

I just did mine and you had to take the sturts out. There is no way you can do it leaving it bolted to the car. This would be a fantastic time to change your struts out. Oh and I have to get my alignment Tuesday. The car drives straight but the steering wheel is off center.

No... not grease them when the car is just sitting there. I know you have to take the top out.

Can you do this greasing if the car is lifted, the top 3 bolts undone, and the bottom of the strut still in the knuckle? I will use a spring compressor to shorten it as much as possible.

I guess I"ll try it and see how it goes.

you need a new strut mount that black thing on the top of your spring there are 2 halfs to the mount the top part with the 3 bolts sticking out and a bottom part witch your spring sits on and inside there is a plastic bushing underneath that big fat nut on top and when that wears out that causes the clunking noise and the top half stays put and the bottom half rotates as you turn the steering wheel and there are ball bearings that go around the bushing and when they wear out thats where you get the crunching noise when you turn left and right, you do no need a wheel algignment after you take the strut out there should be a mark from the ears on the steering knuckle where the 2 big bolts go thru, just make sure it goes back to where it was before and youll be fine if you dont have a spring compressor tool put a jack under the the lower control arm and pump it till the top of the sturt come up thru the hole make sure that your spring is in the exact same position that it came off and the strut mount coresponds theis or you will have aliginment issuses also if you do it that way make use extream caution and never put yourself in a position where you may be killed if the spring happens to pop out considering this is the wrong way to do it because it is dangerous but it does work

Thanks for all you guys help... even the stuff that is impossible to read through. Also thanks for telling me never to put myself in a position where I may be killed. The life you saved may have been your own.

I took the wheel off, and with the spring compressor I used, determined that the strut didn't have room to be angled out of the car for access to the bearing and mount. I think someone mentioned that. I didn't have the time that day or the tool to remove the large strut mounting bolts to the knuckle. However I have done this with another car, so should be able to with this car.

Hopefully the mount can be greased (it's a 2001, so maybe not). Strut mounts are about $100! Holy crap? Why so expensive? Where are they cheaper than that?

Actually I found the strut mounts for $80 and shipping, which is still way too much for getting a $30 part.

I found this thread on another forum too.
http://www.thecomputermechanics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23719

Has anyone tried the $22 bearings from that thread?

Also the 2 lower bolts - are they just simple fit, or can they adjust camber and I have to be careful? My other car, they just went together tight one way and there wasn't adjustment for anything.

Thanks for the help so far and I am interested to hear about the bearings and bushings source.

Didn't think the 2k+ mounts (2nd style) had a replaceable bearing. Thought that was the 1st style. Call around and check the prices between the two versions. Some people prefer the 1st style since you can replace the bearing, while others prefer the 2nd style since they are usually cheaper. If you go to the monroe website you can actually see pictures of each style to confirm which one you have. Call around to multiple parts stores....prices can vary greatly. I know when I replaced all of my mounts I bought the rear mounts from a different place than I bought the front ones. Almost a 50% price difference between some of the major chains.