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Hi! I really need some help now!! I tried to install my springs today and started with the front. Everything went all right on the left side BUT on the right side the strut assembly just wouldn’t be put into place… [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]

I had a friend over to help me and we fought it for a long while and then discovered that the driveshaft just won’t go back inwards allowing the knuckle to fit to the strut. So in other words the “wheel” stops at about a one o clock position and you feel that it is the driveshaft that's stopping it. Even with the strut assembly completely removed it won’t sit straight. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG]

So if anybody have an idea on what to do or what’s really gone wrong please help!

 
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clamp the springs more. it will fit. check the top part where the 3 bolts are (where you would put the strut bar) make sure they're lineing up the right way.

 
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Make sure the car is out of gear (neutral) so that you'll have more play in the wheel, that might help.

 
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Yeah, but it wont sit straight even without the spring/strut.

Edit: I tried it in neutral. You can feel the shaft going in more when you spin the shaft to certain positions but it just won’t go in long enough. It is almost like it slipped out of its place somehow.

 
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Damn, that doesn't sound too good[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]
But I don't think it slipped out of place.
Is your steering locked, maybe if you put the key in and turn it to ACC it will turn some more...

BTW, if I remember right, you do have to "pivot" the whole assembly up into position. But I'm sure you figured that out if you finished the other side already. If you got one side, you sould be able to get the other side, it's the same exact thing. Just double check everything and make sure that a screw didn't fall anywhere it isn't supposed to be and jam something.

 
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what exactly is the drive shaft? i'm thinking its tht bar that goes from the strut to the engine bay... maybe you installed the left side wrong?

 
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Since the tie rod is disconnected the knuckle and everything moves freely so I don’t thinj that would help. Thanks anyway. Keep the ideas coming! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

VNlilMAN: The drive shaft is the driving axle that goes from the transmission/gear box to the wheels. And the tie rod is the rod that connects the steering to the wheel. (or so I think [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] It’s kinda difficult with all the english terms when you don’t exactly speak the language every day [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

 
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<< Since the tie rod is disconnected the knuckle and everything moves freely so I don’t thinj that would help. Thanks anyway >>


haha, yeah, that's true. I wasn't thinking

 
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damn now i'm scared to drop my car.. i was planning on doing it this saturday....

 
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Okay, let me get this straight...you pulled the hub assembly towards you which cause the axle to move outward correct? Now the axle will not go back in place correct? If this is the case, then what you did was pulled the cv axle too far out which dislodged from the inner cv joint. You will have to remove the inner cv boot (boot near the transmission) and put the bearings back on the rod and place the bearings and rod back in the inner housing. You will have to repack it with grease and then place the boot back over the inner housing. Make sure you do not get any dirt mixed with the grease.

 
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diy is great, i try to do as much as i can myself, or with the help of friends, but WTF, for $100 putting springs onto a car with mac. struts just ain't worth it........

 
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Ok, thanks! I guess that's what happened... I will try that tomorrow! Just hope I have some grease left. Stores are close tomorrow I think.

 
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HP, how hard/far did you pull it? cause i dont think i would know how to put it back in the way ayzan said to

 
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I didn’t really pull it, I guess it just fell down to hard or something??? But if you are careful it shouldn’t happen. So do not pull on it [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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Problem solved! Once the boot was off you see how to get the joint back together.

 
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Good job HP. I kinda new it was the inner cv joint. Did you put all the bearings back in place and repack with grease?

 
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Thanks [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] And thanks for the advice! [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG] Yes I did, now I only have to get new bands that hold the boot. So the car stands jacked up for another day.

 
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you can use the ones that are for heater hoses. Just make sure it's the right size.

 
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aiite i tried doing the front but after reading this post i got scared my sh*t was going to come out too... one question, when you take out those 2 lower bolts, is the brakes supposed to just hang?

 
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After I got everything back together I used a piece of wire and tied it up so it wouldn't fall out again. However it really doesn't go anywhere until you remove the strut. It helps if you have another person to help and support it while you remove the strut.

 
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Before you let the rotor/hub assembly fall over once it's unbolted, place your floor jack under the bottom of the rotor and jack it up just enough to touch the rotor. Then slowly let the jack down enough to remove the strut. You don't have to let it go too far. If you do it this way, you won't have any problems.

 
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damn, now someone tells me...