front strut mount replacement

[byron84]

I had bought these parts a long time ago and never got around to replacing them, because apparently they were worn out and had a part to play in the creaky suspension noise.

So I finally got around to doing that. This is what it looked like before:


If you look under the hood, at the upper corners on each side you'll see these, it's at the top of the strut assembly

the parts to be changed


the wheel taken off

that skinny bar to the left of the shock connects the stabilizer bar to the shock. we werent able to get that off without breaking it off, so that was replaced too.

a better shot of that skinny bar


and off it comes ...


undo everything else


then the whole shock assembly piece comes out, and you see an empty hole!


you can see into the wheel well with the shock stuff removed


what we used to squish that spring


those being put on the spring


the new skinny bar and the shock assembly put back into place


what it looks like from under the hood after new parts put in


took a little while, most of it done by my dad who was helping me. i've now ordered my timing belt kit and water pump, so i will try to take some (hopefully better) pics of that when it goes down.

it does seem to make a bit less suspension noise but it's not completely gone. it does sound like the remaining noise comes more from the back though. in terms of handling, it feels more or less the same, there could be a very slight change though.

to be honest, it wasn't really worth the work. would have been better to just replace the entire shock/spring while i was at it, but that will have to wait for another time at this point.

[exodus0784]

You don't *need* it, but if you've blown your struts, you've probably worn the mounts out.

[petrified.rabbit]

for the price, i would just do it..

[mikeelcamino]

Hello just geting ready to install struts for the first time do you loosen the nut up top and do you have to put a jack under the wheel to loosen the pressure thanks

[petrified.rabbit]

put the car in the air with the suspension hanging.. take off the wheel. take of the sway bar endlink from the tab on the strut, undo the two spindle bolts. and pull the knuckle out of the strut..

then go to the strut tower, and undo the top center bolt, while reaching in the wheel well to hold the strut up (so it doesn't fall out)

the strut is out, the compress or tie the spring, and take the next top nut off to remove the mount and spring, and interchange install in reverse order.

[biofueln]

I found this thread, having experienced the same strut mount "gap" issue that started this thread. We had failed struts (leaking oil badly), and the gap problem was much more pronounced after replacement. I ordered the Monroe strut mount kit, and I'll know later this week if that corrects the issue. Thanks for posting on this.

I would like to point out that one of the reasons the Aveo's have such noisy front suspension is the metal-to-metal contact between the springs and the struts. I've seen other vehicles that include lower spring cushions (rubber rings) to go between these surfaces, to reduce the noise.

[agsoba83]

I found this thread, having experienced the same strut mount "gap" issue that started this thread. We had failed struts (leaking oil badly), and the gap problem was much more pronounced after replacement. I ordered the Monroe strut mount kit, and I'll know later this week if that corrects the issue. Thanks for posting on this.

I would like to point out that one of the reasons the Aveo's have such noisy front suspension is the metal-to-metal contact between the springs and the struts. I've seen other vehicles that include lower spring cushions (rubber rings) to go between these surfaces, to reduce the noise.

I know this is old, but did you finally replaced the strut mount, and when you did, did you still have the gap. I just installed new strut and strut mount, but i have the same gap issue i had with the old mounts with the new monroe mounts i installed. I'm trying to find out if there's suppose to be a gap, or i need to reinstall.

thanks

[AveoSwagg09]

Centerlock Pillowball Upper Mount New Product Release English page CUSCO
ideas anyone? i'm thinking this would be a great upgrade for our floating mounts.

[exodus0784]

You realize that the pillow ball mount will cost more than the strut assembly, right?

They're great mounts if you're a factory rally team, but hardly practical for daily use.

Fyi 30000 yen is nearly 400 usd.

[Hazed_blue]

I realize this is a old thread, but I just replaced a strut today and wanted to post some info on how you can take the sway bar link off without trashing it.

What makes this operation tough is that the link does not have a hex head on the back side for which to latch onto, meaning that when you attempt to turn the nut, it will simply spin the bolt along with it. However, both bolts that attach the link have a hex-shaped neck at the base of the thread. I found it easiest to detach from the strut end, instead of the sway bar. Take a 15mm crescent wrench and wedge it behind the sway bar link, but in front of the rubber bushing. It'll take a little work to get in there, but you'll feel when it seats onto the hex-shaped part.

Once it's seated, take your ratchet wrench and equip it with a 17mm socket, putting it over the nut. With everything in place, push your ratchet CCW and pull your wrench in the opposite direction. It will take some work to free the nut, but it beats having to cut the whole thing off.