How to Install Front Struts - Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook
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- Опубликовано: 21 окт 2024
- Bumpy ride? Noisy front end? It might be time to replace your front struts and get your Traverse, Acadia, Enclave, or Outlook back to smooth sailing. In this video I go through the average Joe version of replacing the front strut assembly on my 2009 Chevy Traverse. The process is quite simple but does require a few new parts and a good portion of a Saturday afternoon. Doing this job myself saved me almost $600!
1 - Loosen the front lug nuts on both wheels before you jack up the vehicle (you should do both struts at the same time).Then jack up the vehicle and place it on jack stands then remove the tires completely.
2 - Remove the guard under the hood that covers the windshield wiper motors. Use a flathead screwdriver to pop up the center portion of the clips and remove the grounding post near the battery. Remove the windshield wiper arms with a 15mm socket after popping up the plastic cap covering the nuts. Once the clips, grounding post, and wiper arms are removed you can then remove the entire plastic cover.
3 - Removing the plastic cover exposes the tops of each strut. There are three 15mm nits here, remove 2 of them and loosen the third but leave it on the threads to hold the strut in place.
4 - The struts are attached to the vehicle suspension with a stabilizer link. This needs to be removed from the strut with an 18mm wrench on the outer nut and an 8mm socket on the inner. remove the ABS wiring from the strut by popping out the clips. Since the stabilizer is connected to the linkage with a flexible covered knuckle you have to hold the inner shaft with the socket as you remove the nut with the wrench. Mine were rusted on so bad that I ended up breaking one while removing it. I found a replacement on here for cheap - amzn.to/1kOc2uI
5 - Remove the 2 bolts that hold the bottom of the strut to the wheel assembly. Brace the caliber and wheel bearing with wire or blocks before you remove these bolts. Once they are broken loose, thread the nut to the end of the bolt and give it a few good whacks with a hammer to pop the bolts out the opposite side.
6 - While holding the shock from the bottom reach up above and remove the last 15mm nut which will allow the strut to drop through and be pulled out.
7 - I chose to purchase just he shock and reuse the coil for this job but you can do it either way. The shock I used is here - amzn.to/1SKkFSR. You can also buy the entire strut assembly but it is quite a bit more costly. To reuse the coil you need a coil compression tool found here - amzn.to/1Nsgt5E.
8 -place the coil compression tool on each side of the coil and tighten alternating a little bit on each side until the coil is loose. Next remove the center nut on the end of the strut by holding the coil with vice grips and use some penetrating oil to loosen the nut if rusted. Save the rubber pieces on the bottom and top. I also replaced the rubber covers with new ones found here - amzn.to/20NvQzp
9 - Remove the old strut/shock and replace with the new one and reassemble the opposite way it was taken apart. Once the center nut it tightened on the top you can slowly release the tension on the coil compression tool alternating each side as you loosen.
10 - Feed the new strut back up through the holes above the wheel and into place. Then replace the nuts on the top and tighten them mildly. Next replace the two large bolts on the wheel trying as best as possible to tighten them in the same orientation as before they were removed. Look for the wear marks and line it back up along the same marks.
11 - Replace the ABS wiring clips and reattach the stabilizer bar to the strut. Fully tighten the top 15 mm nuts, replace the tire and tighten lug nuts, replace the wiper arms, replace the plastic shroud, and lower the vehicle to the ground. Fully tighten the lug nuts on both tires.
I would recommend double checking all of your connections and bolts and then taking the vehicle for a test drive. Check for alignment and listen for any noises or vibrations that seems abnormal. The vehicle should be riding much more smoothly and handle tighter and stiffer than before.
Congratulations on a fine job!
Everything you need for this job -
Coil compressor tool - amzn.to/1Nsgt5E
AC Delco stock struts - amzn.to/1SKkFSR
Replacement boot kit - amzn.to/20NvQzp
The stabilizer bar link that I broke during this repair - amzn.to/1kOc2uI
All of these products and more recommended items from the SSL Family are available at the Simple Suburban Living General Store - astore.amazon.c...
Please check us out at www.simplesuburbanliving.com
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Nice video brother. like you said the video is for the AVERAGE JOE. To all the negative comments the Average Joe doesn’t need all kinds of professional tools to do a job like that a mechanic garage would charge $600 and you save all that money and do the same job with tools that some people have laying around in the garage. You did it with minimal tools thumbs up to you brother ..
God bless..
Just a heads up for anyone that doesn't know you don't need to take whole strut out just put your coil compressors on and undo the bolt. Saves you a step and a headache.
"I'm not a mechanic, anyone can do this stuff" that is a great quote, very impressive it did not need an alignment!
Thanks, sometimes I get in over my head with the more major repairs but have always figured it out and saved a lot of money. With resources like youtube, anyone really can do these things!!!
Getting ready to do my struts. You helped with a couple questions I had. Great job. much appreciated my friend. God Bless.
Great video. Thank you for pointing out the alignment potential issue. I think I'll mark it with a fine tip marker. I've done several repairs but have yet to do springs/struts. Will do so soon, on my wife's traverse. I purchased a pair of quickstruts from Monroe. Look around as the price is very good and includes the preloaded spring. My links were already replaced but I recommend Moog parts for the links. The only suggestion I have for everyone is to look up the torqued specs on all your bolts. I've heard horror stories were the top mount bolts broke from excess torque
Thanks alot for this video, as I have to replace my daughter's struts this weekend and wasn't sure of procedure. I appreciate your "Layman's Approach " to doing this repair. Picked up some good pointers. Keep on doing what you do! 👍🙏🙂 Thank you!
FYI, you forgot to reinstall or get new bump stops. Noticed it was integral with the old boots but not on the replacements. You need the bump stops to prevent the strut from bottoming out if you hit a bad pothole.
Great video for me, I like working on my own vehicles and saving money.I notice on the sturt one bolt is longer is that like a guide pin when you reinstall your strut .
Wow!!! I love this! You just saved me $500-600 dollars! Every estimate I got was $900+ not to mention the wait for repairs 😒
glad to hear it!
Great Video!! Everyone wants $1200 to $1400 for an Arcadia...Piece of cake!!
Great stuff! Saved me hundreds. My mechanic suggested I purchase the loaded struts (i.e., already installed in spring). Much more expensive, but much faster. If I had more time, I might have taken on doing that part myself.
Great site! Totally appreciate your approach to engaged and economical living. ;o)
Great video. Very helpful. I think I'm gonna go with the strut & spring assembly just to save time and avoid extra stress, but either way, your video is going to save me a lot of money. Thanks.
In addition to the bump stops that are needed under the flex boot...the top spring bushing under the metal plate is often trashed and needs replaced for $25 each GM price. If they are bad you can end up with a real problem if the spring busts it apart later down the road. They get old and deteriorate.
Always impressed by the amount of things you know how to do SSLFamilyDad. Great video. The more we can do for ourselves the more money we can put in the bank.
+dan Hamakua Thanks Dan, I agreed with that. Many people shy away from these things f they don't "know" how to do it. there are so many resources out there that just about anyone can tackle almost any repair. Thanks for checking it out!
Pretty good videos saved me a a couple hundred dollars. The only think I had problem was taking the wipers Arm out. U need some kind of special clam. But I skipped all that and just bend a little the plastic.
Excellent video. Got some choppy ride on passenger side, which I've heard happens a lot, so starting with this repair before possibly heading to a shop.
Nice video Man. Clear and close up. I combined this with A1 Auto video which is very informative but super dark and some shots were far away.
Thank you my brother for the video and the scripture at the end, Christ time on earth was about to reach an important and epic end as he continued to teach the 12.
Thanks for vid - what struts did you choose and how are they holding up? I want to but just the struts and swap out the factory springs - do you think the strut bearings need to be replaced as well? 2011
Enclave with 63K.
I changed my struts but now I believe they are rubbing on the tire what do you think is wrong?
Great video. Thank you for the detail. Keep posting.
Great video. Might want to add to the video that the spring compression tool can probably be rented from an auto parts store. I rented one years ago from Auto Zone
very true but I always like to take these opportunities to have an excuse to buy a new tool for the garage:)
If you would have shopped E-Bay, there is a company called Detroit Axle that you could have got both Strut assemblies with coils already installed and rear shocks and the stabilizer links for $260.00. Everything for the complete job.
Great shock replacement video! Thanks a bunch!
Good job Mike.
I clearly seen the old bump stop in the old dust boot why didnt you use them in the new boots?
Hey boss I have a 2009 traverse and I had it in the shop twice and found two different vibrations ,, one was a lower ball joint was broke , n the second was a sway bar linkage , had both of them replaced and still have a vibration and seems worse now than it was ,, any clues man ,, I'm thinking it is a bad strut ,, could use some help, they just picked my pocket for $500 ,, the good part about all this I finally made my last car payment this month n now we find all this , note it is reaching 200,000 Miles , and really nothing has gone wrong til now,,
Thx for a response ,,
Good day sir i just wanna know after replacing the shock and strut, do we need wheel alignment? Thanks n god bless
I did not need any alignment
thank you for the awesome video... i have exactly the same model. Q. how you ever replace a knock sensor
thank you very much, I will try to do it myself. God bless you
How long did the whole process take
How do you know when it’s time to change them ?
Thanks for this video - very helpful.
I have the gas saver and it help a lot. In town l went from 17mpg to 22mpg. That is in a Chevy Traverse.
I noticed you didn't put any bump stops into the new struts. I had bump stops in my replacement boots, just wondering how to put the bump stops in or do the plastic bumps stops need to be installed? Also should the boot be strapped/zip tied to the shock? Thanks!
not sure about the bump stops as the strut assembly I had did not have any and I do not believe they are really needed. I used a zip tie to secure the boot.
ok thanks, new struts are both making noise and I think I might have to take out the bump stops and zip tie the new boot then. dang :)
thank you...saved big$ with your help!...i appreciate it.
what brand shocks did you use
Hello i just replaced traverse strust and my steering wheel is off, do i need to get it realigned?
detroit axle sells springs struts and links a ready strut for about 200 a set
rated at 50k but will get 60k or so depending on how you drive
what kind of saw did you use to cut off the stripped and rusted out bolt?
+mac mcham reciprocating saw or Sawzall
I can't get the Dang wipers off , Is there a trick ?
+Matt Reister that took me a bit also, I ended up using some channel locks or pliers to get under it and pry. I also tapped it with a hammer and used some wd40 to loosen it
Thanks man but I figured it out , I don't think you don't need any of that stuff it comes off really easy if you take the tension off of it ,.. I did it accidentally so I can't describe perfectly how I did it but It came off real easy
SSLFamilyDad ... Great video tho man , wouldn't have tackled the project without it, thank you!
Yes you can get "gear puller type" tools or Amazon search wiper arm puller
great video thanks for sharing!!!!
Thanks for you video help me save money 100%
rockauto.... whole assembly $75, really good quality
THANK YOU!!
How can you tell if the dealership replaced them?
Great easy to understand video
Great video - Thanks
nice video, but why did you throw in the god stuff at the end?
what is the music at the end? nice tune
+Scott Burry Thanks Scott, I throw in the "God Stuff" at the end because as a Christian I feel I am called to share the gospel when I have the chance. I know some people don't like that but it is what it is.
+Scott Burry Song is "Pickup Truck" by Silent Partner
SSLFamilyDad
the video was greatly informative-thanks for the insight
Great job!
Perfect video; it was a great help. Thanks bro
I did this myself on my Enclave everyone wanted $1,000 to do job.
Glad to hear it helped!
I would've charged you $350, for the exact same job.
Great video....Thanks for the help!
Glad it helped you out!!
very cool
Very nice video
Thanks connor!
Thank you
perfecto gracias brother
+karort87 you are very welcome
You are the man
Buy quick strut put in less than an hour boom done
Really need to buy some tools. I get it but damn.
lol ppl crack me up.... spin the bolt dude.... why fight moving that wrench?
You could have rented some of these tools for free at auto zone.
I would much rather have them in my shop for next time than have to drive to auto zone when my car is in need of repair at my house:) I always try to include the price of the tool I will need in the cost of the repair
I used RockAuto .com and got the whole assembly for the same price as one.
Thanks for sharing that, great resource!
Not in a million years would I use those cheap coil spring compressors.
Damn dude, adjustable pliers on the ground lug? Buy some decent tools.
Great job!