I need a little advice on finishing this project. Got the struts out of car and have spring seperated from the strut assembly. How in the heck do you remove the strut cartridge to replace with the new one? Is that a nut that needs to be loosened and removed in order for the cartridge to come out of the assembly? It sure does not look like a nut. I am replacing with Gabriels.

Thanks in advance for the help!!

 

Yeap! That's a nut! It's called a Gland Packing nut.

It only exists on the rear strut. As for the front struts, if you are installing inserts, like Koni struts, then you have to cut the strut.

But for the rears, simply remove that nut and that's it. You're home free! I removed mine with a pipe wrench b/c I didn't have an adjustable wrench big enough.

 

I had an issue with these too. My answer, tons of PB blaster, a big ole adjustable and on one side a cold chisel (sp?). If you recieved new Gland packing nut you can use the chisel to create a notch and maybe get it to turn (just make sure you're going the right direction); just keep wrenching, if it's a cheap wrench give it a good wack, it'll budge sooner or later.
Oh and the oil you'll be replacing in the rear is motor oil, or at least that's what I was told-and used.

 

I don't see why motor oil wouldn't work. But motor oil is much heavier. I followed the instructions from Koni for my inserts and they told me to reuse the stock oil that was in the cartridge. I don't see how it would matter much since this oil is just to keep the insert a bit cooler.

 

before I thought of re-using i dumped it into my oil bin. (it looked pretty nasty, was sorta a knee-jerk reaction) so i got a hold of a nissan mech. and asked him what to put in; motor oil was the consensus, but like you said, since it's only for cooling, little difference as long as it's there.

 

if you got access to air tool, use air hammer and a V shaped point chisel bit, with an air hammer, I got the gland packing nut off in about 30 seconds.

 

I've also heard ATF will work.

 

so really how important is the oil in the strut? do you think that they would really get that hot? i did it just to do it when the new struts went in but im kinda curious about that

 

they can get plenty hot believe me

 

Hello, could someone tell me how the front struts are replaced without cutting, or do I need to take them to a shop in order to fit them in the springs?

 

put the tire back on to the rotor then you can step on thetire/strut housing and use a pipe wrench and curse and sweat to get the sucker loose.

 

The only struts that I'm aware of that involve cutting are the Koni inserts.

If you get KYB GR2s, I believe those are stock replacements for the fronts. Very easy to swap out. And Tokicos are the same way. Just swap them. They come with the strut housing and everything. But Koni's don't.

 

Thanks for the info I want to get something with a little tighter suspension. My GXE rides like a caddy, but I still feel the bumps.