QuestionWhat do I need to look out for when replacing the front struts on a 2005 Grand Caravan,3.8L w/ABS?
Any tips on this job? I'm just a weekend mechanic
AnswerREMOVAL - STRUT ASSEMBLY
WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE THE NUT FROM THE STRUT ROD WHILE STRUT ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE, OR BEFORE STRUT ASSEMBLY SPRING IS COMPRESSED.
Raise the vehicle. See Hoisting in Lubrication and Maintenance.
Remove the wheel and tire assembly from location on front of vehicle requiring strut removal.
If both strut assemblies are to be removed, mark the strut assemblies right or left according to which side of the vehicle they were removed from.
Remove the hydraulic brake hose routing bracket and the speed sensor cable routing bracket from the strut damper brackets (Brake Hose And Speed Sensor Cable Routing).
CAUTION: When removing the nut from the stud of the stabilizer bar link, do not allow the stud to rotate in it's socket. Hold the stud from rotating by placing an open-end wrench on the flat machined into the stud (Stabilizer Bar Link To Strut Attachment).
Remove the stabilizer bar link from the bracket on the strut assembly (Stabilizer Bar Link To Strut Attachment). To do so, place an open-end wrench on the flat machined into the link's mounting stud, then remove the nut while holding the wrench in place. Push the stud out of the bracket.
CAUTION: The steering knuckle to strut assembly attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Remove nuts while holding bolts stationary in the steering knuckles.
Remove the 2 strut assembly clevis bracket to steering knuckle attaching bolts (Strut Damper Attachment To Steering Knuckle).
Remove the 3 nuts attaching the strut assembly upper mount to the strut tower (Strut Assembly To Strut Tower Attaching Nuts (Typical)) and remove the strut assembly from the vehicle.
To disassemble the strut assembly, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/STRUT - DISASSEMBLY
