Tools for Replacing Front Struts

Series Summary

The automobile, a machine that means so much to so many, is a complex system built on the designs and ideas of men and women who are long gone from the world. And while we’ve enjoyed traveling the backroads of childhood, the streets of adolescence, and the highways of adulthood, the car has remained a reliable means of transportation as well as a vehicle that embodies the hopes and dreams of reaching exciting new destinations or returning home.

An automotive suspension strut combines the primary function of a shock absorber with the ability to support sideways loads not along its axis of compression. In this free video series, a car repairman will teach you how to remove and replace the front struts on a front-wheel drive vehicle. After organizing the proper tools and equipment, you'll learn to raise the car, remove tires, brake hoses, retaining clips, mounting bolts, and the old struts. Next, you'll discover how to compress coil springs, reassemble the struts, and attach the struts to a spindle. With these tips and techniques, among many others, you'll be well on your way to replacing a car's front struts on your own!

Video Transcript

"In this clip, we're going to talk about the proper service procedure for removing and replacing a front strut on a front-wheel drive vehicle. In this step, we're going to talk about the tools required in order to remove and replace a front-wheel drive front strut. First and foremost you're going to need a replacement strut. Got a Gabriel here in the box. In my opinion, its worth going with the premium versions instead of the cheaper ones. The cheaper ones are substandard from what would come factory on the vehicle. You're going to need a hydraulic floor jack. Two jack stands, these are safety items, most definitely required. You'll need a good standard and metric socket set, we got that here. A couple large sockets added in. A few large wrenches, the sizes of these will vary depending on the make and model. A cheater pipe. A set of side cuts, also known as dikes. Heavy duty spring compressors. And a magnetic tray. You're also going to need your 4-way. These are the tools required in order to remove and replace a front-wheel drive front strut."