[Shotimes] Re: OK Jason...Here's Your Answer......was: Strut Replacement

[fwhittle@mindspring.com]

Just think of the spindle as a very large battery clamp and the pinch bolt as the battery clamp bolt.  Sometimes, when replacing your battery, you need to spread the clamp a bit to get it on the new unworn post.  Same idea.

Frank Whittle
'95 ATX

From: "George Fourchy" <krazgeo@comcast.net>
To: "shotimes@autox.team.net" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 21:19:24 -0700
Subject: [Shotimes] OK Jason...Here's Your Answer......was:  Strut Replacement

This is my tech page on the FAQ, so I'll answer it.....

OK Jason.....Pay Attention.....the seaworthiness of your carrier depends on whether
you understand this procedure after I reexplain it to you ONE MORE TIME!!!

Just kidding!!  You obviously haven't been under the front of your car yet.  I'll
try to simplify it.  Go down and read within your quotes....

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 20:52:15 -0400, Jason Hartberger wrote:

>Um... I'm happy this makes sense to you, but I wasn't really asking who
>understood this, *I* want to understand what this means!

And....

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 17:53:42 -0400, Jason Hartberger wrote:

>"New Data....Do not grind or grease the new struts. 

Tokikos are larger in diameter ( a silly millimeter larger) than the factory struts.
 That's why you have to spread the pinch, the slot in the large circular opening
they go into which is part of the knuckle, the cast iron part that the front (and
rear) brake bolts to, and that the hub is fastened on to.  When I first put them on
my wagon a LONG time ago, I ground the welds down and greased them so that they
would slide into their receptacle.  Messy, and a waste!!

>Use a really BIG flat
>bladed screwdriver, and use the pinch bolt to force the clamp portion of the
>spindle open. 

Read this next sentence SLOWLY......   ;-)

You're going to deform (make the receptacle, or clamp, for the new strut larger) by
spreading and enlarging the round lower inner iron part of the knuckle that holds
the strut.  You'll do this by using a screwdriver or other large strong flat piece
of metal stuck into the slot, for the pinch bolt, the bolt that holds the pinch
closed when the strut is installed, to push against so that you can use a wrench to
widen the pinch, rather than a hammer or other prehistoric method.  You put the bolt
in backwards, starting it on the threaded side of the fitting, and turn it against
the screwdriver or whatever until the pinch is about 3/16ths, rather than 1/8th of
an inch wide.

>Knock the spindle down below the welded bolt guide on the strut
>so you can get the screwdriver in the slot of the spindle, then screw the
>pinch bolt in backwards, through the threaded side of the spindle, so it
>pushes on the screwdriver, and therefore on the other side of the spindle,
>forcing it open. Just about 3/16ths of an inch is enough, and the spindle will
>slide easily off the strut.)"

This says to tap or hammer the spindle down off the old strut (after the pinch bolt,
the bolt that holds the pinch closed, is removed) just enough to get the little tab
on the back of it up, and out of the way....it is in the pinch when things are
tight, so that the strut cannot turn within the spindle.  We get rid of that tab
when we lower the car by lowering the strut in the spindle, and it NEVER turns when
things are tight.  But to prevent stupid mechanics who forget to tighten that bolt
from causing accidents by little old ladies, the struts have that tab.  

>
>pardon my french, but what the hell? this is from the part where it tells you
>how to get the new front struts back in. <apu> I am not understanding
>anything!</apu> could somebody please explain to me what precisely a spindle
>and a pinch bolt are? and how the all work? once again, TIA!

Definitions....Spindle.....   Is, was, and always HAS BEEN.....the part of the
suspension that holds the hub.....the part with the five lug bolts that you fasten
the tire to.  Here, in a more complex front wheel drive application (and, we have 4,
not 2...two in the rear, too), it has many connections....the axle goes through the
center; the strut goes through the lower back, and holds the whole thing in its
proper position to support the car; the lower ball joint of the Lower Control Arm
fastens to the bottom outside of it; and the outer steering tie-rod end fastens to
the rear edge.  This is what turns it for steering.  It's a BUSY little sucker!!

Definitions.....Pinch Bolt......this is the large 19 mm bolt (I think it's 19 mm)
that holds the spring loaded round clamp looking section of the lower inner part of
the knuckle around the strut.....as I said above, this is what fastens the knuckle
to the strut, in its correct position, so that it can flex to go over bumps, turn
right or left, and allow the wheel to transfer engine power to the road.

OK.....you know it all now.  Get down there and give me 2 front struts removed and
replaced in 30 minutes.......

Hup!!  Hup!!  Hup!!

LOL!!

It's too bad you are so far away....I'd LOVE to take you on a tour of your car!!!


George