[Shotimes] strut info

[ROBERT SCHIRMER]

Guys

Just like the little engine that could, I tried for 2 days to put struts on my
'93 ATX, and just couldn't get the job done- not even one. What a failure I
am!!! . This was after I got additional advice (twice) from Mr SHO Strut
himself (George) . THANKS FOR THE EFFORT ANYWAY GEORGE. Then the mailing list
went down all weekend. So, today I "bit the bullet" and dropped the car off to
get a REAL mechanic to put my struts in, and the cost was $400, before tire
balance & Alignment.

While I did end up getting the Sach/Boge struts for $229 from  from SHOX.com,
I had to pay an extra $70 for 3 day delivery to make it to my house in time
for Memorial day installation (so I thought).

I wonder if I could trouble somebody (i.e. George) to expand his strut
installation instructions in greater detail (to include dummie instructions
for me), so that in the future others can gain from my experience this
weekend.


Thanks again George
Bob

PS: Evidently the struts I got had a piece of paper that said there was a
design change in feb '94, and that my struts may be 2 inches shorter than the
original struts. The garage called me today saying that the struts I purchased
was 2 inches to short for them to install; (sounds like my sex life). So I had
to refer them to the strut notice, and they are now in and I am back in
business





  From: "ROBERT SCHIRMER" <1surferbum@msn.com<mailto:1surferbum@msn.com>>
  To: "Donald Mallinson" <dmall@mwonline.net<mailto:dmall@mwonline.net>>;
"Shylo McKinsey"
  <mrfluffy02@yahoo.com<mailto:mrfluffy02@yahoo.com>>; "Jason Hartberger"
<at3hartberger@mail.com<mailto:at3hartberger@mail.com>>;
  "TaurusSHO" <shotimes@autox.team.net<mailto:shotimes@autox.team.net>>
  Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 5:49 PM
  Subject: [Shotimes] Strut help needed


  > Gentlemen
  >
  > I am trying to replace some struts on the "93 ATX, and contrary to the
  > showtime FAQ, instead of taking 30 minutes for each front strut, I am
  working
  > on 3 hours on the first one, with no end in sight. Please review the info
  > below, and tell me where I am going wrong
  >
  > I am (sorta) following the Ford manual
  >
  > 1) Remove hub nut ( WhY???)
  > 2) I raised the car up (not using the lower control arms) and took the
  wheels
  > off
  > 3) Removed the brakes and rotor (had to put a new rotor on)
  > 4) Disconnected the tie rod end
  > 5) Disconnected the stabilizer bar link attachment from strut (and had to
  put
  > on new linkage- but its still disconnected to the strut right now)
  > 6) removed the steering knuckle and hub assembly from the strut assembly
  > Now the fun begins
  > 7) Here I sit with what I believe is only one or two steps left, and no
  > success. I took off the lower arm to steering knuckle pinch bolt and nut,
  and
  > I am supposed to spread the joint and remove the lower arm from the
  steering
  > knuckle.  Well, I spread the joint all I can and put a crow bar between
  the
  > steering knuckle and the lower control arm, and even though I can see the
  gap
  > widen, it is not enough for the stud to come out of the steering knuckle.
  I am
  > putting a hell of a lot of pressure on this crow bar, and this connection
  will
  > still not pop out. All that is connected to the steering knuckle at this
  point
  > is a) the tension strut that goes between the front of the car and the
  knuckle
  > assembly, b) the control arm. The struts are still connected up top, and
  there
  > is no jack on the bottom of the control arm.
  >
  > WHAT AM I DOING WRONG???
  >
  > The Ford book says to Press half shaft from the hub as outlined??? What
  does
  > this mean?? Are they trying to say that you have to pull the steering
  knuckle
  > away from the CV joint before the bottom of the strut?? Does the steering
  > knuckle try to drop down??
  >
  > I just repeating to my self, I love my SHO, I love my SHO!!
  >
  > Thanks for any help
  > Bob
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