All,

I have new struts for my 1994 Ford Taurus Sedan. I spent 4 hours trying to get the drivers side coil spring collapsed enough to remove the strut. I was using an external coil spring tool on two sides of the coil spring but couldn't get the tool(s) up into the tower enough to collapse the spring. Is there a trick to this? I bought the struts and still have the spring compressor tools from Advance Auto, so if someone has a trick to get these out, please let me know.

 

Hello and good day:

Have you purchase a Haynes or Chilton Manual for this Vehicle????

If not this is taken from the Haynes Manual....For the Front:
Section 10-4 .... Front strut assemblyremoval and installation
Removal:
1...Losen the wheel lug nuts. Raise the vehicle and support it securely on Jackstands placed under the subframe, then remove the front wheel.

2...Loosen...but do not remove the three strut upper mounting nuts.

3...Remove the speed sensor wiring guide clip and the brake hose bracket from the strut.

4...Disconnect the stabilizer bar link from the bracket the strut.

5...Remove the steering knuckle.

6...Support the strut and remove the three upper strut mounting nuts from the tower.

7...Carefully guide the strut and spring assembly out of the wheel well. If the strut unit or coil spring is to be replaced proceed to section 5

Let me interject here something very important....THIS IS NO EASY FIX !!!

Section 5-2

2...Mount the strut assembly in a vise with the jaws of the vise clamping onto the bracket for the stabilizer bar link.

3...install the spring compressor on the spring and compress it out to relieve all pressure from the spring seat..tighten spring compressor tool in increments alternating from side to side, until the force is released from the bearing and seat assembly.

4...Use a T-5o Torx socket to hold the damper shaft ( the nut on the top of the strut)while loosing the shaft nut. remove the nut and the concave washer.

5...Lift the bearing and seat assembly and upper mount off the upper shaft. Check the bearing in the spring seat for smooth operation and replace it if necessary. WARNING: never put your head or hands over or near the ends of the spring.

6...Carefully remove the compressed spiring assembly. Set the compressed spring in a safe place.

7...Slide the dust boot, washer, and rubber jonce bumper off the shaft.

INSTALL IN THE REVERSE MANNER.

Hope this helps,, and keep us advise........6

 

Did you look at my original post? I know what needs to be done,I was looking for some guidance on removing the spring and strut. The difficulty is collapsing the spring enough to be able to remove it from the tower. I need a response from someone that has done this before. I have the external spring compressors, but cannot get them deep enough into the spring tower, because of space, to collapse the spring enough.

 

Well Im Sorry...Just trying to help...and YES I did look at your original post...If you had looked carefully to my response you would have noticed that I stated...."This is no easy task"

I hope someone that has done a little trick can help you further.

6