Noisy Struts - Page 4 - Perth-WRX.com

Mister Two · #31 30-04-2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUSSGT

I would warranty if i had the rest of the 06 sti but i got a foz with the sti struts. How do you sugest to fix them?

Seeing as yours are definitely inverted STI struts... This is how you fix them...

Courtesy of rexnet

Use Castrol Lithium based grease as the replacement

Quote:

I thought i would put together a DIY for those that are interested in repairing the rear struts or known knocking noise they make.

WARNING : DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS IS YOU ARE AFRAID TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY :lol: :lol:

This was carried out on an 02 STi

Tools Needed :-

19mm Ring Spanner x 2
12mm ring spanner
Hammer
Screwdriver
1/2" Drive socket set.
Trolley Jack and Jack stands
(If running whiteline rear camber bolts 1 x 11/16 spanner and 1 x 15mm spanner is needed for these bolts)

Reccommend using impact driver for the rear strut bolts and a 90deg impact wrench if you have one for the strut tops.
Step 1.

Remove rear seat buy removing 2 12mm bolts that hold the bottom seat in. Follow this by removing the 4 12mm bolts tat hold the top section of the seat in.

Step 2.

Jack the car and place Jack stands under the body of the car. Make sure they are under a good mounting point as fully support the car once jacked up.
Lower the jack to allow the jack stands to take the weight. Leave the jack under to act as a back up if the stands fail.

Step 3.

Remove the wheels and move out of the way.

Step 4.

Using a 14mm socket, remove the seat belt tensioner from the body of the car. Best to pull some slack on the belt to allow it to be removed from the pocket above the strut top.

Step 5.

Using a 12mm socket, remove the 3 top hat nuts from the strut tower. Make sure you mark the position of the top hats (they normally have a stamped arrow in them stating which side faces out)

Step 6.

Remove the brake line clip holding the brake line to the strut buy using a hammer and a screw driver to tap the clip up and out.

Step 7.

Mark the camber bolts (if used to their starting position) If not using camber bolts, then carry on removing the strut lower bolts.

Step 8.

Once you have removed the 2 lower bolts, remove the strut assembly from the tower and place away from the car.

Step 9.

Remove the top hat nut using a 17mm socket. Remove the spring from the strut.

Now turn the strut upside down, and remove the 14mm nut holding the inverted strut in the tube.

Step 10.

Now slide the strut out of the tube and place on the ground on a rag as not to damage the shaft.

Step 11.

Look down the strut tube and see the yellow greese inside. Using your finger (or someone elses if you afraid to get them dirty :lol: ) and scoop out the grease inside. You will need to get a fair way down, so a bi screwdriver helps get to the deeper section. After you have got as much out as possible, push a rag inside and turn it about to remove the remaining grease.

Step 12.

Using a quality grease, refill the section of the strut tube that you just removed the grease out of. Making sure you only fill the machined out sections inside the tube.

Step 13.

Replace the strut into the tube and clean up any excess grase from the strut.

Step 14.

Now reverse the prcess that you used to dismantle the strut and spring.

Tighten the 14mm nut onto the bottom of the strut. Place the spring and top hat back onto the stru, making sure you place the top hat back into the right position with the arrow facing outwards and tigten the 17mm nut.

Step 15.

Push the strut back up into the tower and push through the holes in the top. Slide the bottom bolt of the strut back into the hole followed by the top bolt.

Step 16.

Replace and tighten up the 3 strut top bolts and tension.

Step 17.

Place the nuts back onto the lower strut where it meets the hub and tighten. Remember to reposition the camber bolt if used to the previously marked position.

Step 18.

Re attach the brake line to the car, and re-install the retaining clip.

Recheck all nuts and volts for tightness before moving to the other side of the car.

Step 19.

Replace the seat belt tensioner and retaining bolt.

Step 20.

Repeat these procedures on the other strut assembly now.

Step 21.

Do a final inspection of all nuts bolts and make sure no parts are laying around spare.

Place wheels back on car and remove jack stands and ower the car down.

Job Complete.

I may have forgotton something here im sure.

Any questions feel free to ask.

This took me about 1hr to complete. If your handy with a spanner, you will have no worries.

For those that attempt it, remember, its not a race, double check all components and make sure you are happy with everthing before you attempt to drive your car.