Rear Strut Bolt Problem

[-Alero-]

i recently just put on springtech springs, and i took care of the front no problem, and i got the back ones on eventually, but there is still one problem...... the screw that tightens up the strut, all the way at the top will not tighten, past hand tight. i mean i have tightend it a little bit past hand tight, and if i try to tighten it even more, it just spins the strut piston along with the nut. i noticed the only way to tighten or loosen this screw is if there is pressure from the springs pushing on it. so do you think maybe i should drive it around for maybe 5 minutes and try to tighten it up? because i have everything in place and ready to go, i just havent tightened those big bolts up past hand tight. (this problem is for both the rear struts)

[Vtolds]

Your Gonna have to Grip the piston shaft with pliers or a strap of somekind to keep it from moving. if you use pliers you may wanna put somehting between the shaft and the pliers so you dont damage the shaft.

[jabartram]

I used air tools, had no problem, the nuts are self locking, so air tools or like VTOLDS said.

[sound_xtreme]

if you look at the top of the strut piece you'll notice you can fit 2 different size wrenches on it at once. thats how you do it proper.

[mike2002]

i had the same problem when i did it a few days ago. i noticed i needed a special tool, but i didn't want to buy it for a 1 time use

i had to hold the shaft while someone else used a impact for the fronts, it was hard to get it past that nylon locking thread part

I just used an impact wrench and I had no problem at all. They downward force on it as well as turning force, so I figured that's why I had no problem. I first tried to use a ratchet and it wouldn't allow the nut to turn free of the strut.

[-Alero-]

well this is in the back so i cant fit an impact wrench or a rattle gun back there considering there is a 3 inch space between the bolt and the trunk lid. also a new problem showed up, the Traction light, the ABS light, and the service engine soon light all came on at once today......any ideas? this happened after i put the suspension on.

[-Alero-]

Originally posted by sound_xtreme@Oct 23 2004, 11:19 AM
if you look at the top of the strut piece you'll notice you can fit 2 different size wrenches on it at once. thats how you do it proper.

what tools do you use to do this!? this is in the back so its pretty tricky to get back there

Originally posted by -Alero-@Oct 23 2004, 08:35 PM
well this is in the back so i cant fit an impact wrench or a rattle gun back there considering there is a 3 inch space between the bolt and the trunk lid.

Umm... you can tighten up the top screw to the mounting plate when the strut is OUTSIDE of the car. That way you can get to it rather easy.

[-Alero-]

i think im gonna stick with the first solution

[-Alero-]

alright i fixed the strut rods, but that still doesnt solve my problem of the service engine soon light, ABS light, and Tracion light all coming on at once it doesnt make sense. my dad said i should just go ot a GM dealership and have them plug a computer up to my car computer and it runs a diagonistic of whats wrong. im sure GM could find out the problem......but at what price.... <_<

[smokinAMD]

Sounds like a wheel hub.

[Vtolds]

The otherday I attempted a burnout in the rain seeing how I have the 2.4 with the auto and it is hard to brakethe tires loose while I was doing it the check engine light came on trac off light stayed off and the abs came on I shut off my car and restarted all better.

[FormulaNERD]

Originally posted by smokinAMD@Oct 24 2004, 05:41 AM
Sounds like a wheel hub.

could it be a wheel speed sensor?

[-Alero-]

but listen to this.........i rarely drive my car no more than twice a week around the block to keep the fluids running in it, and ever since i changed my springs those 3 lights came on as soon as i was done installing the springs. cause i was gonna take it for a test drive but i noticed the 3 lights stayed on........

[mike2002]

its because as you were changing the struts you disconnected one of the wheel sensors. take off your wheels and make sure everything is plugged in, hopefully you didnt' pull a wire out of its pin-out

[mike2002]

oh yeah, and you dont need clearance to use a impact on the rear struts, you should have put the mount on the strut when the strut was outside the car. i did the same thing, didn't realize it wasn't locking, luckily i did the fronts first, and you can use a impact on them with them on the car.

[-Alero-]

struts fixed........sensor lights.......not fixed

[Redog]

PCM may need to be reflashed

Try unhooking the battery, and let it sit for about 10 mintues. That resets the PCM and works sometimes. If they come back on, get to a shop and have them run it on their CPU. With all the sensors, it's always hard to tell

[mike2002]

Originally posted by mike2002@Oct 24 2004, 09:04 PM
its because as you were changing the struts you disconnected one of the wheel sensors. take off your wheels and make sure everything is plugged in, hopefully you didnt' pull a wire out of its pin-out

did you check this?