Replacing your car’s struts is a big job, but it’s one that you can do yourself if you’re handy with tools. The most important thing to remember when replacing your struts is that you don’t need to have an alignment done afterwards. This is a common misconception, and one that can cost you a lot of money unnecessarily.
So, follow the steps to Replace Struts Without Needing Alignment
- Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the emergency brake
- Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels with a wrench but do not remove them yet
- Raise the front of the vehicle with a jack and support it with jack stands
- Remove the front wheels
- Unbolt the strut assembly from the spindle using a socket wrench and remove it from the vehicle
- Install the new strut assembly in reverse order of removal and torque all bolts to manufacturer specifications according to your vehicle’s repair manual
When Replacing Struts What Else Should I Replace?
If you’re planning on replacing your car’s struts, there are a few other components that you should also replace while you’re at it. Here’s a look at what else you should replace when changing out your struts. While the main purpose of struts is to support the weight of the vehicle, they also play a role in absorbing impact from bumps and potholes.
Over time, this can cause wear and tear on the strut itself as well as the other components that make up the suspension system. For this reason, it’s typically recommended that you replace other components along with the struts themselves. This includes things like shocks, springs, and control arms.
Changing out all of these components at once can be expensive, but it will result in a much smoother ride for your vehicle. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that everything is new and working together properly. If budget is an issue, consider doing one side of the vehicle at a time so you can spread out the cost over time.
Camber Adjustment After Strut Replacement
If you’ve ever had to replace the struts on your car, you know that it can be a pretty expensive repair. Once the new struts are in place, the next step is to adjust the camber. This is critical in order to ensure that your car’s tires wear evenly and don’t develop any premature bald spots.
There are a few different ways that you can adjust the camber on your car. The first is by using an adjustable wrench or socket to loosen and tighten the bolts that hold the strut in place. This method is usually only used if you’re replacing the entire strut assembly.
The second way to adjust camber is by using an alignment tool. This tool attaches to the suspension and allows you to make small adjustments to the camber without having to remove any bolts.
Once you have adjusted the camber, it’s important to take your car for a test drive so that you can make sure everything feels good before taking it out on the open road.
Credit: www.familyhandyman.com
Do Struts Affect Alignment?
The answer is yes, struts can affect alignment. When they wear out, they can cause the vehicle to pull to one side or the other. The tires may also start to wear unevenly.
Conclusion
If your car is starting to make creaking noises every time you go over a bump, it might be time to replace your struts. Struts are an important part of your suspension system and help keep your car stable on the road. Replacing them can be expensive, but if you do it yourself, you can save a lot of money.
You don’t need to take your car to a mechanic to replace your struts. You can do it yourself with just a few tools. The most important thing is to make sure that you get the right parts for your car.
Once you have the right parts, replacing the struts is relatively easy. You will need to jack up your car and remove the old struts before attaching the new ones.
Once you have replaced the struts, you might need to get an alignment done.
However, if you’re careful when installing the new struts, you shouldn’t need an alignment. Replacing your own struts can save you hundreds of dollars compared to taking your car to a mechanic.