Well I decided to try to replace my strut mount today. I got everything off real quick but really realized that there's no way for me to get the strut mount off. How do you guys do it? It looks like I need a vise (don't have one..so had to put everything back together). Everytime I try to move the top nut, it starts to twist and I couldn't figure out a way for it not to.


2003 Silver Eco powered Sunfire

you have to hold the top bolt ,i believe its a 10mm and turn the bottom, if you take it off and go to a mechanic they can blast it off with the impact wrench i did it that way before

Be careful, the spring has some pressure on it and can cause injury. It was extra work, but I removed the shock/strut assembly and then loosened the top nut so it wasn't so tight. I then reinstalled the assembly on the car and then took off the top nut. Then lowered the suspension so the mount stayed bolted to the car and took the pressure off the spring. Reassembly was the reverse order. I had to use a screwdriver to push up on the "upper bellows retainer" to get the center shaft up through the mount. Once it was through, I tightened the nut, then removed the assembly to make sure the top nut was tight and then installed them.

Ok maybe I'll try this again. The "bolt" looked really disfigured. I didn't think anything would fit over it. When I was reading the repair manual, I thought it said 2 nuts and I didn't see 2 nuts on there so I decided to give it up.

As for the spring... I went ahead and bought a decent spring compressor kit, even though I'll hardily do this type of work. I bought a good one that was more than $10, and I feel safe with it. More so since it comes with safety hooks that I can use.


2003 Silver Eco powered Sunfire