front suspension

xaserII · Post by **xaserII** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:31 am

hey all i would like to say thanks upfront for your responses...
ive got an 83 terc 4wd station wagon with 128 thousand miles on it. all is good with the car no rust etc... but the front suspension is a mess. i ordered 2 strut inserts ie cartridges to try to get a grip on the bouncing but am unsure on how to install them. does the strut have to be taken appart? and do i need a spring compressor or can i use clamps? do i need to take the strut off the car???

im gonna look into lifting my terc 2 inches like dirtmagnets. i might use wood cause i have a shop. ill take some pics.

oh i got gabriels cause they were 28 each compared to 44 from kyb. oh and anyone have a diagram of the suspension/parts and how they go together etc... special tools?
thanks
xaserII

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:02 am

I actually did a detailed write-up on this in the past. I think it might be in the Repairs section. Use the 'search' function and you should find it. Make sure you set the search to search right back to the beginning of the forum.

Retroloc1 · Post by **Retroloc1** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:45 am

Of course you need a spring compressor.
Be careful with it !
No other special tool.

It's easier to do with the strut on the bench, but it's not a must. You can operate "in the wheel arch".

Adelard of Bath · Post by **Adelard of Bath** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:25 pm

Yet another person who has purchased a nice non-rusty Tercel, and I have to buy the RUSTIEST one in the entire state of Minnesota.....what a deal.

Is wood going to hold up for the suspension? I'm sure it would, for a time anyway, a couple years?

takza · Post by **takza** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 7:11 pm

Since it's only under compression...I'd use wood...except I can get them made out of steel for just some labor cost.

xaserII · Post by **xaserII** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:21 pm

hey so the strut is just bolted on then... hmmmmmmm ill probly work on them off the car so i can take some measurements for the lift. im gonna use clamps i think cause i dont have a spring compressor. hopefully i dont kill myself.
ugh i cant wait to see how this thing responds to new suspension. its been so f***ed up for so long. i just got the cartridges today so will start early in the morning.
thanks for your comments
x

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:44 am

I used a pump-column jack to compress my strut, only issue with that was it going off in some direction making the jack no longer compress up, rather against (If I worded that right)
If you go to Autozone you can "rent" a spring compressor. They have you buy the tool for full price then when you are done, they return your money, minus any possible damage that has occured. And of course "You break it, You buy it." applies.
At least I know my Autozone does this?

xaserII · Post by **xaserII** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:54 pm

well their installed, i dont recomend anyone doing this unless they know a little about cars. i hated every dirty sticky oily shitty second. replacing those cartridges was hell. the car had the originals still in the strut and they were so stuck in the strut that it took me an hour just to remove them.
but wow what a difference in the handling. its like a new car. next is the carb...
oh ya and i shitcanned the lift idea. i didnt feel like it.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:07 pm

Hehehehe... Soooooooooooooo much fun isn't it?