Front Srut Doesn't Line Up?

[Dacus]

Help.

I have a 1995 Lexus Es300 and I can't get the Left Front strut to line up. It seems to be too long. These are KYB struts and all the part numbers are correct. The right side was a little difficult, but the wheel tilted out and allowed me get the bottom bolt aligned, but the left wheel will not tilt out at all. It tilts in, but not out. I installed this strut just like the one on the right side but I can't get it in. The three bolts at the top go in good and I have tightened then but the bottom two are off a couple of inches. I can't even get the strut on top of the drive link. Help???

Thanks in advance

[Sexus ES300]

why would you want it to tilt out? on mine i pushed the strut in, while holding it i bolted one bolt down then tightened them all. I then had to push the strut in towards the car, hardest part was getting the two big !Removed! bolts to line up and get the bolts in but after a little trial and error it was pretty easy.

Kinda elaborate more and take a pic if you can so that way i can tell you what to do

[Dacus]

I'll try to get a picture tomorrow. When I connect the three bolts on top, the two big bolts don't line up on the bottom of the strut. At least a couple of inches off. I can't even get the bottom of the strut on top of the control arm and the rubber bushing that surrounds it. I'm afraid that if i push it, it may damage the rubber bushing on the control arm.

Thanks

[George_Jetson]

Did you compare the old strut to the new ones before you installed them, and did you make sure that both ends of the spring was properly seated in the pockets?

[Dacus]

Yes Struts are the same and the spring is installed correctly.

[George_Jetson]

Are both front tires lifted off the grd? If the other tire is on the grd the sway bar could be lifting the other side up.

[Dacus]

Yes both tires are off of the ground. I finally got it. I had to remove a link in the sway bar, when I did this the wheel dropped about two inches. I lined up and installed the strut and jacked up the wheel compressing the strut and replaced the sway bar link. I saw this on a Mazda site. Thanks for all the help guys.

Dacus

This was an interesting project. Replaced all four struts all four rotors and brakes, along with front and back sway bar bushings. Learned a lot.

1. Use the small screw that mounts the brake line to the strut to remove the rotor. (screw it in the two holes on the rotor, alternating until the rotor pops off. This works for the front and back rotors.

2. Even if you buy new upper strut mounts and dust shields, you still have to use the rubber bushing that buts up against the new upper mount. Had it on the car and had to take it off. Ouch.

3. If the rubber insert that goes between the strut and the spring is bad, mine was cracked and dry rotted, you have to order them and they are expensive. $65 for the four of them.

4. Use a large screwdriver and wedge it on the upper mount after you have attached the mount to the strut so you can tighten the upper screw.

5. If you strip a screw you have to drill it out. I stripped a sway bar screw. It has a place for an allen wrench on the end to hold it while you turn the screw. The screw was froze and eventually stripped it. Drilled it out and ordered a new part from Lexus. You have to but the whole bar($110).

6. Remove the small sway bar link to allow the front wheel to drop so you can install the new strut.

7. Front strut main bolt is a 22mm and the read is 19mm.

8. The front brake mount, when you remove the screws that hold the caliper, is adjustable. I tried to put the caliper back on but it would not fit. You can just push in the unit when you put the caliper screws back. Confused?

Good luck guys.