Insturctions for replacing rear struts

Some autoparts stores lend tools as a courtesy. Things like spring compressors or strut compressors are needed. Some rear struts are made to come off as a unit with the coils made as part of the strut. Others are a 2 piece design and the coil and strut are individually replaced.

A note for the struts is that many need an alignment similar to the common front end alignment after you are done.

Mufflers- these usually come from the factory welded together. You need to allow for the lengths of the pipe and muffler in order to bolt them together after you saw off the old parts. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT YOU CAN NOT GET A MUFFLER AS CHEAP AS A PROFESSIONAL SHOP CAN. Some are better off re-welded together instead of bolted. You would still have to buy U-bolts but a shop would just weld. Less parts less cost. Also dirt and rusty steel in an eye is not fun.

images for 2001 Pontiac Montana rear springs ..

Replace broken rear coil spring on pontiac montana - Fixya

www.fixya.com/cars/t3213136-replace_broken_rear_coil_spring_pontiac
Oct 17, 2009 - replace broken rear coil spring on pontiac montana - Pontiac 2000 ...Im having problems with my rear lighs on my 2001 pontiac montana, the ...

Check these two help links to solve these issue of replacing strut assembly:---

How to replace Strut Assembly?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/02/how-to-replace-strut-assembly.html

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How to remove Strut Assembly,the Coil spring?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/02/how-to-remove-strut-assemblythe-coil.html

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These will help.
Thanks.

The vehicle is supported by coil springs. On the front the coil is part of the strut assembly. If you jack up the side of the vehicle that is low (jack under the subframe or by the pinch weld) you sould be able to see if the spring is broken or not.

If it is there is a solution called a "quick Strut" this will be a complete strut assembly that is completely assembled. All you will need to do is remove the old one, install the new one, and have the vehicle aligned.

It is recommended to do these in pairs (both fronts or both rears or all four at the same time, the rears are usually shocks or air shocks).
the other alternative is to replace the spring. the strut will need to be installed into a spring compressor in order to replace the coil. It will still need to be removed from the vehicle and brought to a machine shop or service facility to have the spring replaced. It is a good idea to replace both springs and struts at this time. You will find with a little price shopping that it is not that much more to go with quick struts.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

They are stand alone shocks
Here are the part numbers you need.
MOTORCRAFT Part # AST236 Rear Left
MOTORCRAFT Part # AST235 Rear Right
About $100.00 for both parts.

if you have a garage full of repair shop tools and spring compressor, then yes. but i am betting that you don't have all that on hand so most likely for you it is not a DIY job. anything you do on one side, do on the other, you can rent a spring compressor at a parts store. you are going to find that you need to replace the strut and strut bearings too as they are all 12 years old.

the smart thing to do is look around on ebay and elsewhere for what are called "quickstruts" this is a new strut with strut bearing and new coil spring all ready to install as one unit. so you jack the car way up, take off the wheels, loosen the bolts at the top and bottom holding the strut on take it out and discard it and bolt in your new one in the reverse order. then take it to a shop and get it aligned ASAP.
really you should just buy the quickstruts and pay the alignment shop to put them in and align it all at once. you will get in over your head with the control arms and brake calipers flopping around.

This usually happens when the spring has broken. You'll have to remove the upper 3 nuts that hold the strut mount to the body, and the bolt that goes through the lower control arm that mounts the strut, also the sway bar end link, then remove the spring and strut as an assembly. You'll need a spring compressor to safely remove and install the new spring. It is always recommended that you replace the front springs as a pair (both side). This job may be better left to a pro unless you have some experience, also you may be able to buy a product called "quickstruts" They are sold as a spring and strut completed assembly so you won't require a spring compressor.

Hope this helps,
Dave

I suggest QuickStruts (r). Unless you have a spring compressor, they're the most user friendly. They come in the box as a ready to go, one piece, assembly. You can access the upper 3 bolts either behind the rear seat, under the rear deck, or through the trunk. There are 3 bolts on top and either 1 or 2 on the lower suspension. Make sure the rear of the car is fully suspended and, remove the rear tires. This will make everything a little easier to work with. When installing the new struts, make sure there is no metal to metal contact on the upper mounting area of the strut. Just adjust the strut bushing accordingly.The upper bolts should be torqued to about 60 to 100 ft.lbs.. The lower bolts need to be torqued to at least 135ft.lbs.. Hope this helps get you started. Feel free to ask for any more info.

Hi Nick , I also am also Lumina owner , the struts should be a snap , it has a spring around the strut, you will need a tool to compress the spring & make it safer to remove the strut assembly , the upper mount has either 2 nuts or 2 bolts holding it to the car , the 2 Lower bolts holding the strut to the spindle/control arm shouldn't have eccentrics in them so the alignment shouldn't change. , do 1 side at a time and make sure you use safety stands.

On a side note you may be able to purchase a Quickstrut complete strut assembly (Strut/Spring/Upper mount). making your job a lot Faster !

If you have some basic tools, replacing the strut is failrly easy. 3 bolts on the inside under the hood, and the 2 large bolts on the strut where it joins the hub assembly. You may need a johnson bar (a very long bar/ratchet for leverage). It`s best to replace both sides as a new or used strut will be different from the other side. This may effect handling/safety. It`s less expensive to buy 2 used struts from the same car than to have the old strut fixed. You may also want to look at QuickStruts I believe they are called.