Scribing Struts on replacement

[brichter45]

Hey Guys,

I'm replacing the front struts on my 2000 pontiac grand prix se with quickstruts this weekend. Alldatadiy.com says that i need to scribe the strut to the knuckle. Just wondering if this is needed or not? I replaced the rear struts 2 weeks ago and didn't do this. I'm hoping i didn't miss a critical step.

Thanks!

[olopezm]

The marks are an aid to "maintain" the alignment as much as possible but it's still advised to get it done since you are installing new struts, the same goes for the rear.

I don't any experience with quick struts but I know of other members having problems with them (noises).

Oscar.

[brichter45]

Thanks for the response. I'll be scribing them. So far after installing the 2 rear struts and driving 900 miles of hills i haven't heard a peep from the back. Hopefully the same can be said for the new ones i'm putting in as well. Now if it would stop being 100 degrees so i can work!

[brichter45]

Well front struts are replaced! Wasn't too terrible of a procedure. took about 2 1/2 hours for both sides in the sweltering heat!

I was hopeing that the squeek that's occuring when going over bumps would go away but it didn't. Whenever i go over a bump i hear a squeek from the front. Not sure what it is yet might have to take it in to someone to diagnose. BAHHH

[olopezm]

You could try squirting the sway/stabilizer bar with some solvent (wd40, silicone spray) to lubricate them and see if they are the source of the noise. Spray each one and move the car up and down to see if the noise is gone. If it does then they are rotting out and even when they might still look good might be a good idea to replace them since these are not an expensive item.

This is only a diagnostic aid and not a fix

Oscar.

[brichter45]

Thanks Oscar, i'll do that here shortly and post the results.

[GregGP]

Yeah, scribing the struts in that case would be useless because the scribe marks would be on the old struts. You may also want to try using the silicone / WD40 on the control arm bushings too to see if they are squeaking..

[brichter45]

Well sprayed the control arm bushings with some wd40 and the squeak went away...Looks like i'll be replacing the control arm soon! Thanks for the response guys.