98 Gr Voyager front strut replacement

[mpward]

Hi all. I am new to the board. I have a 98 Grand Voyager that I need to replace front struts on. I am restoring an old Mustang, so I do have a clue about cars but have never worked on McPherson's before. What is involved in changing them what should I watch out for? any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Mike

[Anaudiophile]

Piece of cake really. Make sure you have a pair of good reliable spring compressors and you're laughing.
Don't forget to mark the steering knuckle where it meets the strut. Try to get it as close to this as possible when going back together.
You will then need to get the front end aligned!

[slantsixness]

Be careful with the spring compressor. If you get it on wrong, it'll bite you when you're not looking...

Some places are selling the struts with the springs on them already, and you wouldn't need the compressor.

Alignment Woes:
Spray paint on the adjustment bolts and concentric washers. Let dry. Now toake it apart, then re assemble and pay close attention to painted marks. Alignment should be within tolerance, but another $69 alignment won't hurt your pocket too bad.

While it's apart, check your stabilizer bar bushings. That's usually where that annoying clunk is coming from... not the struts. Bushings are around $10 apiece. So many of us have replaced struts that were'nt bad, and that damn clunking still prevailed....

good luck,

Slantsixness