Strut cartridge pulls toward center of 94 lumina.

[runslikenew]

Need some advice/direction! I'm replacing a strut cartridge in a 94 lumina sedan.The top of the old cartridge is pulling toward the center of the car so much that it has to be continually pried away from the inner housing. I had problems getting the strut mount bushing and bumper out due to this. This is also not allowing the strut cartridge nut removal tool to seat properly in order to disengage the nut. Is this a common problem? Is this an alignment issue or a steering knuckle issue? Any ideas?

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, is the car jacked up or on the ground?

[jeffcoslacker]

I'm sure this has long since been resolved, but I wanted to respond to it based on what I noticed messing with mine yesterday...I came across this thread from a search and figured it might help anyone else who does likewise...

Car has to be on the ground. God help you if you lift it with the top mount apart ...you will find yourself in a unique and difficult situation.

The cartridges do push outboard in the holes with the weight on the suspension, moreso with the weight off. Pushing down on the nose of the car shifts them inboard a bit. Turning the wheel hard will push them one way or the other a lot...you'll have to see which way you need to go for your situation....

Also I put the nut back on top and used the socket with an 8" extension to pull the struts to center in the hole...so drop the bottom isolator in, put the nut on, use the extension and socket to center it so the isolator drops down in nicely, then take the nut off, put the top isolator in, put the nut back on, use the extension once again to center things up...and everything goes together nicely aligned.

PS, there was a "bump" on the outside of the upper isolator that appears to be designed to fit into a little notch in the top of the hole to keep it from trying to spin when the wheel is turned...make sure it is oriented correctly...