Changing rear struts on Lumina w/transverse spring?

This is on a 1992 4-door Lumina sedan. The factory manual calls for a rather large tool that fits across the whole spring to compress it when changing out the rear struts. Has anyone replaced the struts, and do you really need the special tool? Perhaps the spring is slack enough with the wheels drooped that a simple pry bar can pull each knuckle down enough to slip the strut out?

Reply to
DT
Loading thread data ...

Usually the strut's "shock" will bottom out when you remove the assembly -- ie: if the wheel is dropped then the spring is still loaded with enough force to take your head off.

Either spend the $30 to rent the tool, or get used to driving around with a bouncing suspension. If you can't come up with $30, then you have no business trying to do a strut job.

Reply to
AZ Nomad

That's fine, I didn't realize it might be available to rent.

Reply to
DT

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.