I bought some Bilstein HDs and got the shocks on fine (rear). There was no problem with that, but the front...a whole nother story! Cut it short, I get the strut assmy off with no problem and took off the upper control arm...it was flat and I looked at puzzled. Turns out there was dirt and grim in there so i dug it all out to get to the nut. Well, lets just say that the nut was now part of the strut. I was rusted straight on that sucker and I could not get it off. Spent 3 hours trying.

So I was wondering where to get a strut mount, I'm gonna need the top and of course the bottom. I know Injuneer replaced his and I would like to know wher he got them from Thanks for all the help guys!

 

I called my friendly disount GM parts dealer, and told him I needed the upper spring seats, right and left. I didn't buy the little "dogbone" shaped pieces that fit in the top of the seats. If things are badly rusted, you need to get those too. Can't help you with the part #'s.... this goes back at least 5 years.... .

Most people just cut the top of the shock shaft if the nut is rusted on.

"coil-over" shocks/springs in the front.... no "struts"

 

yea i know they are actually coil overs...struts is more easily recognizable though . Dude, I'm tellin ya...I dont even see a dogbone shapped piece, yes it is THAT bad! Ummm....do you have any pics on ur site? And also, should I really get this through the dealer? Thanks boss man!

 

Yea mine were the same way.. What I did was take mine to a buddys shop and had him put an air gun to those bishes and basically just try to tighten them till they busted apart... One side came loose by just trying to UNTIGHTEN it with the air gun, and the other side just wanted to keep spinning, so we just tightened it till it broke...

 

Bottom row, second piece from the right

Not exactly a "dogbone", just a wedge shaped piece that fits down in the top of the spring seat.

 

That's definately what he's talkin bout Mine had a $hit load of rust up in that **** too.. Can't believe that much stuff can make it up in that little area

 

More like a dog "biscuit".

 

Yeah, thats the part alright. Mine was completely filled to the top with junk. Just when you think your cars spotless...take that sucker off and see what it looks like.

I'm gonna try the air gun tomorrow, I'm hoping itll work but then again...if you could just "see" it, you would know its not going too.

Maybe that'll give me some time to hit the dealership for some more parts too.

 

When I changed the front springs/shock, the car was only 5 years old. One side had no rust at all. The other side had a little rust. I took the air impact gun and kept running the nut on and then off until it gradually worked its way through the rust at the top of the shaft. Since you aren't using your old shocks, cut the shaft, or at least get a vise grip on it as tight as you can.

 

Okay check it out, I used the air ratchet...the bolt is nice and round now. I used the die grinder (angled) and grinded it flush up against the strut mount (top). Beat on it for an hour or so with out bending anything and it didnt work .

Injuneer, I didnt think if that! So cut the dust cover off and cut the shaft right in half? When I get the shaft cut and it doesnt come off of the mount, could I just knock it against the ground and it should slide right out? Aw man I'm gettin pumped!!! More sawzall!!

 

Hammer and a sharp chisel. Split the nut. Dremel and a cutting wheel would probably do it, too. Problem solved.

 

I just left my old shock assemblies together and bought all new pieces at the dealership......expensive yes but it saved me time and headaches...once I looked at how corroded they were I knew those pieces were not going back in.

 

whats the p/n for those things that get rusted out(dogbone),i ll be ordering them from cromer.im pretty sure this is the same thing u need to dremel to fit the hals to an aftermarket spring.

 

I took the die grinder and grinded it all the way down and it still hasnt come off. The nut and the end of the shaft are rusted really bad. Thats the first thing I tried was the hammer and chisel. Do you see anything wrong with just compressing the spring and cutting the shaft that way? I like Injuneers idea...and I dont want to by new ones because the only thing wrong with them is those darn nuts.

 

There is no problem cutting the shaft. Numerous people have done that. Just make sure you have no tension on it, so it does not spring free.