Removing front strut- Advice needed

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kelvingenders
Posts: 463
Joined: 12 Apr 2010 08:40 am

Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by kelvingenders » 07 Jul 2010 07:49 am

I'm replacing my front shocks on my 360 GLT Hatch 1986 B200EA and have undone all ball joints and nuts, I cannot get the strut to detach from where it is supposed to. Where should it disconnect from?

a) the brake guard
or somewhere else
b) am i being silly?

Kelvin sm2 :360:

pyro
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Joined: 19 Jun 2006 10:21 pm
Location: selby/Beverley

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by pyro » 07 Jul 2010 12:35 pm

a) the whole strut comes out from the wheel arch,

b) probably not, have you undone the 3 bolts under the bonnet around the top mount? just give it a tap bit a tapping stick. somthing like a soft mallet wood or whatever.

Ben
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kelvingenders
Posts: 463
Joined: 12 Apr 2010 08:40 am

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by kelvingenders » 07 Jul 2010 01:02 pm

All the bolts at the top are undone. The bottom part is still attached but all ball joints and nut have been removed.

Vermilion
Posts: 77
Joined: 07 Nov 2009 10:35 pm
Location: Netherlands

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by Vermilion » 07 Jul 2010 02:51 pm

The strut is connected to the body with the 3 bolts on top, steering ball joint and the other ball joint, and with the brake calliper. You can just pull the part off where the cable is attached to, with a bit wobbling. See image for what I mean

Image
Volvo 340 L 1983

Ride_on
Posts: 2262
Joined: 26 May 2009 05:34 pm
Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by Ride_on » 07 Jul 2010 10:14 pm

Have you seperated the lower swivel ball joint? Normally I just unbolt the plate it is on, much easier to slid out then.

You may just need to push the lower suspension arm down with your foot and pull the strut out. It will probably be easier if you disconnect the radius arm at the arm aswell.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

kelvingenders
Posts: 463
Joined: 12 Apr 2010 08:40 am

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by kelvingenders » 08 Jul 2010 12:11 am

Thanks everyone, specially the picture one

Vermilion
Posts: 77
Joined: 07 Nov 2009 10:35 pm
Location: Netherlands

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by Vermilion » 08 Jul 2010 08:08 am

Ride_on wrote:Have you seperated the lower swivel ball joint? Normally I just unbolt the plate it is on, much easier to slid out then.

You may just need to push the lower suspension arm down with your foot and pull the strut out. It will probably be easier if you disconnect the radius arm at the arm aswell.
I unscrewed the swivel with the two bolts which connects it to the suspension arm. Kinda easy when putting it back too, but if you do this for the first time the nuts are probably a lump of rust :x
Volvo 340 L 1983

kelvingenders
Posts: 463
Joined: 12 Apr 2010 08:40 am

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by kelvingenders » 08 Jul 2010 09:48 am

Had to release two bolts holding the caliper in place, then Voila!!!Job done

Have discovered another problems - tops of struts, where holes for bolts to go through has cracked in three places....Aggghhhhh

Ride_on
Posts: 2262
Joined: 26 May 2009 05:34 pm
Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by Ride_on » 08 Jul 2010 12:10 pm

Yes this is common on 360s they are a bit weak and the newer version is more corrosion proned. The older ones have a dome for the rubber boot and this seems to be better protected. Although looking at it now I'm thinking the older ones are thicker (3mm at the shock mounting point), but I don't have a newer one out to compare. The problem is usually accelerated by heavy duty shocks.

I was able to get parts before, not sure what can be done now, vaguely remember seeing some threads about it.
Attachments
Strup top cup_older.JPG
300 Strut top cup - pre83 approx.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

Vermilion
Posts: 77
Joined: 07 Nov 2009 10:35 pm
Location: Netherlands

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by Vermilion » 08 Jul 2010 01:01 pm

I think he means this one
Attachments
BILD2090.JPG
BILD2090.JPG (42.86 KiB) Viewed 7812 times
Volvo 340 L 1983

kelvingenders
Posts: 463
Joined: 12 Apr 2010 08:40 am

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by kelvingenders » 10 Jul 2010 11:45 am

Boys, I got two struts from the wreckers, all part in place and no bearings broken..fixed..Thanks for the help

kelvingenders
Posts: 463
Joined: 12 Apr 2010 08:40 am

Re: Removing front strut- Advice needed

Post by kelvingenders » 10 Jul 2010 11:47 am

Ride on, thanks, the pictures are where the problems were..

Kelvin Brisbane

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