Assembly

1. Clamp strut assembly in vise, with strut in a vertical position. Do not clamp reservoir of strut assembly in vise, only clamp the strut assembly in vise using clevis bracket.

2. Install the spring isolator on the strut lower spring seat. When installing the spring isolator, be sure the 2 retaining tabs on the spring isolator are installed in the 2 holes in the spring seat. When properly installed, the oversize holes in the spring seat should line up with the holes in the spring isolator.
WARNING: If a replacement coil spring is to be installed on the strut assembly, the first full top and bottom coil of the spring must be captured by the jaws of the coil spring compressor.

3. Install the jounce bumper on the shaft of the strut assembly. Jounce bumper is to be installed with the small end of the jounce bumper pointing down.

4. Install the dust shield on the strut assembly. After dust shield is installed on strut, collapse dust shield down on top of jounce bumper until jounce bumper snaps into dust shield. Then return the dust shield to its fully extended length.

5. Install coil spring onto strut. Spring is to be installed with the end of the bottom coil aligned with the clevis bracket on the strut assembly.
6. Install the upper spring seat on the coil spring. Spring seat must be installed with the notch in the spring seat aligned with the clevis bracket on the strut assembly.

7. Compress strut assembly coil spring, using Pentastar Service Equipment Spring Compressor, 7522A or equivalent. Be sure the top and bottom attachment shoe selected, properly fit the coil spring.

8. Install the strut assembly pivot bearing on the top of the upper spring seat. Bearing must be installed on spring seat with the smaller diameter side of the pivot bearing toward the spring seat. Also, be sure the pivot bearing is sitting flat on the spring seat.
9. Install the strut mount on the upper spring seat of the strut assembly. Then loosely install the nut on strut shaft.
WARNING: The following 2 steps must be completely done before spring compressor is released from the coil spring.

10. Install Socket, Strut Nut, Special Tool 6864 on the strut shaft retaining nut. Then install a 10 mm socket on the hex of the strut damper shaft. While holding strut shaft from turning, torque strut shaft retaining nut to 94 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
11. Loosen Spring Compressor, Special Tool GP-2020-S2.6, or equivalent until top coil of spring is fully seated against upper spring seat. Then relieve all tension from spring compressor and remove spring compressor from strut assembly spring.
12. Install the strut assembly back in the vehicle.