Front cartridge removal

[TLOC]

Factory service manual says to remove hood to remove/pull front strut cartridge. Can anyone confirm this or have pulled them with the hood on, I thought maybe remove the hood louver and pull it through there...T

[Tooky]

Don't need to pull the hood.  I just did mine 2 weeks ago.  It's close but they will pop right out.

[TGPilot]

You need the W-body strut cartridge removal tool. Leave the car on the ground and follow the instructions in the removal kit.  8)

[GangstGP]

The tgp has awesome front suspension. If you get the right struts it will handle so good. I put on Monroe G-Force the other day.

[TGPilot]

KYB GR-2 are the only cartridges you will want... 8)

[Invasion1]

KYB GR-2 are the only cartridges you will want... 8)

True Dat!!!!!! 8)

[GangstGP]

The front of my car is so stiff, if I were to push down on the front fender enough to move the suspension, it would bend the fender.

basically you have to drive it hard just to get it to move. you could jump on the hood and it probably wouldnt move :lol:  I dont even know if KYB has a stiffer strut than this one :wink:  They might :?

[TGPilot]

Well there is a difference between ride comfort with sportability, and being rock solid to a point where you bounce down the road. The later is not my idea of a suspension.

Being too stiff will actually pull performance from the suspension and handling just like if the shock was blown. :wink:  8)

[GangstGP]

That was my Gabriels. Bouncy.

When I got these G-Force that went away.

I am sure KYBs are good enough. The G-force are da BOMB !

[SpeedDemon]

Don't need to pull the hood.  I just did mine 2 weeks ago.  It's close but they will pop right out.

I just did mine also. Use your head to hold the hood up while you replace it strut. And be sure to wash your hair afterwards. :wink:

[Tooky]

Guys I did the KYB GR-2s per site recommendation, to replace my thoroughly wasted stock 175,000mi struts, but I gotta be honest, there was not much improvement.  I guess I don't notice much of a difference?  When I hit small bumps the car doesn't shake as much, but that's about it.  What am I supposed to look for?  I have never replaced struts before.

I also was disappointed the KYB's use a strange hex socket in the top of the strut instead of the GM star that the stock struts (and my W-Body Strut Tool Kit) had.  What's worse, was the KYB's strut cartridge hex socket's soft aluminum easily deformed as I tightened up the large nuts around it.  Factory torque spec on those nuts is something insane like 82 FT-LB!!!  I never would have gotten close to that, so I just stopped where it was and left it.  Seems like cheap foreign manufacturing. :(

[GangstGP]

the strut tool for these cars are hard to find for cheap. I had friends borrow them from work.  and if you know how to do it is really quick and easy. the quicker the easier in fact. if you can get the new one in before it expands, no messin with the hood or nothin.