How to Replace Front Struts 2000-07 Chevy Monte Carlo
Created on: 2014-07-22
How to repair, install , fix, change or replace your front shocks with their loaded struts on 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 Chevy Monte Carlo.
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step 1 :Removing the Wheel
- Loosen the lug nut covers with a 19mm socket
- Pry off the center cap with a flat blade screwdriver
- Loosen the lug nuts with the vehicle on the ground
- Raise the vehicle with a floor jack
- Secure the vehicle on jack stands
- Remove the lug nuts
- Pull off the wheel
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step 2 :Removing the Front Strut
- Spray the lower and higher strut bolts with penetrating oil
- Remove the two of the upper 15mm strut bolts
- Remove the two 21mm nuts from the bottom of the strut and knuckle
- Hammer the bottom of the strut to loosen the bolts
- Remove the nuts and hammer the bolts out
- Pull the wheel knuckle forward and push the strut back
- Remove the two of the upper 15mm strut bolt
- Remove the rear shock strut
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step 3 :Inserting the Front Strut
- Insert the strut into place
- Replace the upper 15mm strut bolts by hand
- Push down on the knuckle and place the strut behind it
- Push the strut onto the knuckle
- Insert the 21mm bolts into the bottom of the strut and knuckle
- Hammer the 21mm bolts in and tighten them
- Torque the 21mm bolts to 130 ft/lbs
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step 4 :Reattaching the Wheel
- Slide the wheel into place
- Start the lug nuts by hand
- Tighten the lug nuts preliminarily
- Lower the vehicle to the ground
- Tighten the lug nuts
- Tighten the lug nuts to 100 ft/lbs in a crossing or star pattern
- Tighten the three 15mm bolts at the top of the strut
- Tighten the lug nuts to 30 ft/lbs
- Reattach the center cap
- Tighten the lug nut covers with a 19mm socket
Tools needed
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21mm Socket
Flat Blade Screwdriver
Ratchet
15mm Socket
Torque Wrench
Rust Penetrant
18mm Wrench
Hammer
19mm Socket
Jack Stands
Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.
Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.
In this video, we're going to show you how to replace a front strut on this 2003 Chevy Monte Carlo. It's the same part and similar process on these Monte Carlos from 2000 to 2005. We show you on the passenger's side, but the driver's side is the same procedure. The items you'll need include a new front strut from 1AAuto.com, a 15mm, 19mm, and 21mm socket and ratchet, an 18mm wrench, a hammer, a torque wrench, penetrating oil, and jack and jack stands.
Start off by using a 19mm socket to loosen up these lug nut caps and pull your hubcap free. If you have air-powered tools, you want to lift the vehicle and remove the lug nuts. If you don't have air-powered tools, you want to keep the vehicle on the ground, loosen the lug nuts, raise the vehicle, and then remove the lug nuts the rest of the way. Then just pull your wheel free.
Spray these two strut bolts with some penetrating oil, and do the same thing for these three up here. Remove the nuts on top. You want to leave one of them in place just to hold the strut until you take the lower part apart. Put an 18mm wrench on one side, and use a 21mm socket and ratchet on the other. You may need a piece of pipe for some extra leverage. Then just loosen up those two nuts.
Just another quick note here our car does not have ABS. If you do have ABS, there will probably be another couple of brackets you need to remove first. Hammer the knuckle in between the two posts of the strut, and then remove those nuts the rest of the way. Then just hammer out the bolts. Pull the bolts the rest of the way free. Now, pull your wheel knuckle forward, push the strut back and angle it down, and then remove that nut that you put back on finger-tight up top. Then pull your strut down and out.
On the bottom is the old strut; above it is the new strut from 1A Auto. You can see they're identical and they'll fit exactly the same. Take your new strut, feed it back up into place, and just replace those nuts by hand at the top of the strut. Push the strut back behind the wheel knuckle, and then push the wheel knuckle into it.
Then replace those two bolts as far as you can. You will have to maneuver it around a bit to get the holes to line up. Then use a hammer and put them in. When they have about this much space left, you can just use the nut to pull them the rest of the way through. So just replace the nuts and then tighten these up. Now torque these two bolts to 130 foot-pounds.
Replace the wheel and then replace and tighten up those nuts in a crossing pattern. Torque each of them to 100 foot-pounds in a crossing pattern. We'll fast-forward as Mike tightens those three nuts at the top of the strut. Torque each of these to 30 foot-pounds. Replace your hubcap, tighten up your lug nut caps, and then you're all set.
We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.
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