W-body front strut installation tools

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[TurboSedan]

does anyone know which brand of GM W-body strut tool will work with KYB struts?  i used the Powerbuilt brand one last night (rented from Checker) and the 'leverage bar" thing had the wrong thread pitch for the KYB strut shaft, resulting in me ruining a perfectly good brand new strut

should i look for something made by Kent-Moore or GM?  anyone with direct experience installing KYB front strut cartridges please chime in!!!

i'll probably just buy one on ebay unless the NAPA here rents a different brand tool that will work (i'm going to check on that tomarrow).

thanks

[TurboSedan]

got the GM tool on the way

it works completely different than the Powerbuilt type of strut tool so i will have no issues with installation this time around.

so keep in mind - if you are replacing your struts with KYBs than DON'T try using the Powerbuilt tool you can rent from Checker!!  if you rent a W-body strut tool from somewhere like NAPA, Advance Auto, Autozone etc, bring the KYB strut cartridge with you to make sure the 'leverage bar' will thread onto the KYB strut shaft (KYB strut cartriges use a different thread pitch than OEM replacements).  that's the big problem i had so the Powerbuilt tool was useless (not to mention it damaged the threads on the KYB strut shaft :x )

i should be able to clean up the tip of the strut shaft that has damaged threads...otherwise i'm going to have to spend another $50 at tirerack to get another one :?  wish me luck heh

[Invasion1]

FTW!!!!

no clue what the torx bit in the kit is for though  :?

[TurboSedan]

FTW!!!!

no clue what the torx bit in the kit is for though  :?

the T-50 torx bit is to keep the strut shaft from turning while you remove the strut shaft nut.  only the OEM struts are like that.  some simply have wrench flats and the KYBs looked like they used a 6mm(?) allen head socket.

[DiscoStudd]

X2 on the Checker kit.  My solution was grabbing up a "regular" nut (non-locking) for the strut shaft, grinding down a large "Unistrut" L bracket to fit inside the strut mount, bolting the bracket to the strut shaft and bolting a piece of Unistrut to the other side of the L bracket.

If anyone actually obtains a strut removal tool kit on the cheap, my suggestion would be to find a 6 to 8 inch piece of solid steel tubing, then drilling a 2" deep hole and tapping it out using a tap with the KYB's thread pitch...

[TurboSedan]

i think i have found a way to finish installing my strut cartridge installation without the GM tool Dave sent me.

i'll have to rent the Checker tool again but only to remove the old passenger side strut cartridge and install the new KYB strut cartridge (the driver's side KYB strut cartridge is already installed - just not the boot/jounce bumper or strut mount).  that's where i ran into my problem with the Checker tool - the 'leverage bar' that you use to get the strut shaft centered so you can install the boot/jounce bumper & strut mount does not work with the KYB strut shaft due to the KYB strut having a different thread pitch.  since i have no way of centering the strut shaft, i can't install the rest of the stuff.

as for the 'leverage bar' issue - i am going to try something else.  it will require no special tools, but i'll need my brother's help and i'll need to raise the front end a little with a jack to relieve some of the spring pressure.  this will take most of the side load off the strut shaft so i can grab the strut shaft and push it upwards while centering it (i'll be doing this from the wheel well reaching in between the spring coils) while my brother pushes the strut boot/jounce bumper onto the shaft and then pushes the strut mount down into place.  then i can put the strut shaft nut on, lower the car back down and tighten the strut shaft nut to spec and be done with it....or at least i hope!

not exacty the right way to do it and probably not the safest, but it is extremely important that i be in Virginia by Thanksgiving Day.  the tool Dave sent me probably won't arrive here until the day before Thanksgiving  really sorry about this Dave, i will make it up to you!!!!!!  i would just wait for the tool but i must be in VA for Thanksgiving.

i'm going to try finishing the job tomarrow so i'll let you know if it works.

[TurboSedan]

OK fuck this.  not only did i ruin one of the KYB GR-2 strut cartridges earlier (the strut shaft threads on the tip) but i just now ruined one of my KYB strut boot/jounce bumpers too

the car is going to Midas tomarrow - they can fuck with it.  of course, i'm going to have to buy a two strut cartridges from them and get ripped off on all of the parts & labor.  THANKFULLY, my brother and his wife in VA are willing to foot the bill just to get me out there by Thanksgiving.


until i own my own GM W-body strut tool, i will never attempt this job again :smt092

[TurboSedan]

woohoo my car is done and is now ready for the trip!!  all i really need to do now is transfer my gauges from the GTS to the Cutlass and install my vacuum block (easy stuff - should take me about an hour).  then it will be 100% ready for the trip

Midas charged me $132.92 to complete the strut installation including a front end alignment.  they were able to file down the tips of the threads on the strut shaft so the nut screwed on no problem.  as for the ripped strut boot they had to cut part of it off but they said it still covers the strut shaft with the full vehicle weight on the car.

i am happy x3

[DiscoStudd]

Damn, they didn't gouge you too bad!

[White93z34]

so out of curiosity how much does the GM tool cost?

[pat]

i've seen the ac delco tool go for as little as $9.99 on egay.

i have the OEM brand tool in the big red box with all the attachments.  i took it from someone who owed me money.

[3100MPFI]

I got a cheap strut tool set from Pepboys for about $30.00, and I have had no problems with it.  I have used it to remove the stock delco's, and to install Monroe Reflex's in my 1988 Cutlass Supreme, and KYB GR-2's in both my 1990 Grand Prix STE, and my 1996 Mary Kay Grand Prix SE (before it was totalled, Rest in Pieces).  I had no issues with it.  Does anybody have a pic of the checker tool?  We don't have checker down here.