How To: Replace Front Springs & Struts : Daewoo Lanos

[daewooluvr]

This is on a 2000 Daewoo Lanos Sedan but I'm sure they work just the same with any year and model.


Tools Needed:
2 socket rachets
12mm deep socket
12mm socket
lug wrench
jack
jack stand
10mm hex wrench
C-clamp
2 short bungee straps
#2 Phillips Screwdriver
19mm open ended wrench
Ball Joint Remover
Big Hammer
32mm Socket
Spring Compressor
Flathead screwdriver
19mm Deep Socket
Special tool: Strut Cartridge Wrench (I used an air chissle instead)

Removal of strut assembly & spring:
Remove the strut tower nuts. 12mm
Loosen the lug bolts on the rim.
Raise the car to the appropriate height to remove rim.
Place Jackstand under frame.
Remove lug bolts and rim.
Remove the two Hex bolts in the back of the brake calipers (10mm)
Using a C-clamp, compress the piston in the brake caliper upon removal.
Hang the brake caliper using a short bungee strap so that you don't damage the brake line.
Remove the retaining screw from the rotor using the #2 phillips screwdriver.
Pull the rotor off.
Remove the ball joint retaining clip.
Remove the ball joint nut. (19mm)
Using the ball joint remover and a big hammer place the fork end of the ball joint remover around the ball joint. Be careful not to rip the rubber boot. Pound the end of the ball joint remover tool with the big hammer until the ball joint separates from the hub assembly.
Remove the steering knuckle joint nut. (19mm)
Use the ball joint remover and a big hammer to remove the Steering Knuckle joint.
Using the two socket rachets with the 12mm socket and 12mm deep socket remove the outter tie rod end. Use the Deep socket on the top nut and the regular socket on the bottom nut.
Remove the Hub Assembly bolt (32mm). The bolt may be punched into the slots on the drive axle.
Once removed you should be able to push the drive axle out of the hub assembly. Be sure to hang the drive axle with a short bungee strap. If you let it hang and extend this will cause the internals to separate.
From here you should be able to ease the hub assembly out of the wheel well.
Next using the spring compressors on the spring. You want to keep the two compressors directly acrossed from one another. Compress each side equally until the top part of the strut is cleared of the spring.
Now use a flathead screwdriver to pry off the strut bolt cap on the top of the strut. There will be some grease in there and the nut.
Remove the top strut nut (19mm).
pull off the top of the strut assembly making sure to note the order in which it comes off.
Slide the spring off the strut assembly and release each side of the spring compressor equally until there is no tension on it. Remove the spring compressor.

Removal of the strut:
If you have the special tool for this job by all means use it. Use the strut cartridge wrench to remove the cartridge nut.
This will be under very high torque.
Once this is removed you can slide the old strut out and replace with the new strut.
Your new strut should come with a new Strut Cartridge nut. Use that.

Install your new Spring:
Using the spring compressor you want to make sure that you don't hook the compressor onto the top ring or the bottom ring as they will get caught when you install it.
Compress each side equally until it is compact enough to install the top of the strut assembly.
Slide the compressed spring onto the strut assembly.
You will see a little notch in the bottom for where the end of the bottom ring of the spring will go. Make sure you have the end of the bottom ring in this notch.
Install the top of the strut assembly in the same order it was removed.
Tighten the strut assembly nut.(19mm).
You will see a notch in the bottom of the top assembly for where the end of the top ring of the spring will go. Make sure you have the end of the top ring in this notch.
Release each side of the spring compressor equally until there is no more tension on the compressor. Remove compressor.
Voila, your new spring is installed on the strut assembly.

Installation:
Same as removal in reverse.
If you need measurements on how much to tighten each bolt ask and I'll look in the good book.