Strut Spacer Install

[ItsMeKO3]

Awesome write up. I'll be doing this tomorrow.

[CmmdrDan]

Matt I completely understand. When you are good and ready..if you decide to sell...Leave me on your short list.

[superacerc]

Did mine last night thanks to the handy write up. Took about 2 hours (and i recoated a squeaky brake with brake grease while i had the caliper off). Since i have longer springs (OME) I ended up removing the entire strut. I didn't use any spring compressors.

As far as removing stuff in the engine bay: (4.7L) The passenger side you have to take a bolt off the coolant resevoir (right next to engine) and a little screw on paper thin nut right next to breather side then it will slide toward the engine and pull it up and out of the way. I didn't remove any coolant lines. I just twisted it around and sat it down on the front of the engine. This allowed quick access to the 4 strut top bolts.

The driver's side is more intimidating but not hard. The two fuse boxes just have tabs on them that you can use a flat head screwdriver to push in and pull up the fuse box. I didn't unhook any wires or anything, just twisted them up and out of the way. The plate that they mount to has 3 small nuts holding it on. I also didn't remove this cover just pushed it up while i accessed the 4 strut top bolts. It was slightly inconvienent but easy enough.

Hope that can clarify the engine removal stuff for future DIYers

[Matt]

good info... I guess I jumped over a few steps in my write up.

For installing the spacer with the OME, were you unable to slide the spacer in there with the suspension fully dropped? (so you removed the lower fork bolt as well)

[superacerc]

good info... I guess I jumped over a few steps in my write up.

For installing the spacer with the OME, were you unable to slide the spacer in there with the suspension fully dropped? (so you removed the lower fork bolt as well)

Exactly. The top of the bolts wouldn't come down far enough to put in the spacer. On the bright side now know how to remove my entire struts should I ever buy new ones.

[superacerc]

Had my alignment today and as stated the toe needed adjustment. The shop informed me that that's actually the only adjustment you can make on the commander for alignments. Interesting.

[Matt]

The shop lied... you adjust the Camber/Caster via the lower control arm mount. But it takes a bit more work. It's kind of sad how common it is for people to say that alignment shops say there aren't camber/caster adjustments; either the tech is lazy and lying, or just negligent... either case sucks.