- 1). Position wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Raise the vehicle using the floor jack and position the jack stands under the front sub-frame. Lower the floor jack and allow the weight of the vehicle to be supported by the jack stands. This will prevent injury if the floor jack fails. Remove the front wheels using the lug wrench and set the wheels and lug nuts aside.
- 2). Unbolt the upper strut mount from the frame of the car by removing the attaching nuts located under the hood on the strut towers. Remove the brake hose bracket from the steering knuckle with a 10 mm wrench. Remove the front brake caliper by removing the 12 mm caliper bolts with a wrench, then slide the caliper from the rotor and hang it out of the way with a piece of coat hanger. Remove the lower strut mount bolt that attaches the lower strut mount to the lower control arm. Pry the strut from the lower control arm using a pry bar. Lay the strut assembly aside.
- 3). Assemble the replacement strut assembly according to the instruction sheet supplied with the assembly. Parts vary from one kit manufacturer to another so not all assemblies are built the same way. Leave the lower spring perch slightly loose to make adjustment easier after the assembly is installed. Install the lower strut mount from the old strut onto the new strut.
- 4). Install the new strut in the reverse order of removal. Slide the assembly into the opening at the top and line up the upper strut mount bolts with the strut tower bolt holes. Start the attachment nuts by screwing them on the upper strut mount bolts by hand. Install the lower strut mount on to lower control arm. Tighten all bolts securely and reinstall the wheel. Repeat the procedure for the remaining wheels.
- 5). Lower the vehicle by raising it off the jack stands with the floor jack and lowering the jack until the wheels just touch the ground. Retighten the lug nuts one final time then lower the wheel completely to the ground.
- 6). Position the vehicle on level pavement, and adjust the ride height using the spanner wrench supplied in the lowering kit to move the lower spring perch up or down as needed. Measure from the fender to the ground and make sure all four corners are the same height. Tighten the lower spring perches. Have a four wheel alignment performed at your local auto repair shop to reset the alignment angles that have been disturbed during the installation.
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