Diagnosis And Testing - Strut Assembly; Removal - Strut Assembly - Chrysler Dodge Caravan 2002 Manual

2 - 20 FRONT SUSPENSION
STRUT (Continued)
1 - NUT
2 - UPPER MOUNT
3 - PIVOT BEARING
4 - UPPER SPRING SEAT
5 - UPPER SPRING ISOLATOR
The coil spring controls ride quality and maintains
proper ride height.
The spring isolators isolate the coil spring at the
top and bottom from coming into metal-to-metal con-
tact with the upper seat and strut.
The jounce bumper limits suspension travel and
metal-to-metal contact under full jounce condition.
The strut dampens jounce and rebound motions of
the coil spring and suspension.
During steering maneuvers, the strut assembly
(through a pivot bearing in the upper strut mount)
and steering knuckle (through the lower ball joint)
turn as an assembly.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STRUT ASSEMBLY

(1) Inspect for damaged or broken coil springs
(Fig. 38).
(2) Inspect for torn or damaged strut assembly
dust boots (Fig. 38).
(3) Inspect the coil spring isolator on the lower
spring seat for any signs of damage or deterioration.
(4) Lift dust boot (Fig. 39) and inspect strut
assembly for evidence of fluid running from the
upper end of fluid reservoir. (Actual leakage will be a
Fig. 38 STRUT ASSEMBLY
6 - COIL SPRING
7 - DUST SHIELD
8 - JOUNCE BUMPER
9 - LOWER SPRING ISOLATOR
10 - STRUT (DAMPER)
stream of fluid running down the side and dripping
off lower end of unit). A slight amount of seepage
between the strut rod and strut shaft seal is not
unusual and does not affect performance of the strut
assembly (Fig. 39). Also inspect jounce bumpers for
signs of damage or deterioration.

REMOVAL - STRUT ASSEMBLY

WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE THE NUT FROM THE
STRUT
INSTALLED IN VEHICLE, OR BEFORE STRUT
ASSEMBLY SPRING IS COMPRESSED.
(1) Raise the vehicle. See Hoisting in Lubrication
and Maintenance.
(2) Remove the wheel and tire assembly from loca-
tion on front of vehicle requiring strut removal.
(3) If both strut assemblies are to be removed,
mark the strut assemblies right or left according to
which side of the vehicle they were removed from.
(4) Remove the hydraulic brake hose routing
bracket and the speed sensor cable routing bracket
from the strut damper brackets (Fig. 40).
ROD WHILE STRUT
RS
ASSEMBLY IS