Chrysler PT Cruiser Service & Repair Manual page 50

2 - 22 FRONT SUSPENSION
STRUT ASSEMBLY (Continued)
Fig. 40 Upper Mounting Nuts
1 - NUTS
For the disassembly and assembly of the strut
assembly, use strut spring compressor, Pentastar Ser-
vice Equipment (PSE) tool W-7200, or the equivalent,
to compress the coil spring. Follow the manufactur-
er's instructions closely.
(1) If both struts are being serviced at the same
time, mark the coil spring and strut assembly accord-
ing to which side of the vehicle the strut was
removed from, and which strut the coil spring was
removed from.
(2) Position the strut assembly in the strut coil
spring compressor following
instructions. Set the lower hooks (Fig. 41), then set
the upper hooks (Fig. 42). Position the strut clevis
bracket straight outward away from the compressor.
Place a clamp on the lower end of the coil spring, so
the strut is held in place once the strut shaft nut is
removed (Fig. 41).
WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE THE STRUT SHAFT
NUT BEFORE THE COIL SPRING IS COMPRESSED.
THE COIL SPRING IS HELD UNDER PRESSURE
AND MUST BE COMPRESSED, REMOVING SPRING
TENSION FROM THE UPPER MOUNT AND PIVOT
BEARING, BEFORE THE SHAFT NUT IS REMOVED.
(3) Compress the coil spring until all coil spring
tension is removed from the upper mount.
CAUTION: Never use impact or high speed tools to
remove the strut shaft nut. Damage to the strut
internal bearings may occur.
the manufacturers
Fig. 41 Strut Assembly In Compressor (Lower)
1 - LOWER HOOKS
2 - CLAMP
3 - STRUT ASSEMBLY
4 - CLEVIS BRACKET
5 - SPRING COMPRESSOR
(4) Once the spring is sufficiently compressed,
install Strut Nut Socket, Special Tool 6864, on the
strut shaft retaining nut (Fig. 43). Next, install a
socket on the hex on the end of the strut shaft. While
holding the strut shaft from turning, remove the nut
from the strut shaft.
(5) Remove the upper mount from the strut shaft
(Fig. 44).
(6) Remove the upper spring seat and bearing,
along with the upper spring isolator as an assembly
from the top of the coil spring by pulling them
straight up (Fig. 44). The upper spring isolator can
be separated from the spring seat and bearing once
removed from vehicle.
(7) Remove the dust shield, then the jounce
bumper from the strut shaft by pulling each straight
up (Fig. 44).
(8) Remove the clamp from the bottom of the coil
spring and remove the strut out through the bottom
of the coil spring.
PT