Okay, this question goes to the ones who are very handy with their Mechanical Knowledge. eg Madmagna. Those of you who have changed your Struts before, how long on average does it take to change all 4 Struts. I've seen it done, and read the repair manual many times. It doesn't look that hard to do, it's just that i'm not sure if i can do it within one afternoon after work or should I wait until Next weekend to do this. Damn, when I need an assistant don't I?

BLEH.....

oh I got GT Gas on Sat for $350 (35-0409, 35-0410, 15-0348)

If your compressing springs manually then it takes a F***in long time :) Otherwise not so long. If you have not done it before, I would allocate yourself at least a day to work through it all. Best to give yourself time and do a thorough job :)

I got a pair of spring compressors from a friend. When you mean manually compressing springs, do you mean using spring compressors? how else do you compress springs?

I got a pair of spring compressors from a friend. When you mean manually compressing springs, do you mean using spring compressors? how else do you compress springs?

He means either using a socket wrench to compress them or an air compressor and rattle gun.

if you don't have an air compressor - i would allow a few hours - cos compressing those springs is a mongrel job!! but yea - i reckon you should be able to do it in 4 hours tops

Manual

Would it assist to have three spring compressors?

I remember doing this job for a Mitsubishi Lancer that I used to own (don't worry, no rice modifications made whatsoever). It took forever and a day to get the springs compressed. I found it particularly hard because once I had turned the spring compressor all the way, there was still some spring left which meant I could not remove the screw still - I had to take one compressor off, leave one on compressed (meaning the spring was slightly bow shaped), unwind the compressor that I had taken off, put it back on and then wind that one all the way in. I kept doing this until there spring was sufficiently compressed.

I could have been the compressor I used - it was one that you needed a wrench/shifter spanner to wind up.

A definite advantage of having shorter springs is that if you have to change the shocks later, it is so much easier to compress them than the factory springs.

hey dude mate i did mine and the fronts are a pain in the ass the prings themselves are very long my spring compressors took to long so i took the struts down to midas and they changed my springs over for $40 but rears are easy to do good luck mate. lol

While we're on the subject, where's the access to the top of the rear shocks from. Parcel shelf?, boot? rear seat? or what?

You will need to remove the rear seat :)

It took 2 guys working simultaneously in a properly equipped workshop to change all 4 springs/dampers in 40mins... At home I would guess it would take 4-5 hours if you were working by yourself with common tools. Murphy's laws of DIY repairs will prevail always...

Jack go to Suspension City (whitepages) in North Melbourne and speak to Damien... It cost me $90 to have the above done.

it took me about 45 minutes for the first front strut (using rattle gun!) and that involved a lot of learning... then other front took 15min max, the rear two took about 8-10min each plus pulling the rear seat and parcel shelf out... say 10 minutes or so.

make sure that the springs are seated in the struts properly!! other wise they will twist inside every time you turn a corner! (i had my new shocks done by a mechanic and he, or one of his lackies, even stuffed it up!!!)

It took me age's to get one of the front struts done, the knob's who lowered my car had stripped one of the strut threads all it did was turn but not come off, so out came the dremel and I cut the nut off, other wise it's only a few hour job.