Suspension parts for replacing suspension

Welcome to 2CarPros.

Honestly, chances are you only need new struts and not the entire suspension. Does the vehicle bounce a lot? For example, if you bounce the front end, does it stop bouncing after 2 or 3 bounces?

Could you let me know at which kit you are looking? Also, keep in mind this could be other issues not related to the suspension, but rather the steering or steering components. If you could let me know what is happening, it would help. For example, does the car bounce uncontrollably? Does it feel like the steering is pulled? Are there any noised associated with the issue? Anything you can think of.

Let me know.

Joe

This is the wrong approach for the problem you described. Kits that include all the common wear parts are designed for cars that have not had regular maintenance, so there will be many worn parts, and they're designed to make ordering parts easier because you don't have to search for each one individually. For any other reasons, you may be buying multiple parts that aren't needed.

Given the age of your vehicle, the common suspects are worn struts and weak coil springs. The sagged springs let the vehicle sit too low, and worn struts allow too much bouncing, and excessive wheel movement when you drive over bumps in the road.

Where I would start is by visiting any independent repair shop and ask to look at their small book that lists every car model and year, then shows where to take the ride height measurements, and what they should be. I'm sorry that I can't find that information in my online service manuals. If you find ride height is too low, my recommendation is to replace the coil springs and struts as an assembly. They come already assembled with new upper mounting plates, (another wear item), and new dust boots. These go on real quickly and easily, and you won't need the dangerous strut compressor. In fact, these coil springs are so small and stiff that the cheap do-it-yourselfer spring compressor tools won't work. With the new assemblies, you'll pay just a little extra for the parts, but you'll save a real lot of time and you'll be safer.

If you want to do this yourself, to replace a front strut assembly:

Removal
1. Remove the front wheels.

2. Remove the damper pinch bolt from the top of the damper fork.
3. Remove the damper fork bolt and self-locking nut from the bottom of the damper fork, then remove the damper fork.

4. Remove the damper by removing the two flange nuts.

To replace a rear strut assembly:

REMOVAL
1. Remove the rear wheels.
2. Remove the damper access panel and the damper cap.

3. Remove the two flange nuts.

4. Remove the flange bolts.

5. Lower the rear suspension, and remove the rear damper.