Has anyone here changed struts on one of these 4th-gen's?

My factory de Carbon struts are completely wasted, and I want to replace them with Bilsteins. However, Bilsteins require that you use the spring seat from the old strut. Do the spring seats detach from the de Carbon struts, or are they welded on?

Also, are there any things that I should be aware of while doing this project? It looks straight-foward, but I haven't done work on this style of strut before.

 

if you are talking about the shelf that is about in the middle of the strut, it does not come off, i just recently changed mine out, and the strut i had bought didnt have that shelf so i had to take it back, and get another one, i would make sure whichever struts u buy have the shelf, the people i talked to at the parts store said not many come with the shelf, and they dont sell it seperatly which sounds pretty retarded, but i dunno, i would go ahead and get a new top mount and dust boot since u are already repacing the strut might as well replace the hardware around it

have fun with the spring press it was such a pain b/c we couldnt use air gun on it b/c the shop didnt want them stripped =\

 

yes the old spring shelf comes off with a little help of a hammer. dont beat the crap out of it. should come off fairly easy. lube up the upper shaft threads of the new front ones with anti seize really good. check tie rod ends while u are at it. good time to change sense u have to have front alined anyways.

 

Good to hear! Do you know if the Bilsteins have the same housing diameter as the stock deCarbon struts?

 

i would assume so if they dont come with the struts. i used koni double adjustables on the front of my 93 and they came with the spring mount. the mount is adjustable to either stock hight or 3/4 in lower.

 

i dont think they come off, i beat the **** out of mine and it still didnt budge, im pretty sure it was heat pressed on

 

i just went out and took one off my old shock. u want to buy it? lol

 

nah i just took it back to the store, and went to another part store and got another one for the same price with the shelf

 

Okay, now that I'm looking at this, I see that the master cylinder blocks one of the torx studs on the driver's side strut mount. I don't want to have to completely remove the master cylinder and end up having to bleed this brake system.

I've never done work with a master cylinder before. Can I just detach the master cylinder from the power brake booster, and move it off to the side without opening the brake hydraulic system? Or will brake fluid leak out?

 

thats what i did, very carfully. dont have to move it very far.