Front strut removal/installation

GFUNK2011

MEMBER
2005 GMC ENVOY
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC

How do I remove the front strut assembly from my 2005 gmc envoy and replace it with a monroe quick strut assembly # 171341? At firts attempt, I jacked up 1 side, removed the wheel, 2 top strut tower bolts and lower strut bolt, but the swing arm didn't drop far enough to remove the strut - actually, teh arm didn't drop at all and the strut was still tight against the upper mount bracket. If I jackup both front wheels, will the swing arms drop down, out of the way, giving enough room to remove the strut? Thanks

2 Replies

FIXITMR

MECHANIC
9,990 POSTS

Did you get it? Usually on most vehicles you have to put pressure on lower arm to lower it since sway bar is holding it where it is.

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Sunday, September 11th, 2011 AT 9:56 PM

GFUNK2011

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for the reply. With downward force, I could feel that the strut was loose, but I could not force the swing arms to drop low enough to remove the strut assembly. The only way I could remove the strut was by using a gear-type puller to remove the strut's lower connection from the lower swing arm. This is a tapered fit and the strut easily popped-off using the gear-puller. With the strut's 2 upper bolts already removed, once I brokefree the lower connection, the strut assembly came right out.