Gmt900 Strut Replacement

brims · June 17, 2009

My suspension is starting to get a little bouncy and I know the stock shocks are junk basically. Plus some Bilsteins will help the truck out some. I was trying to find out about cost of this before going out to some shops for quotes and I read something like $350+ for them to remove, rebuild, and replace the struts then alignment. This sound right?

I was thinking of getting some used struts from somewhere and tossing those on the truck and take my struts over to the shop and save a lot of cash or even buying the parts for new struts, take that stuff and the Bilsteins to the shop and have them throw them together and installing myself. Another option would be something like the $500 OTC strut spring compressor or one with the set of threaded rods and hooks and do the whole thing myself. It would only take about 2 rebuilds to make up the cost of the tool.

Anyone have any ideas? If not, how about some price tags for this? Thanks.

TexasAl · June 17, 2009

Before you buy the tool, check with Autozone. They have to tool they lend out/ or will at least let you use it.

y2kz71 · June 17, 2009

You can do it yourself, its not hard at all. I took this pic when doing the belltech struts. I bought the tool at sears for $50. All you do is clamp on the spring compressor and tighten down, then theres one 18mm nut that holds that top cap on and everything slides off. Then slide new strut in center, then coil, then top section and reinstall 18mm nut and tighten. Then loosen coil tool and your done.

5-0stank · June 17, 2009

Rent the tool from autozone...they will have it.

brims · June 17, 2009

You can do it yourself, its not hard at all. I took this pic when doing the belltech struts. I bought the tool at sears for $50. All you do is clamp on the spring compressor and tighten down, then theres one 18mm nut that holds that top cap on and everything slides off. Then slide new strut in center, then coil, then top section and reinstall 18mm nut and tighten. Then loosen coil tool and your done.

Oh cool, you have that tool. I was looking at that exact one as an alternative to the $500 version. I haven't gone to Sears yet, but I looked online. Does it seem like a durable device? I was planning on getting one of these regardless of the way I went because getting the struts on with the RC leveling kit is a PITA and would be so much easier if I could compress the spring ever so slightly.

I was thinking about getting the OTC version for $100, $50 more and I should get something that's heavier duty, maybe.

I would think about going to AutoZone and getting a loaner one, but I know how many people treat things, especially someone else's stuff, I would rather have something that I know how it was treated for something that's going to hold back that kind of pressure from the springs.

5-0stank · June 17, 2009

I've used autozone spring compressors at least 4 or 5 times. I've put 2 sets of springs on mustangs w/ one, and also 2 sets of springs on an f-body...

brims · June 18, 2009

For $100 I can have piece of mind.

marcel08gmc · June 18, 2009

For $100 I can have piece of mind.

hey i just want to give you a little heads up on the spring compressor tool, my truck is a 08 gmc sierra crew cab 4x4 1500 and when i desided to replace the front struts by using a set just like that one in the other post, i ended up breaking them and shouting a piece across my garage!!! it was not fun... the bolt bent right it to the spring and it could not be tighten any more and when i tryed to losen them that is when i broke them, i took them to one garage and they couldn't compress them with the bench type compressor!!! i ended up going to a truck off road shop and get them compressed he said most shop here wouldn't have a good enough spring compressor tool to do them crazy! my springs are alot bigger and the struts to then the ones in last post i am think that they came off on a smaller truck then yours or mine the spring rate in your truck is going to be alot more stiffer then his truck BELEIVE ME BUY A GOOD TOOL OR BRING THEM TO THE SHOP TO BE COMPRESSED ON THE STRUT! by the way is your truck 4x4???

thank

brims · June 18, 2009

The picture that JB posted looks like my strut, different spring color. Maybe it is a lot lighter spring, maybe he'll chime in on that part.

I have a 4x2. I really don't want to have to take the truck to a shop because I don't want to be bent over. If I have to get a heavy duty compressor, I'll get the OTC 6586. 2 strut rebuilds and it'll pay for itself.

marcel08gmc · June 18, 2009

The picture that JB posted looks like my strut, different spring color. Maybe it is a lot lighter spring, maybe he'll chime in on that part.

I have a 4x2. I really don't want to have to take the truck to a shop because I don't want to be bent over. If I have to get a heavy duty compressor, I'll get the OTC 6586. 2 strut rebuilds and it'll pay for itself.

ya i think that buying a good strut compessors is the best bet, that is what i am going to do next time i have to struts or spring.

stay away from cheaper strut compressors!!! save you self money buy a good one now. the 4x2 spring looks alot lighter then the 4x4 so it might be alot eazyer anyways good luck!

brims · June 18, 2009

Is there a recommendation for giving the springs a little compression to get the leveling kit back in, that was a b*tch and I'd rather not go through that again. I would think the $100 tool would give me just enough without too many issues.

y2kz71 · June 18, 2009

My truck is a Z71 2wd so I had the heavier springs/struts that are used on 4x4's (the ones in that pic are aftermarket struts/coils). The tool I purchased from Sears has never failed. I have used it on my truck several times and on my buddies truck several times and just the other day loaned it too another friend and he used it with no problems.

I have worked on alot of vehicles in my life, the 2008 included and I feel very comfortable in a shop working with all kinda tools. If you dont feel comfortable doing this by all means take it to a shop.

marcel08gmc · June 18, 2009

Is there a recommendation for giving the springs a little compression to get the leveling kit back in, that was a b*tch and I'd rather not go through that again. I would think the $100 tool would give me just enough without too many issues.

hey again your best bet for installing the kit is to disconnect the upper ball joint and then losen the sway bar links, this will give you enough room to install the kit. If you do it this way make sure you put a jack under the lower ball joint or it will fall after disconnecting the upper ball joint, then you can lower in enough to install the leveling kit. watch your brake lines and abs sensor wire to, you will also have to disconnect a connector on the upper control arm before lower it. the connector holds the abs sensor wire and the brake line it is a 10mm bolt.

hard to explain, hope this helps, post again if you need more help.

thanks

brims · June 18, 2009

Is there a recommendation for giving the springs a little compression to get the leveling kit back in, that was a b*tch and I'd rather not go through that again. I would think the $100 tool would give me just enough without too many issues.

hey again your best bet for installing the kit is to disconnect the upper ball joint and then losen the sway bar links, this will give you enough room to install the kit. If you do it this way make sure you put a jack under the lower ball joint or it will fall after disconnecting the upper ball joint, then you can lower in enough to install the leveling kit. watch your brake lines and abs sensor wire to, you will also have to disconnect a connector on the upper control arm before lower it. the connector holds the abs sensor wire and the brake line it is a 10mm bolt.

hard to explain, hope this helps, post again if you need more help.

thanks

I tried disconnecting the ball joint, I didn't have the special tool and the hammer wasn't doing anything. A spring compressor should work and be a lot easier.

marcel08gmc · June 19, 2009

Is there a recommendation for giving the springs a little compression to get the leveling kit back in, that was a b*tch and I'd rather not go through that again. I would think the $100 tool would give me just enough without too many issues.

hey again your best bet for installing the kit is to disconnect the upper ball joint and then losen the sway bar links, this will give you enough room to install the kit. If you do it this way make sure you put a jack under the lower ball joint or it will fall after disconnecting the upper ball joint, then you can lower in enough to install the leveling kit. watch your brake lines and abs sensor wire to, you will also have to disconnect a connector on the upper control arm before lower it. the connector holds the abs sensor wire and the brake line it is a 10mm bolt.

hard to explain, hope this helps, post again if you need more help.

thanks

I tried disconnecting the ball joint, I didn't have the special tool and the hammer wasn't doing anything. A spring compressor should work and be a lot easier.

hey, ya it may take a bit but it will come i live in northern alberta in canada they use sait on the roads i got it out, rust check to lube it up and a hammer, i thought the same think not doing anything gave in a couple more hits and pop it came out! but the spring compressor may work to it will be more difficuit if i am thnking right, your going to put the strut in place and try to compress the spring so you can put the spacers in right?! if that is right 1. you may not get the spring compressors in there to try it, 2. you are going to compress the spring, the strut is still going to be fully extented so you are going to compress the strut to then install the spacers maybe difficult to do. i maybe getting this all wrong but is this what you are thinking of doing??

thanks