Changing the Struts and Rear Sway Bar
on my Dodge Neon
While this is the perfect time to replace the springs, they are on backorder with no time
listed as to when they will be available.
So I am only doing the struts now and will have to do
almost everything over again to replace the springs at a later date.
First things first. Get the car up on some good jack stands.
Nothing like a car falling on top of you to ruin your day.
Front strut ready for replacing.
You'll need a 21mm socket to loosen the bolts holding the strut to the hub.
Loosen the side with the nut, because the head of the bolt is ribbed and will not move.
Secure the hub so it does not fall. With a 15mm socket loosen and remove the 3 bolts at the top of the strut
being careful to hold the strut so it does not fall. (a helper would be good here)
Ready to remove the spring.
Secure the strut in a vise and use spring a compressor to compress the spring Being careful because these can slip.
Rear strut with compressor on.
Once the spring is compressed, using a 13/16" spark plug socket with hex type head, place a 1/4" or 3/8" drive
extension through it with a 10mm socket and use this to remove the top bolt off of the strut.
Remove the top off of the spring and then the spring. Pay close attention to how the spring is seated on the strut and the
top plate.
If you are going to slot the strut for more camber, now and have not done it yet, now is a good time for that.
Replace the dust boot then the spring onto the new strut and put the bearing plate back on the same way they came off of the old strut.
Now is also a good time to have a helper.
If you are replacing the struts with the KYB GR2's like I did, the top nut supplied is 22mm not 13/16"
So you will have to GENTLY grab hold of the piston rod with a pair of vise grips. Press down on the bearing plate
and start the nut. Then tighten down on the nut with a 22mm socket.
And re-install the strut the reverse of
how it was removed. If you have slotted the strut you should be using the following bolts/nuts/washers.
p/n 6500614 Cam bolt 2 each
p/n 6500615 Bolt 2 each
p/n 6500593 Nut 4 each
p/n 4014444 Dog bone washer 2 each
The Cam bolt goes on the bottom, the nuts and dog bone go on the front of the strut/hub assembly.
Hand tighten, adjust your camber and tighten down enough to hold it where you put it. Then torque both bolts down to 150ft/lbs.
Now repeat the whole thing on the other side.
Waiting for the new strut to be installed.
Note the brake calipar and sway bar have been detached.
The rear strut is about the same as the front except for the following.
You need to remove the brake caliper, remove it by loosening 2 10mm bolts on the back.
There are 4 bolts on the top and they are 13mm.
Again you need to loosen the nuts that are holding the strut to the hub. These are 18mm.
If you already have a sway bar there will be a bracket that attaches the bar to the hub assembly. If you
are putting a larger bar on as I am, I would recommend getting the Rex reinforced set.
One is pictured here on the right.
I got mine from Neoncars.com.
Once the strut is out you compress and remove the spring much the same but you can use a 13/16" wrench
and a 10mm socket instead of the socket within a socket setup you needed for the fronts.
Install is the reverse of the removal and I would suggest that you attach the strut to the hub before
attaching the top. The nuts and sway bar bracket go towards the back of the car. If you are replacing or adding a sway bar here is where you would do that.
Torque the strut/hub bolts to 70 ft/lbs and tighten the top nuts and your set.
Here are the old 16mm and new 22mm rear sway bars,
you can also see an extension cord and the tips of my sneakers.
A close up showing the difference in size between the two. I got my sway bar from
Forum Motors Group Dodge Great prices and great delivery.
If you need Mopar Performance parts, Call them.
And here it is installed.
Once the sway bar is detached from the bracket holding it to the strut/hub assembly, you will need a 5/8" socket
to remove the bar from the car. The arrow on the last picture points to where, on the drivers side, the bracket holding the
D-shaped bushing is. It is in the same area on the passenger side.
Once those two brackets are removed the bar will fall off of the car. Remove the mounting hardware on the ends and install them onto
the new bar. Put the bar back on the car, be sure it is centered. tighten down the D-blocks and where it attaches to the strut and your done.