Cars
Posted By matt on May 30, 2009
First, I love my wife. She’s awesome, and probably knows more about cars than I do. It’s fun to wrench on stuff together.
Anyway, I HATE the right side McPherson strut assembly on Jettas and Golfs. Anyone who has had to change one out knows what I mean.
The Bentley book says “unbolt the drive shaft from the transmission flange”.
Are… you.. serious?
Folks on the internet have found another couple of ways – either use a claw-type spring compressor (which I don’t have, because I got a nicer one.. which doesn’t work on stuff on the car) or loosen the subframe attachment bolts.
I ended up loosening the subframe bolts, and with a little persuasion (rubber mallet) down and over (rotating the steering knuckle a little bit) got it done.
Took me like five frikkin hours to get it undone. If I had to redo it, it probably would only be an hour, because I know what I’m doing. But still…
Meanwhile, it took me about half an hour to get the left side one undone (and that includes jacking up the car and pulling the wheel off).
Lessons learned:
- Impact wrenches rock.
- I’m sick of those silly “change a tire” jacks (I’ve been using them to jack up the car and put them up on blocks), and I’m going to get a proper jack. I was looking at a standard 2 ton wheelie floor jack, but then I saw these. We’re going to hit Tractor Supply tomorrow, and if they have any, I’ll get a pair. If not, I’ll just grab a regular floor jack.
- I also need a 1/2″ to 3/8″ bit adapter, because I have many 3/8″ drive sockets, but a 1/2″ drive impact wrench.
Aaanyway. So, the car is like half done.
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