GM 88965469 Rear Suspension Strut Assembly

To remove the strut, start by moving the side trim in the trunk compartment to expose the strut upper mounting fasteners. Loosen the mounting fasteners without removing them and pull off the rubber cap on top of the strut if it is equipped. Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts, block the front wheels, and raise the rear of the vehicle on jackstands. Remove the rear wheels and detach the stabilizer bar link from the strut. Mark the relationship of the strut to the knuckle for reference during installation. Remove the strut-to-knuckle nuts by holding the oval-shaped bolt heads with a wrench and striking the end with a hammer to push them out of the knuckle and strut. Separate the strut from the rear knuckle, remove the upper mounting nuts, and secure the rear knuckle to prevent damage. To inspect the strut, check for leaking fluid, dents, cracks, and other damage. Inspect the coil spring for chips or cracks in the coating and the spring seat for cuts and deterioration. If any issues are found, proceed to the strut disassembly procedure. To install the strut, guide the knuckle into the strut range and position the upper part of the strut to mount it to the body. Install the upper mounting nuts finger-tight and use a soft-face hammer or mallet to install the bolts. Align the marks and tighten the nuts to the proper torque specifications. Install the stabilizer bar link, wheel, and lug nuts. Lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts to the correct torque specifications. Finally, tighten the upper mounting nuts and have the wheel alignment checked and adjusted if necessary.

To install the strut, guide the knuckle into the strut range and position the upper part of the strut to mount it to the body.

The upper spring seat should be removed from the damper shaft and the rubber portion should be inspected for cracking and hardness.

Inspect the coil spring for chips or cracks in the coating and the spring seat for cuts or deterioration.

Before disassembling the vehicle, it is recommended to check the cost and availability of parts.

Mark the relationship of the strut to the knuckle for installation reference.

Open the hood and loosen the three upper strut-to-body nuts, then loosen the wheel lug nuts.

For installation, slide the strut assembly into the fenderwell, align the marks, and install the strut cover. Then, insert the three upper mounting studs through the shock tower holes. Once the studs protrude, install the strut cover to the marked position and secure it with nuts.

For coil over strut type suspensions on 1997 and later models and early Chevrolet models, follow a similar process: loosen the wheel lug nuts, raise and support the vehicle, and remove the wheel. Support the knuckle with a floor jack, open the trunk to loosen the strut-to-body nuts, detach the brake hose bracket if equipped, and mark the strut-to-knuckle relationship.