Can't get bottom of strut over lower control arm
The bottom of the strut gets stuck and won't clear the lower control arm because the assembly lacks sufficient downward flex and clearance. Even after clamping the springs or fighting stubborn pinch bolts, you typically need to lift the vehicle nearly three feet in the air to achieve the extreme angle required to slip it free.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Clamping the springs to create more space
- 2Lifting the vehicle higher in the air to change the angle
- 3Cracking the lower arm bolts loose to provide more play
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I can't get the bottom of the strut over the lower control arm. Have spent 4 hours drilling out the upper pinch bolt and am spent. And ideas? I've even clamped the springs to try and get myself more space”source ↗
“I had to lift my Mercedes almost 3 feet in the air to get the right angle so based on the image you’re probably just needing more space or flex out of the lower arm.”source ↗
Where this came up
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