Strut replacement idiot's guide?, Haynes a little vague....for a newbie! Options

[tadink]

Hey all -

I'm going to be replacing front and rear shocks / struts - and after looking at the Haynes manual, I'm wondering if someone has posted "the idiot's guide" for doing this?

In particular, the photo in Haynes shows a special tool-looking gadget holding the locking plate in place while loosening the nut (figure 7.5, page 101). Is that thing the dude is holding in his left hand an integral part of this procedure?

Also - for a strut insert, is this a 'strut off the car' procedure? I read a recent post where someone talked about this taking like 38 minute per side, taking the whole strut assembly off the car seems like it would take a LOT longer than that!

Please help the ignorant -

thx

td

[rhodyguy]

Before you swing the strut assem out, cover the fender over the wheel well with a towel. I use one of my floor jacks to control everything on the way down and back up, In place prior to loosening the top nut. Don't forget to bend the tabs down first. You only have to remove one bolt from a sway bar drop link to free up the movement. Just fold the drop link up out of the way.