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LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000) Discussion topics related to the 1990 - 2000 Lexus LS400

Rear strut mounting help

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Old Mar 26, 2018 | 11:33 AM
  #1  
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Default Rear strut mounting help

Hey guys so I am installing rear coilovers on 1995 LS400 but the bolt is not lining up with the bracket hole. I have spent hours trying to line it up but couldn't. I believe the bracket has been twisted a bit as I used the breaker bar to free the nut and it took a lot of force. Any suggestions to what I should do here? Has anyone ran into this problem before?The lower mounting part of of the strut is between this bracket.
.
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Old Mar 26, 2018 | 12:38 PM
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Are the nuts on the upper strut mount loose to allow movement ?
Find something of a smaller diameter than the bolt, like a 1/4" extension or screwdriver, that will fit through and help move everything into position.
Once you have it all lined up push the strut bolt through which also moves the smaller rod out...
You can also put a jack under the carrier assembly and move it up slightly if it helps.
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Old Mar 26, 2018 | 02:08 PM
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looks like there is tension on the suspension. what I would do is have both wheels up in the air, left and right to relieve the tension placed on the suspension from the sway bar.
then use the jack up raise the knuckle upwards until they line up.

I hope the knuckle itself isn't bent which is very hard to do, however the last picture is concerning...is that the axle boot resting on the knuckle?!?!
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Old Mar 27, 2018 | 03:26 PM
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When changing struts I had to manipulate the bracket with a jack and it was very frustrating.
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Old Mar 30, 2018 | 10:58 AM
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upon closer inspection of the last pic, it's just deceiving!
it looks like the axle boot is resting but that's just the perception. in reality the knuckle is in the background and the axles is in the fore.
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Old Mar 30, 2018 | 10:15 PM
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I had the same problem last year. Thanks to bradland's advice I was able to get it lined up by loosening the fasteners on three suspension links (both lower control arms and the strut rod), then manipulating the bracket using the techniques described above (lifting with a jack and levering with a screwdriver). Loosening these fasteners provided just enough play to get the bolt through.
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