How do you replace a strut mount Ford Contour?

Answer 1

OK this will be very easy and simple to do just be careful and take your time. First jack the car from the front on the side your going to change put a jack stand under the car or a concrete block to where it is flush with the car and the jack. Second remove the tire and the strut may have the brake line hook to a brace on the strut remove it with the proper tools and now yours may be a 2000 model or older so some have one bolt at top or three bolts at the top or even four but (DO NOT REMOVE THE CENTER BOLT ON YOUR STRUT) Because this bolt holds the spring in place and it is held by allot of pressure if you do unscrew the center it is possible to cause death or serious injury only remove the outer bolts from above to undo the strut from the wheel base. Now after doing so the top of the strut should be moving freely . Now unscrew two bolts and screws that are located at the bottom of the shaft on the strut right behind the brakes if needed for more room you can remove the brake caliper and rotor to give you some more room Now that you have removed this two lower bolts you can now remove the strut freely to install the new one put it in place starting from the bottom put both nuts and bolts in place put the rotor back on and the brake pads and caliper tighten everything up place the middle of the rim under rotor and remove the jack stand or block and slowly lower the car down and Aline the upper bolts with the holes once there in and you can put the nuts on stop the jack from lowering and tighten the nuts on the bolts above raise the car back up and double check every thing to make sure everything is tight and secure once your done put the tire back on and snug the nuts until you have completely remove the jack from the car and finish tighten the nuts on the rim and your done. Just be easy with it be safe and curious also while your changing your struts check your rotors and brake pads, brake lines and your rubber bushing and last and not least your CV axles for broken boots if there's grease all over the place from the boot its time to replace the CV axles only if that's where the boots are split completely apart from each other the not expensive depending on where you buy your parts shop around get quotes on the parts you need and the one that's cheaper with a good warranty. Its better to be safe than sorry.