GM 19180743
Strut, Driver Side

The high pressure gas inside the gas charged shock absorbers requires users to refrain from removing the snap ring at the top of the tube because it would precede extreme force expulsion of its contents thus resulting in potential personal injury. Wear protective safety glasses before you perform centerpunching and drilling on the shock absorber while also maintaining protection of the shock absorber tube. Begin by making a 10 mm (0.4 inch) deep mark 10 mm (0.4 inch) from the shock absorber tube bottom with a centerpunch. Set the vertical shock absorber inside the vise as you stretch its shock absorber rod to its maximum length. Drill a hole at the centerpunch using a 5 mm (3/16 inch) drill bit to enable gas or gas/oil mixture drainage but contain oil leakage with shop towels. Create a second hole at the middle portion of the tube by using the centerpunch as a guide with a drill before the second hole is made with a match. Once again use shop towels to catch any leaking oil. Put the shock absorber over a drain pan in a horizontal position with the holes at the bottom while moving the rod through the tube until all oil drains out.

Install the shock absorber to the knuckle bolt and tighten it to 180 N.m (133 lb ft).

Use shop towels to contain the escaping oil.

Tighten the lower mounting bolt to 180 N.m (133 lb ft).

Install the upper shock absorber nuts and tighten them to 25 Nm (18 lb ft).