The driver side one on mine went in pretty well, 20 minutes, but it took about 1.5 hrs of jacking the new strut up, loostening and tightening the nuts on the two studs, and wrenching on the passenger side one for it to go into place. Allignment was just fine, but for some reason, the Quick strut did not want to redially go into place. Eventually it fit. Then I had to wrench on the bottom, and use a drift to get the bottom bolts to go in. Weird, because the OEM ones fall right out when loostened up, no tension on them at all. Monroe must not have them designed totally to spec. When I Quickied my Escort wagon, It onlt took about 30 min per side, they went right in place.

 

Sounds like a pain in the Asche. Probably a stupid question, but there's no way for me to check the align myself right? Gotta go to a shop?

 

You can give it a "poorboy" alignment and see where it's at, but the best option is taking it in.

 

Okay, I'll check into it. Thanks Darth.

 

I wish i found this thread before i did this to my car this past weekend. I had the same exact problem. Just like me0418840987 said - the old one comes out fine - just the jacking, loosening and tightening of the nuts on the studs that is a pain.

 

U NEED TO rent a spring compessor from auto-zone. i had the same problem, you'll be able to align the holes up.

 

Yes who ever decides to do this, definitely get a spring compressor. The rears are a biotch to do without one. Screwed up one strut pretty bad with that third non-bolt. Not a happy camper today

Just updating this thread for anyone that searches for it.

Doing 2000 Neon rear struts with Monroe Quick Strut

 

I am not an expert on cars and fooling around with them - but is this type of issue normal when working on cars? The whole reason for me using the quick struts and installing myself was so i wouldn't need to use that strut compressor.

 

I thought the Monroe Quick Struts were a complete, ready to bolt-in assembly? Second of all, getting a spring compressor isn't really one of those things you could do to make the job easier. You are supposed to have a spring compressor when changing springs.

 

Yes, sorry, I'm not saying you NEED the spring compressor. And yes the Monroe Quick strut were a full assembly where you don't need the compressor. BUT from my experience this past weekend (which was not fun) if you are doing the rear assemblies, to be able to get the whole assembly into place over top of the knuckle, you need to compress it. The problem is, you can't get the 3rd bolt (which isn't a bolt it's a screw) on the top of the strut in place until the lower part is fitted into place. But you can't fit it into place without compressing the spring, trust me.

Now that being said I have not tried the fronts (nor am I going to bother after that crap) but it could be much easier. The rear's are a pain and it's not hard to rent a compressor for 10 bucks and have much less headaches over the thing. THe only reason you will compress is to get a better angle and get the strut into place before bolting in.

Just my $0.02 though.