I recently purchased the rancho struts for the front of my 06 Dakota. Per the manual I removed the stabilizer bars/links, the three bolts at the top of the assembly and removed the lower bolt and nut on the strut but I STILL can't get the assembly out! Is there something else I should take out? Also, I noticed the strut arrives compressed. Once installed in the spring how do you decompress it so it's ready to go?

 

Don't you have to compress and remove the coil spring?

 

Do you compress it before removal? The manual doesn't say anything about the spring.

 

I didn't have to. You may have to lever that lower control arm down a few more inches if you can so that U bracket on the bottom of the strut can clear it.

 

According to the procedure in the factory service manual you should be able to get the assembly out with what you've done. When I had mine out I was following the instructions Trailmaster provided with their leveling kit ( http://www.trailmastersuspension.com...ions/DL223.pdf ) which also had me remove the tie rod end and upper a-arm from the steering knuckle which lets you drop the lower arm further. If you can manage to get some compressors in there and compress the strut it should come right out and would probably be easier, if you do it the way Trailmaster shows be sure to get an alignment after.

 

no alignment is needed, no adjustments are performed thru the strut.But it would still be a good idea.

 

You have to separate the upper A-arm from the sterring knuckle at the balljoint. Rent the tool from Autozone/etc. This must be dont to allow enough droop. You cannot compress the spring while its in the truck.....at least not easily or safely. I would put it back together and drive it to a shop. YOU WILL NEED AN ALIGNMENT.

 

Oh yeah, the new strut is not under any spring pressure. You can compress/decompress by hand.

 

Yeah you have to unbolt the upper control arm, and seperate it from the balljoint so teh lower control arm can drop down and release pressure from the strut, then you can yank it out.

 

the tool is caled a pickel fork.... you shoudnt need one though. just tap the upper control arm close to the balljoint ind it should break free and fall. watch for the brake line when you let it hang too! fyi....this is the easy part of the install! compressing the spring/removing the nut on the strut/ reinstalling the new strut is the more challenging part so you might wanna rethink this job before you tear it down and doom it undrivable!!!! good luck and take "deep breaths"!!!!