GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I got some s-techs and tokico blues yesterday so i decided to try the install myself. Wow is this ever a pain. Good old Michigan weather has everything seized and rusted together. I've been PB Blasting everything like there's no tomorrow and it helps but I'm stuck. I've got the front strut assembly completely out of the car (left and right). My issue now is I cannot get the nut at the top of the strut mount off. I've tried everything. Any time i try to turn the nut it just ends up spinning the whole assembly along with it. I'm getting ready to take the struts somewhere to have someone pop the mounts off for me. Hopefully the back struts don't give me the same issue.

It is much easier if you have someone helping you hold the struts. I you could always put it in a vice to hold it too.

I have always broken the nut loose while the strut is still mounted on the car. Seemed to be the best way for me. The lower rear shock bolt is always an issue for me. I have had to take it to a shop to have them break it loose as it is tightened to 150 ft/lbs or more on the AWD.

^ he is right. It would be worth it for you to put it back in to do just that. you just wanna loosen it though don't remove it all the way.

You do know there is an allen key slot that you need to use to hold the strut shaft from spinning while you use a wrench on the nut right for the rear.The fronts strut shafts are notched on the top hat. If you hold the top hat in a vise you should be able to remove the nut on the strut.

Well I was finally able to get the fronts done. I did end up having to replace my driver side stabilizer link because i had to cut the bolt off. There are a few weird noises going on but I'll figure that out today. Unfortunately I have to go back to work so wont be able to start the rears until saturday probably... Any helpful hints for the rears ?

Quote, originally posted by vibedrivermatt »uhhh because this is what the crystal skull told me to do! ohhhhhh scary!!mmm... vodka!!!!

take a picture of your vibe with the front done and not the rear!

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. I love being able to hop on here and talk with people who've gone through this and know what they're doing. I will try to take a pic of it with the front on s-techs and the back on the stockers... it looks pretty goofy ha.

HAHA! I had to drive mine like that for a week once. Got a lot of funny looks from other drivers.

Quote, originally posted by smeadows7 » I will try to take a pic of it with the front on s-techs and the back on the stockers... it looks pretty goofy ha. Man. The S-Tech are gonna do some droppin' too. I'll bet it looks like the modern version of jacking UP your '60's-'70's Muscle Car in the rear. Yeah. I wanna see that too. But be careful as the handling is liable to way off kilter too... especially in slippery stuff, like rain. The caster will be way far forward of where it should be, like trying to steer your car directly into the road surface itself, and the camber way negative because of the drop. For your own safety, and others, get the rears done ASAP and get 'er aligned, Man.+1 on the Tokico's, Man. If you like them in the Vibe half as much as the ones I put in my old Honda, you will have a lotta' fun.

I am getting a slight knocking noise from the front struts when I go over bumps. Any ideas what this might be? Could it be because the back is not lowered yet?

Ok so I figured out the knocking noise. I hadn't tightened the top nut on the strut mounts enough. So problem solved there.I took a picture so ya'll can laugh at how ridiculous my car looks right now.. Yes I know it's dirty.

I was just about to say check your end links or check the top nut on the strut for your knocking issue.Glad you got it sorted out.loving the subi brat stance you got going there LOL

That'd be some wheel gap in the back! If anyone asks, just say you dropped a V8 in there....