Professional corner

Installation - McPherson Cartridge : Removal and mounting of a suspension strut and cartridge

Example: replacing a cartridge in a McPherson strut

• Mark the position of the upper fastenings
• Mark the position of the wheel relative to the attachment bolts
• Lift the vehicle and support it at the recommended jacking points
• Remove the wheel
• Slightly loosen the central nut at the top of the piston rod without removing it
• Unscrew the lower fastening
• If necessary:
• Separate the stabilizer bar and the steering linkage using a ball joint splitter
• Remove and support the brake caliper taking care not to crack or ply brakelines
• Release the lower fastening, remove the upper fastenings (fig 1) and take out the complete strut
• Next, on the bench, compress the spring using the appropriate spring compressor and remove the piston rod nut (fig 2)
• Using the compressor, remove the upper parts (cup, bearing, mounting bushes, gaitors) and the spring (fig 3)
• Check that all internal parts have been removed prior to re-assembly.

Re-assembly