Hello all,
We have owned our 2005 LX since new. After 179,xxx miles the noises going over bumps had me going crazy. The noises seem to have been coming from the front-left area. All parts were ordered from ROCKAUTO.COM and they arrived in two days!!! AMAZING.
I ordered the following:
KYB struts for the front
KYB shocks for the rear
KYB strut mounts for front
MEVOTECH aluminum front lower control arms (for a 2008)
The reason for the Mevotech control arms was two-fold. The main reason was they were cheaper. The second, and more importantly, they are roughly a 6-lbs (each) weight savings over the steel units they replace. This reduction in "un-sprung weight" should really help the suspension perform better.
Replacing the rear shocks was pretty uneventful. There is a 14mm nut and bolt that hold the upper mount and a 17mm nut holding the bottom of the shock to the control arm. Compress the shock and remove. Just that simple.
The front was a little more involved. Three 14mm nuts secure the top of the strut under the wiper cowl (there are three access panels you can remove). Then remove the ABS sensor wire and the 12mm bolt securing the brake line to the bottom of the strut. Additionally, there is a 17mm nut securing the sway-bar end link. Two 22mm bolts/nuts secure the bottom of the strut to the knuckle assembly. Use a spring compressor (carefully) to dismantle the strut assembly.
**NOTE** Make sure that you are aware of the orientation of the top hat (part that touches the top side of spring) and the strut mount (there are FR, LT and RT markings)
The lower control arm was not so bad with two 19mm bolts securing it the sub-frame assembly and one 17mm nut at the lower ball-joint.
Initial impressions are that the van rides great and the noises are no more. I will be taking a 7hr road trip and will report back with how she holds up.
LASTLY, I almost forgot to mention that our van is riding on a set of H&R lowering springs. Not that this changes anything about the install, I simply wanted to let it be known. LOL
Jose
Mobile, AL
We have owned our 2005 LX since new. After 179,xxx miles the noises going over bumps had me going crazy. The noises seem to have been coming from the front-left area. All parts were ordered from ROCKAUTO.COM and they arrived in two days!!! AMAZING.
I ordered the following:
KYB struts for the front
KYB shocks for the rear
KYB strut mounts for front
MEVOTECH aluminum front lower control arms (for a 2008)
The reason for the Mevotech control arms was two-fold. The main reason was they were cheaper. The second, and more importantly, they are roughly a 6-lbs (each) weight savings over the steel units they replace. This reduction in "un-sprung weight" should really help the suspension perform better.
Replacing the rear shocks was pretty uneventful. There is a 14mm nut and bolt that hold the upper mount and a 17mm nut holding the bottom of the shock to the control arm. Compress the shock and remove. Just that simple.
The front was a little more involved. Three 14mm nuts secure the top of the strut under the wiper cowl (there are three access panels you can remove). Then remove the ABS sensor wire and the 12mm bolt securing the brake line to the bottom of the strut. Additionally, there is a 17mm nut securing the sway-bar end link. Two 22mm bolts/nuts secure the bottom of the strut to the knuckle assembly. Use a spring compressor (carefully) to dismantle the strut assembly.
**NOTE** Make sure that you are aware of the orientation of the top hat (part that touches the top side of spring) and the strut mount (there are FR, LT and RT markings)
The lower control arm was not so bad with two 19mm bolts securing it the sub-frame assembly and one 17mm nut at the lower ball-joint.
Initial impressions are that the van rides great and the noises are no more. I will be taking a 7hr road trip and will report back with how she holds up.
LASTLY, I almost forgot to mention that our van is riding on a set of H&R lowering springs. Not that this changes anything about the install, I simply wanted to let it be known. LOL
Jose
Mobile, AL
