hey ya'll ..i just bought a tien lowering springs for my mazda 3 2006 but i cant removed the struts on the front.. basically i took out almost everything to get it loose but no luck for me. does anyone know how to do it right? (things i started taking apart,3 bolts on top from the hood, 1bolt off suspension link, 1clip-brake line, 1 strut bolt behind, disconnect abs wire, 1nut from tie rod? ) but it still wouldnt go down further to free loose the strut.. please help... thanks alot[sm=groupwave.gif]

 

make sure you have the car jacked up by the body. sounds like you have everything unhooked. just use a hammer to tap the spindle off the bottom of the strut. i usually put a prybar in a hole in the lower control arm to pry it down the last inch or so.

 

On the 3 it's more like get a Big F-in hammer and wail on the lower control arm to break the strut free. It also helps to spray some penetrant into the lower strut mount (I like Kroil, but WD40 works), and use a large flatblade screwdriver to pry apart the piece clamping the lower part of the strut.

Put a wood 2x4" on your lower control arm and wail on that....don't hit directly on the arm.

To get the lower part out of the suspension arm, I left the upper mounts attached until the lower was completely loose, then I undid the top 3 screws in the strut tower. It should drop right out.