As I post, we have the front driver side disassembled, with the new spring on. We cannot get the upper bolt on the knuckle for the strut to realign. The lower one lines up fine but we cannot get the right angle to get the upper bolt to line up no matter what we try. Any insights?

 

I had the same problem. Im pretty sure we got the top bolt(1) first, and then the bottom(2). you have to just move it around until you get it in. Try using a screw driver or something smiliar to get the holes as close to lined up as possible. you might even need to let the axle pull out just a bit to give yourself some more room...just not too far lol. Its a pain, you just gotta wiggle it around

 

Here's a question... did you try to tighten down the top of the strut first? (the part from inside the cowl)

I didn't. When I put the struts back in, I put bolt #1 and then #2 like SSMTEN said... once I got the bolts on, I tightened the nuts. Then, I used the jack to lift the whole thing into the upper mounting area (I have a jack stand for the car itself in that corner), once it was relatively snug in there, THEN I put the top nut in and tightened it as best I could.

If you leave the top part of the strut for last, you can wiggle the strut into nearly any needed position to attach the knuckle. Of course it means you need to hold onto the strut to attach it.

 

Thanks for the responses fellas. We tried it both ways. With the assembly bolted in up top, and without. Regardless of how we had it, we could not get the joint to torque enough to even allow the upper bolt to slide into place. We could only get the lower to do so. I'm perplexed. The car is in my buddy's garage right now, I am going to call a shop and see if they can send someone out this week.

 

That is strange. It shouldn't be difficult at all, considering I (not mechanically inclined when it comes to cars) did it in an unheated garage on a "warmer" day in January between blizzards. My garage door was wide open because I had to keep part of the Fit outside to give me room to work on the car.

I assume you did have something holding the rotor to prevent it from disconnecting the drive axle, right? http://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-s...opped-out.html

 

That's the only logical issue left. But even at that, when we think it did disconnect, it seemed as though we were able to pop it back in, and when we spun it, it spun the wheel on the other side...so I am not 100% sure it was disconnected.

I don't know, I have no patience so I'm going to try to get a local shop to send someone out. It sucks because I can't even tow it, it's stuck where it is, lol.

 

yea in MY garage

yea pretty much the axle popped out..and i seem to be unable to get that pig back into position.

 

Bungie cords man..BUNGIE CORDS Lol. hope you guys get it put back together!

 

This is the thread he linked above, explains how to put the axle back in

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...opped-out.html

 

I almost had an anxiety attack when the CV joint came unglued on Amanda's GE... I just kind of massaged the thing and everything went back into place... I think that maybe Amanda was praying or cussing me. I could see her lips moving but couldn't hear her and before I asked what she was saying everything slid into place...

 

just read your comment TC and that made my day start right hahaha

 

I got home from work early yesterday and decoded to tackle the other three springs... It literally took me 56 minutes to do them!

I sat down to try and get that axle back in, and got it on the first try! I went to get the strut assembly and my damn bungge snapped! (needless to say, the axle fell back out) it took me about another hour until I managed to pop it back in...but we got it!

Man what a PITA! but heck, I'll know what to do when my friend Dom wants to lower his fit (he just got it Saturday)...and I'm sure he will once he sees Matts.

I was really impressed with how the car felt too after we lowered it. I thought it was gonna be crappy - it really still felt like a stock car!

 

Oh yea, we mediately rolled it out and took some snaps of the car..I'll post them later

 

So, it's all good now? *thumbs up*

Was it NBC's PSAs that goes "Once you know..." haha

Anyway, yeah once ya do it on one corner, the rest come a bit easier.

 

Yeah man, Jon (Twiz) kicked ass on this one, thanks so much broskie. Here is one cell phone pic, better ones to come:

 

PS: Thanks for the help and guidance too, everyone.

 

heres a proper pic...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jond_photo/5677410055/http://www.flickr.com/photos/jond_photo/5677410055/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/jond_photo/, on Flickr

 

PedoMatT3T4 steez...

 

Yeah, I knew this one would be too good to be true. I think the axle started breaking apart today. Dropped the car off at the dealership afterhours, looking forward to a fun phone call in the morning to tell me about the damage...