Cars produced from 9.88 to 3.92
(Special instructions for cars produced from 1.84 to 8.88 are at the end of the section)Removal
Remove the front pillar.
Remove the cap cover.
The coil spring is compressed. To release the shock absorber, the spring must be compressed even more so that the spring cups are unloaded. Compress the spring with a suitable spring compressor.
Caution: The shock absorber nut can only be loosened when the spring is compressed.
Place the front strut in a vice and compress the spring with a suitable spring compressor. MITSUBISHI service stations use a special device for this. Compress the spring by approximately 10 mm.
Caution: If the clamps of the device are inserted into the coils of the spring, pay close attention to the secure grip and to the fact that the clamps cannot jump off the spring. It is essential to compress the spring from two opposite sides. The force of the spring is high, so use only a strong tool. Never tighten the spring with wire. Risk of accident!
Loosen the retaining nut with a socket or countersunk wrench while holding the upper spring cup with the MITSUBISHI special tool or other suitable tool.
Note: Only loosen the nut, do not unscrew it.
Remove the front pillar parts one by one.
Note: If you need to replace the spring, release it slowly. If you only need to replace the shock absorber, the spring remains compressed. Check the shock absorber, see the next section.
Examination
Check the front strut bearing for wear and corrosion.
Check all rubber parts for wear, damage and porosity.
Check the coil spring for wear, damage and deformation.
Check the shock absorber for deformation.
Installation
Snap the rubber stop buffer into the boot and push it onto the shock absorber piston rod.
Place the compressed coil spring on the lower spring cup. Make sure that the coil spring fits against the lugs of the lower spring cup.
Place the ring on the upper spring cup so that the piston rod enters the correspondingly shaped hole in the spring cup.
Align the holes in the upper spring cup with the corresponding holes in the lower cup. To do this, use a 0 10 mm tube 300 mm long.
Install the upper front strut bearing and pre-tighten with a new self-locking nut.
Install both ends of the spring into the grooves of the spring cup.
Slowly release the coil spring.
Tighten the self-locking nut to 70 Nm.
Install the front pillar, see paragraph 14.1.
Cars produced from 1.84 to 8.88
1 - dust cover,
2 - stop,
3 - rubber buffer,
4 - rubber damper,
5 - support,
6 - bearing,
7 - spring cup,
8 - rubber buffer,
9 - coil spring,
10 - Front pillar
Tightening forces:
- A - 60 Nm,
- B - 50 Nm,
- C - 90 Nm.
Caution: Nut "6" may only be released when spring "9" is securely tightened. Risk of accident!
The coil springs are color-coded. When installing new springs, make sure that springs with the same color code are installed.
(Original source of information: «mitsubishiman.ru»)
Insert the front strut bearing with the black bearing cap facing the support.
Make sure that both ends of the spring fit into the recesses of the spring cups.