1997 Grand Prix Pontiac Rear Strut Installation

The base, GT and GT Coupe made up the model lineup for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. The base model 1997 Grand Prix was equipped with a 3.1-liter V-6. The GT and GT Coupe were fitted with a 3.8-liter V-6 that produced 195-horsepower. A four-wheel independent suspension was on the 1997 Grand Prix, with separate spindle knuckles and struts at each wheel. Struts usually need to be replaced when they wear down or start to leak. The struts on the rear of the 1997 Grand Prix have mounts that extend into the rear body of the car.

Instructions

1

Open the trunk of the Grand Prix. Peel back the trunk liner on both frontward corners of the trunk, just behind the back seats. Remove the body to strut mount nuts on both sides of the trunk, using a ratchet and socket or an open-end wrench.

2

Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts, using a tire iron. Raise the rear of the Grand Prix with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the rear axle beam. Lower the car onto the stands. Remove the rear lug nuts, then remove the rear wheels completely from the car.

3

Make a mark between the strut and the rear spindle knuckle, using a white crayon or paint marker. Remove the nuts that attach the rear stabilizer link to the Grand prix, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the rear stabilizer link completely from the rear of the car.

4

Insert a large open-end wrench to one of the lower strut mount nuts. Turn the lower strut mount bolt counterclockwise with a 1/2-inch-drive ratchet and socket. Separate the nut and bolt from one another, and remove the nut from the strut. Tap the lower strut bolt through the strut, then pull the bolt free with channel locks from the other side. Remove the second strut bolt using the same procedures. Pry the lower strut free form the spindle knuckle, with a pry bar. Remove the strut from the Grand Prix by hand.

5

Copy the scribe mark on the old strut to the new strut in the identical place. This will ensure proper alignment of the new strut. Insert the strut upward into the body of the car. Align the three mounting studs at the top of the strut, with the holes in the top of the wheel well. Push the strut upward so that the studs protrude upward into the trunk area. Ask your assistant to start all three mounting nuts by hand, onto the studs.

6

Align the strut mark with the mark on the spindle. Push the strut into the spindle, using a pry bar if needed. Insert the lower strut bolts through the strut and spindle. Tap the bolt with a hammer to insert it, once you have aligned the splines on the upper strut bolts with those on the spindle. Install the lower strut nuts by hand to ensure proper threading.

7

Tighten the lower strut nuts to 82 foot-pounds with a 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and socket. Install the stabilizer links and tighten the nuts to 26 foot-pounds. Move to the trunk area of the Grand Prix. Install an open-end wrench attachment to the torque wrench. Tighten all three upper strut mount nuts to 33 foot-pounds, with the torque wrench and open-end wrench attachment.

8

Repeat steps 2 through 7 to complete the rear strut replacement on the second side of the Grand Prix. Install the rear wheels onto the car and tighten the lug nuts snug, using a tire iron. Raise the car off of the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the car. Lower the Grand Prix to the ground. Tighten the rear wheel lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds, with the 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and a wheel nut socket.