Suspension Strut Disposal
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Buick Regal and 2002 Buick Century. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
CAUTION:
To prevent personal injury, wear safety glasses when center-punching and drilling the shock absorber. Use care not to puncture the shock absorber tube with the center-punch.
- Clamp the strut in a vise horizontally with the rod (1) completely extended.
- Drill a hole in the strut at the center of the end cap (3) using a 5 mm (3/16 in) drill bit. Gas or a gas/oil mixture will exhaust when the drill bit penetrates the strut. Use shop towels in order to contain the escaping oil.
- Remove the strut from the vise.
- Hold the strut over a drain pan vertically with the hole down.
- Move the rod (1) in and out of the tube (2) to completely drain the oil from the strut.