Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
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HOMESERVICE MANUALSSATURN1992SL AUTOMATICREPAIR AND DIAGNOSIS (SINGLE PAGE)SUSPENSIONFRONT SUSPENSIONSUSPENSION - FRONTREMOVAL & INSTALLATIONTENSION STRUTINSTALLATION
1992 Saturn SL Automatic
Tension Strut: Installation
1992 Saturn SL AutomaticSECTION Installation
- With tension strut off of vehicle, position left control arm onto tension strut. Install washer and nut, but DO NOT tighten. Install tension strut bushing onto tension strut with bushing slits facing front of vehicle.
- Position right end of tension strut into right control arm (on vehicle). Position left control arm into cradle. DO NOT install fasteners. Obtain new tension strut bracket-to-cradle bolts. If installing old bolts, apply Loctite Threadlocker No. 242 to bolt threads. Install bolts with brackets. Tighten bolts to specification. SeeTORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table at end of article.
- Install left front wheel and lug nuts, but DO NOT tighten lug nuts. With the help of an assistant, push bottom of left front wheel inward, toward center of vehicle. This will move left control arm into a position that will allow control arm-to-cradle bolt to be installed. Install bolt and new nut. Tighten to specification. Install left front wheel.
- Install tension strut-to-right control arm washer and new nut. Tighten nut to specification. Tighten tension strut-to-left control arm nut to specification. Thoroughly clean and lubricate ball joint stud threads. DO NOT lubricate unthreaded portion of stud.
- Connect left control arm to steering knuckle at ball joint. Install ball joint castle nut. Tighten to specification. Install cotter pin. (If cotter pin cannot be installed, DO NOT loosen nut. Instead, tighten nut further, but only as far as is necessary to install cotter pin).
- Install left fender splash shield. Remove rust and corrosion from wheel-to-brake rotor mounting surfaces. Install left front wheel. Tighten wheel lug nuts to specification. Check front wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in the WHEEL ALIGNMENT Section.
RENDER: 1.0x
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.