First you need heavy duty spring compressors!
Fast way:
1)jack opposite side of van to compress spring a little more (saves some winding of compressors)
2)apply compressors to the spring (space is tight they only go on one way)
3) remove dash trim on side in question and open three 16mm bolts holding the stut mount to the chassiss
4) remove brake hoses abs wire etc from brackets at base of strut push hoses and wire out of the way
5) remove wheel, support hub (if not the drieshaft will pull ouf of the gearbox when you remove the strut)
6)jack the side with the broken bearing and get an assistant to help support the weight of the striut remove 4 x 24mm bolts holding strut assembly to the hub
7) manoever the bottom of assembly carefully behind the antiroll bar and down to the ground you should now be able to withdraw the whole assembly over the hub.
8) remove nut on top of gas strut need a 22mm DEEP socket for this
9)lift off the strut mount
10)laugh at the piddly roller bearing exposed, note the tp and bottom
11)clean the surfaces above and below the bearing, thorougly clean the bearing seal (i grease with silicone grease to aid the sealing
12) insert new bearing
13) put on strut mount and tighten 22mm bolt
replace strut as above
If you have access to a workshop spring compressor it make life easier.
paddy, January 2010
