Lowering MistreSS
#11
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Pure awesomeness!!
you should paint your rotors and lower control arms black
just to get rid of that surface rust lol
Can't wait to see progress and final result!!![Thumbsup](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Wish I had a monte that clean and new, I'd get the best stuff for it like you did. Unlike my monte and factory struts![ROTFL](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/lmao.gif)
![Frown](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif)
![Big Grin](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Wink](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Can't wait to see progress and final result!!
![Thumbsup](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Wish I had a monte that clean and new, I'd get the best stuff for it like you did. Unlike my monte and factory struts
![ROTFL](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/lmao.gif)
![Frown](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#16
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First, I have to say thanks everyone for the feedback and interest!
I spent some time a bit earlier tonight taking apart the factory front strut assemblies so I'm able to swap the insulators over to the new strut assemblies when I go to assemble those. Got the insulators cleaned up and ready for the swap. I was able to do a comparison of the new struts to the factory ones for the first time. I'll possibly tackle taking apart the factory rears tomorrow, we'll see how I feel.
Factory fronts compared to the new Bilstein HD's.
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3872.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3864.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3869.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3865.jpg)
Passenger side front.
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3874.jpg)
Driver side struts.
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3876.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3879.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3883.jpg)
I spent some time a bit earlier tonight taking apart the factory front strut assemblies so I'm able to swap the insulators over to the new strut assemblies when I go to assemble those. Got the insulators cleaned up and ready for the swap. I was able to do a comparison of the new struts to the factory ones for the first time. I'll possibly tackle taking apart the factory rears tomorrow, we'll see how I feel.
Factory fronts compared to the new Bilstein HD's.
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3872.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3864.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3869.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3865.jpg)
Passenger side front.
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3874.jpg)
Driver side struts.
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3876.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3879.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3883.jpg)
![](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/06mistreSS/06%20Monte%20Struts%20and%20Springs/DSC_3887.jpg)
Last edited by 06mistreSS; 07-16-2012 at 08:58 PM.
#18
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Thanks Frank! Not sure if I'm going to paint the rotors during this project, but I can say the idea ran through my mind yesterday. As for the lower control arms, I actually sandblasted and repainted the arms on my 03 when I replaced the ball joints so I'm very familiar with doing those, as well as how much of a pain the bushings are to get out.
![Thumbsup](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#20
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![Thumbsup](https://montecarloforum.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)