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The rear struts were making noises like they were flopping up and down. As I went over bumps I could here the rear suspension making noises in and around the rear strut tower. I bought some parts and the following are some pics and notes.
Most parts are sourced from Rock Auto with the complimentary 5% discount found on this here wonderful website. Praise the lord, let's burn some gasoline.
As you noticed, the car is a simple 4 lug base 2+2 looking for some love.. . I'm just thankful these parts are still available.
Because the car already had aftermarket lowering springs, I didn't have to use a spring compressor to do the service.
I kept the springs but replaced everything else. There are a couple of original OEM parts that are reused that do not come in the strut mount rebuild kit.
KYB AGX rears
Mevotech strut mount kit MEVOTECH MP902975
KYB boot kit KYB SB107
OEM upper spring seat from Atkins Rotary
Altogether it costs around $300 to do this. (assuming you have the springs). . . I thought about going with the Tein springs but figured it's just more money on a 4 lug. Eibach also makes a set that is still available. . but whatever.. . . I got what I got let's make it work..
The springs are Suspension Techniques springs, 1 inch down, bought back when JC Whitney sold such things... .Struts are KYB adjustables front and back . . .. They are set at level 3 on the front and level 7 in the rear .. . All the way tight front and back works too, but it's a little hard for me. But if you go too low in the strut settings, the car will do the "bounce" as the springs over drive the struts.. . . I like running this setup as opposed to coil-overs. . . I enjoy the smoother ride the rubber mount parts give while still dropping 1". . .
Car is running 215/50r16's .. . 24.5" Diameter 8.5" wide . . .Not a lot of choices in that size. .
Originally the car ran 185/70r14's ..24.2" Diameter . . .7.3" wide . . . Not a lot of choices in that size either.
I noticed that the rear camber seemed off looking at the rear of the car. . . After taking it apart, and rebuilding the strut assembly, it became obvious that the old bushings were not helping things.
You want to pull a portion of the bellows over the strut body. (center of the picture) .. It takes a little bit but once you get it over the edge of the strut body it wants to stay. The KYB parts seem to work together.. Honestly, I'd like to have a rubber bellows but I went cheap.. . The car has a **** ton of miles on it and it's easy to spend too much.
Old strut that came off the car. .. . Notice how the lower bushing is all pushed out of center.
Strut seat/cushion (large part) with strut mounting kit parts. (mevotech)
Notice the flat edge on the screw thread. . . . . The very top part will key on that edge.
Slide the seat/cushion assembly over the spring and seat the spring as best you can.
Place the strut mount over the top of the spring seat/cushion.
Place the top retainer (which comes in the mevotech kit) over the strut mount plate. Use the OEM nut and lockwasher on the center shaft. . . There is just enough thread to start the nut once you install all the parts. Tighten the nut down until you feel no slop in the top plate mount assembly.
Picture showing the old strut and the mounting bolt on the lower portion. Notice how out of center the bolt is going through the lower mount point.. . The struts are around 15 years old.
Assembled new strut.
Make sure the top mounting plate doesn't wiggle and is firmly sandwiched in the assembly.. . . I assume that was my problem..... All the rubber parts were old and compressed. . .They allowed the strut to flop inside the assembly during up and down motions.
Does anybody know where to find a lower rubber cushion for the spring?. . . . I'd like to buy something correct instead of going through 3 different version before the I buy the 4th one that doesn't work.
A tie wrap on the lower bellows section wouldn't hurt.
The foam insert cushion feels like a really stiff ear plug. . . . .I'm hoping it doesn't fall out of the retainer over time. . .I'm guessing it expands into shape . .. ... .
Does anybody know where to find a lower rubber cushion for the spring?. . . . I'd like to buy something correct instead of going through 3 different version before the I buy the 4th one that doesn't work.
the FC doesn't use a lower rubber cushion. so what you have is correct
I decided to go a little further with the service. I took the sway bar end link off and replaced the bushings.
As I did not have an bench top press, I used a vise to squish out the rubber bushing. Push the smaller socket into the larger socket. . . .I then used a flat head screwdriver to scrape out all the little bits of what remained so I have a clean hole.
I don't know if you can see but one size is larger than the other. . .. Make sure your kit comes with two different size bushings.
I went to Ebay and picked up a set that works. . . . Prothane 12-402
The brass inserts are the same size but notice the size difference between the bushings. . .I think this bushing set was 20 bucks delivered.
01-28-22, 11:33 PM
