Shock went out??, I'm not sure.. Options

[HectortheRican]

Today, I noticed a popping sound from my right front shock. I'm assuming that it just died. True or false?

[96stgreendemon]

could be a number of things, strut, wheel bearings, or control arms

[HectortheRican]

could be a number of things, strut, wheel bearings, or control arms

I opened the hood, and put my weight on the bad side and the part where you would bolt the strut brace on (not sure what it's called) There's three bolts around one center one. When I pushed down, that center one would come up about 1/4" and that's what makes the noise when I go over hard bumps.

[samir0189]

you should probably just change your struts, strut tops, and put lowering springs while you are there... if you intended to do so.

[HectortheRican]

you should probably just change your struts, strut tops, and put lowering springs while you are there... if you intended to do so.

That's EXACTLY what I intended to do. Plus spacers and rolling fenders. Hey, we gotta take advantage of upgrading something when it breaks lol

[96stgreendemon]

one word, coilovers

[HectortheRican]

one word, coilovers

Kind of outta my price range

[4-eyed-freek]

change your bushings b/c that happend to me and i later found out that most of my rear bushings were shot

[HectortheRican]

Okay question. If I can push down on the struts and notice the car moving up & down significantly, does that mean they're dead? Because I did that to all 4 and they all moved up & down a lot except the front left, that one stayed pretty stiff

[SwissFerdi]

The one that stayed stiff isn't blown.

[HectortheRican]

The one that stayed stiff isn't blown.

That's what I thought, I just wanted to be 100%

[HectortheRican]

I'm looking up the KYB GR2s and from what I've been seeing, the front shocks don't have the complete strut assembly. Is that normal?

[SwissFerdi]

No, I have four full assemblies.

Part numbers for the front: R 334378, L 334379. Rears are: R 334125, L 334126.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: May 7, 2010 - 9:59 AM

[HectortheRican]

No, I have four full assemblies.

Part numbers for the front: R 334378, L 334379. Rears are: R 334125, L 334126.

Where did you get yours? Because I want to have mine by the end of the month

[SwissFerdi]

I bought the rears from Amazon and the fronts from RockAuto. For some reason, not everyone carries the full assembly for the front, only the inserts. I couldn't find them on Amazon either.

[HectortheRican]

I bought the rears from Amazon and the fronts from RockAuto. For some reason, not everyone carries the full assembly for the front, only the inserts. I couldn't find them on Amazon either.

rockauto was what I was on. They had complete assembly for rear and only the inserts for front..

[Galcobar]

Are the front struts on the sixth-gen rebuildable? If so, that would be why most DIY shops carry inserts, because it's noticeably cheaper.
That said, testing your struts isn't a matter of whether it moves when you press down, it's whether you can get the car bouncing, take your hands away, and watch it stop. The springs will want to continue bouncing, while the shock absorbers try to dampen the bouncing and bring the car back to a standstill.

Not being able to compress a strut (at all, as even stiff struts compress, or being able to do so too easily, are your indications they are blown.

That said, what you described -- the centre nut moving when you compress the suspension -- sounds more like a nut came loose. The strut rod is held into the strut mount with that central nut.

[HectortheRican]

Are the front struts on the sixth-gen rebuildable? If so, that would be why most DIY shops carry inserts, because it's noticeably cheaper.
That said, testing your struts isn't a matter of whether it moves when you press down, it's whether you can get the car bouncing, take your hands away, and watch it stop. The springs will want to continue bouncing, while the shock absorbers try to dampen the bouncing and bring the car back to a standstill.

Not being able to compress a strut (at all, as even stiff struts compress, or being able to do so too easily, are your indications they are blown.

That said, what you described -- the centre nut moving when you compress the suspension -- sounds more like a nut came loose. The strut rod is held into the strut mount with that central nut.

Either way, I have a rather rough ride. And these are the original '95 shocks and springs. So it's time for an upgrade.

[Spider77]

If your riding on original gear, Id say time for a chance for sure. As far as ST's having the drop ins, cant say for sure. But its not that hard anyhow.

[HectortheRican]

If your riding on original gear, Id say time for a chance for sure. As far as ST's having the drop ins, cant say for sure. But its not that hard anyhow.

Drop ins?

[Spider77]

re-buildable inserts.

[HectortheRican]

re-buildable inserts.

What's different about the ST's and the GT's shocks?

[SwissFerdi]

Nothing, they're all the same as far as I know. Only the front struts are rebuildable, the rears are sealed. Just buy the rears from RockAuto and the fronts from Amazon. There is only a $10 difference between a shock insert and a full strut assembly, as far as I recall.

[HectortheRican]

Nothing, they're all the same as far as I know. Only the front struts are rebuildable, the rears are sealed. Just buy the rears from RockAuto and the fronts from Amazon. There is only a $10 difference between a shock insert and a full strut assembly, as far as I recall.

Only $10?
On rock auto, the full assembly was about $55 for one, but for both the front inserts, the price was the same as one full rear

[Spider77]

Actually after a bit of looking, not much I think. I was thinking of the "sports package". But again, after doing some looking it seems that you should have rebuildable struts in the front. So you can either get the sealed or the inserts (which is a bit cheaper)

[AnaXyd]

The rear struts is rebuildable as well, but you need to do some modification to make a aftermarket shock to fit.

I am doing a rebuild on my stock suspension, to Koni Sport shocks, and I can show you how when I start the process.

[HectortheRican]

The rear struts is rebuildable as well, but you need to do some modification to make a aftermarket shock to fit.

I am doing a rebuild on my stock suspension, to Koni Sport shocks, and I can show you how when I start the process.

That would be awesome!

[Spider77]

Well, Ive already did this, so if you have the tools, but not the know-how, I can meet up (cause I think your not that far) and we can do this! As far as retro-fitting the rears, be my guest, Im sure it can be done, but it might require more than the average guy has laying around. Thats considering if its pretty mugh the same as making the sealed into drop ins....

[HectortheRican]

Well, Ive already did this, so if you have the tools, but not the know-how, I can meet up (cause I think your not that far) and we can do this! As far as retro-fitting the rears, be my guest, Im sure it can be done, but it might require more than the average guy has laying around. Thats considering if its pretty mugh the same as making the sealed into drop ins....

What tools would I need apart from a ratchet set an adj. wrench?

[AnaXyd]

You actually need a hacksaw and a drill. Thats it. To make the modification.

Im sure everyone got that in the garage!


EDIT: Here is a guide, which is from a T23 celica, but the same procedure.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tkp4XLN86U...feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VStT1gmLJeQ...feature=related

This post has been edited by AnaXyd: May 15, 2010 - 5:57 PM

[Spider77]

Ahhhh...was not all that aware that Koni's were secured to the housing from the bottom. See I was thinking in line of the fronts where you have that nut holding the cart in from the top. BTW, love the "torque to 55lbs" but just doing it with a breaker bar (of sorts).

[HectortheRican]

You actually need a hacksaw and a drill. Thats it. To make the modification.

Im sure everyone got that in the garage!


EDIT: Here is a guide, which is from a T23 celica, but the same procedure.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tkp4XLN86U...feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VStT1gmLJeQ...feature=related

A hacksaw and a drill for what?!? lol

[azian_advanced]

loosening that nut that holds the cartridge in was a PITA! with basic tools it's difficult but maybe it was because my shocks never had its cartridges replaced. i had to use my press as a clamp and an extension pipe because my vice wouldn't hold it tight enough when i was trying to loosen it. after that, everything else was a piece of cake.

[Spider77]

Wow, did not have to resort to that. A vice worked fine (along with a ford wrench).

[AnaXyd]

You actually need a hacksaw and a drill. Thats it. To make the modification.

Im sure everyone got that in the garage!


EDIT: Here is a guide, which is from a T23 celica, but the same procedure.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tkp4XLN86U...feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VStT1gmLJeQ...feature=related

A hacksaw and a drill for what?!? lol

What are you talking about? If you look through the videos I linked, I am sure you will find all your answers in the world.

[HectortheRican]

You actually need a hacksaw and a drill. Thats it. To make the modification.

Im sure everyone got that in the garage!


EDIT: Here is a guide, which is from a T23 celica, but the same procedure.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tkp4XLN86U...feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VStT1gmLJeQ...feature=related

A hacksaw and a drill for what?!? lol

What are you talking about? If you look through the videos I linked, I am sure you will find all your answers in the world.

I feel so stupid now. Thanks for the videos though!

[azian_advanced]

in case no one noticed, in those pics they use a hacksaw, grinder, and drill because the struts were sealed. (sport suspension)

[AnaXyd]

It is the same procedure on the McPherson struts.

@HectortheRican: No problem! I hope they will help you out!

Note: If you buy Koni Sport dampeners, a manual is included, which go through all the steps you have to do.

This post has been edited by AnaXyd: May 16, 2010 - 3:57 PM