[Shotimes] RE: Front Strut R&R

[George Fourchy]

On Tue, 9 Nov 2004 20:58:04 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time), Carl Prochilo wrote:

>It's funny because the height difference looks to me more than the 0.3"
>that I know the difference to be between old and new hardware.  Also keep
>in mind that my old setup had the spacer plate AND the washers you
>suggested I add.  Did you get a chance to look at the photo comparing the
>old and new mount/bearing hardware?  The old struts were also easily
>compressible by hand whereas the new struts offered a lot less resistance.
>
>PS.  Please send me the write-up for the rear struts.

It's possible that the car might settle after a day or two.  How long did you have
the springs out and unassembled?  They sorta stretch a bit, and then resettle after
being reinstalled...this varies from spring to spring.  

I can't say I've looked at a lot of the pictures (not much time to myself this
week), but I can imagine how the hardware differs.  I've had some pretty ratty
strut/spring combos to disassemble.  You definitely had some worn struts, but I've
had the worst....on the Plus from Hell, the rears were totally rusted out....there
were no guts inside the rear struts when they were removed.....just water, from
driving in rainstorms.  I'd turn the strut upside down to let it drain after
disassembly, and the piston (what was left of it) and shaft just fell on the ground.
 That's what the seller described as "original suspension"!

I'll send the rear writeup tomorrow, I hope.  I'm going to bed early tonight....I
didn't get my 12 hour catch-up sleep on Sunday night, or Monday either....so tonight
is it, otherwise I'll be behind all week, when I have to get up early and stay up
all night one night.  Most important thing....get yourself a 13 mm wratchet box
wrench for the three nuts per side in the trunk.

I know how it feels to drive on new struts....the wagon was getting its A/C
converted all summer....they kept it for two months, in exchange for charging me a
lot less.....and when it came back, it was like 3 times as stiff as Lowrider....same
struts, but with 1/3 the miles.

Glad your fronts came out successful....now you're an expert!!

;-)

George