Rear Strut Component Identification

[myotis1134]

Hey guys. This is turning into a real shit show. I really should have just bought fully assembled struts.

My rear struts have never been replaced by me, which is why I don't have any receipts. The rear suspension is all fused metal and rusty parts.

I have already ordered new end-links, and bushings all around, but I'm really struggling with the struts. Can't find an exploded diagram of what's supposed to be in the assembly, and I don't have my books with me.

I have pulled the old struts, and disassembled them. Last night I cleaned up the parts which I need to reuse, and ran into a snag.

I assume this is a bushing? It sits on top of the upper strut mount.





As you can see, one of them is garbage. I took a grinder to the rust, and removed most of the bottom part that sits on the mount. I cannot find this part online, it has no part number on it anywhere. Not a peep anywhere of this part.

It looks like a bushing, and since it is obviously discontinued, I played with the idea of attempting to repair it by adding material via welding, then taking it to the local machine shop for leveling and surfacing. After removing all the rust, there doesn't seem to be enough material left to reliably weld without burning the thing up.

Plan B is to find an alternate part. Rubber or polyurethane shouldn't be too difficult right?

 

[luigisho]

I assume this is a bushing? It sits on top of the upper strut mount.

It's been a long time since I did this job but isn't this all integrated into the mount as 1 piece?

 

[zoomlater]

I remember seeing metal weight on some Tokicos I picked up. Here is a thread on it.

Help please. What is this? Rear Strut Mount

I pulled my rear stock struts and spings out. In the mount is a huge aluminum bushing of some sort (inch thick or so). It is sitting in the mount and blocks access to the large strut nut. I can't use a crows foot because the bushing blocks access to the nut. I tried prying on it to get it...

shoforum.com

if you bought some quikstruts, that metal weight is not there

 

[Irish Pride]

I've only come across that metal weight thing one time before. Not sure what it's really there for. Get new mounts and don't worry about it. I've assembled dozens of struts on these cars and none of the ones I put together had that thing on them.

-Chad

 

[myotis1134]

Thanks guys. I had resigned myself to a long and arduous project involving machinists and vacuum chambers. In fact, I just finished the schematic for replacement bushings. Guess I'll put them on here since nobody else I know cares when I make stuff like this.





Basically a 2-part bushing, with a cup-washer pressed on the end. Drop the assembled part into a glass bowl and dump in some polyurethane.

 

[zoomlater]

good info, hopefully we won't have to make our own parts in the future