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Front strut problems

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:43 am
by TODD01R/T
I bought mt R/t this summer and it was lowered quite low. It was a very stiff ride, with the occational bottoming out. I swapped the springs back to the stock R/T ones but of corse now it sits like a 4X4. When swapping the springs I noticed oil seeping out of the front struts but I took a chance and put them back in. I now have all sorts of clunking and major bump steer. I know I need new front struts. I currently have KYB GR2 in there right now. I guess I'm just looking for a few opinions on what to do about it. I guess my options are to get two new KYB struts to replace them or get new strust all around of a better kind . Another option I looked at was to go with coilovers. The car is just for street driving somewhat aggressively at times. The one thing I like about the coil overs is I could lower the car just a bit to look good without changing my ride quallity . I'm kind of stumped as to which direction to go right now. Any brand suggestion would be appriciated as well

Thanks... Todd

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:06 am
by 2001rt32
you car could have been aligned as it being lowered and now it should be aligned to the factory spec and/or the struts may be blown

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 4:55 am
by Donkeypuncher
The tokico blues are a better replacement strut than the gr2, especially for lowered applications. Cost about the same price as well, and you may only need to replace the front for the time being.

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:43 am
by occasional demons
If the LCA bushings haven't been replaced, they prolly should be done. Bad struts won't necessarily give you bump steer. I would also check the tie rod ends.

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:34 am
by Neon4Life
if it was lowered really low..then check everything else before buying new struts..even tho it seems like you need new struts its better to check everything.. and if you got the money just go with some coilovers.

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:06 pm
by TODD01R/T
Would it be wrong if I went with two different brand struts in just the fronts or is it best to keep them all the same? When pulled the front struts out I notices the LCA bushings were toast so I replaced them with oem ones ( just the vertical ones. the horizontal ones seemed OK) . Our matenance guy at work whe pressed in the new bushings said the Ball jionts were OK just no grease left in them and the grease nipples were broken off. He put new ones in and greases ith back up. When I had the struts out I had them sitting on thier sides on the floor and the two front ones had oil dripping out of them so I'm pretty sure those are on thier way out. With the car sitting in my driveway I tried pushing and pulling on the tire to see if there are any loose joints or anything. I can hear noises when I try to move the tire in a left and right motion. Could this be my tie rods having play in them or the steering rack it's self, I can't get my head under the car at the same time to hear closer for myself. This clunking drives me crazy.

Thanks