Quick Strut/Air Shock Questions

finally changed out my struts, work great. does anyone know where I could find the rubber boots that goes between the strut, strut mount, and spring??? is it called the strut bellow??? or bump stop???

On my rear Shocks I've checked the shock, if the release valve in the shock was out it wouldn't deflate? Correct??? Checked the Sensor it will cut the compressor on and off. but for some reason the shocks will not deflate unless I take off the air hose. would that mean that my compressor is not deflating the air when it is suppose to???? Love the thought of air ride and love to keep my air ride. If anyone could spare some knowledge on this subject please let me know all experence that everyone have on it.

I have replaced all four corners on my car so here is my two cents. I think the rubbers that go between the spring and strut baseplate are called spring isolators but not positive and will be a dealer only item. The bellow is nothing more than a debris guard for the strut piston and is more universal in fit. The rear shocks are not designed to deflate when you shut the car down. They may bleed some air while sitting and that is normal.

The shocks in the rear don't hold air, the compressor however has the release valve in it to control the ride height should 3 230 pound guys get out of the back seat and your unload your manhole covers. Does yours stay abnormally high?

Quick question for you...........

When you changed out your strut, there are two bolts holding the knuckle to the strut. The nut side is 15/16th and came off easily, the bolt has a 13/16th head. Is the bolt threaded all the way through the knuckle (do I have to unscreww the entire bolt through the knuckle), or should I just bang it through until I can get it out? I got the nut off, but the bolt is steadfast, I need to know if it unscrews? I have tried to turn the bolt, but don't want to do any damage not knowing how it is configured. The manuals are no help with this specific question.

Thanks.

Brian.

It's a shouldered bolt, not threaded all the way. You can pound it out and back in with a large hammer and punch just be careful with the end threads. These are a lot easier with an impact gun(made in China $30).

I replaced the struts, isolator and bearing. Got all the parts at Napa.

Thanks Indy8!

Today, I got the bolts out and the strut changed. About 3.5 hrs or so, to do the whole thing. So far the car checks out OK, though I will probably take the car in for an alignment in a week or so.

By the way, do you know where I can get replacement rubber seats for the spring? Nothing I am too concerned about, but the rubber was worn through in a spot or two and might need to get these changed out if they start to make noise.

Happy New Year,

Brian.

I noticed that members here keep referring to it as a "bearing", but when I removed the factory struts on my '97 the top unit was nothing more than a graphite wear ring that rides and rotates on a plastic base. Is this what you guys have?

Crown Cadillac, lower spring insulator;$9.90 ea.

Indy8,

The bearings (about 100 of them as I found out by accident) are what the plastic ring rides on. At the top of the strut I find the rubber insulator, then a black plastic (round but contoured underneath to fit the spring), then the yellow rotating disk (which can be separated from the black contoured piece), then the top mounting plate.

As mine is also a 1997 with original struts, this is probably what you found as well.

Thanks for the info on the insulator, and price.

Brian.