Rear Struts

[Z15]

My car been riding harsh lately. Had new front struts installed in the spring but the rear seems to be banging. Someone mentioned to me today that these early 90's GM cars were notorious for a problem with the rear struts. 83,000 miles on the car on originals. When its cold, the it bangs a lot on rough roads kind of gives a jerky bounch as if the strut is tightening up? Kind of hard to explain. Sometimes when I park the car the rear end seems to be up in the air more than normal.

Anyone have any insight on the supposedly well known rear strut problem?

[gw84]

I've had problems with the rear struts on mine...and brakes. I dealt with the annoyance of the struts for quite awhile before gettting them replaced. My right rear strut went up thru the top into the trunk, while the drivers rear strut actually fell down out of it's mount. Take a look under the wheel wells to see if either of them is hanging. If so, it will likely won't be connected to the top at all...mine was just lying at an angle...seems like it could've been dangerous!! Also, look in the trunk...if it's come thru there you will see a gap between the nut on the top and the vehicle (mine was sticking up about 2 inches above the metal in the trunk...hope that makes sense).

As far as noises go, mine would creak, moan and groan. Especially when I got in and out of the car. Whenever I got out, the rear struts would slowly go back up making an annoying groan.

Only real problem I had in replacing the strut was a piece of rubber in a figure-8 shape (not sure what it's called). I didn't clamp it and it made the job 100X harder than it should've been. I had a very hard time compressing it back to the way it's supposed to be.

[Blue Bowtie]

Your description sounds like it may be the strut mounts. If the knocking sound occurs on very small bumps, and the strut still has damping action, I'd suspect the strut upper mounts.

[Z15]

Well I could not see anything loose etc so I took it to a undercar specialty shop for just an inspection. They say I need new rear struts and they recommend a complete assembly as shown above rather than just a simple strut. Talking with the tech, he said these cars were thier bread and butter for many years but its sad to see them disappering from the roads. Made lot of money off the struts on the 90's Lumina/Cutlass/Century Platform. The quoted was approx. $400-$500 (with 4 wheel alignment) to R&R using the best Monroe strut asm. I did not feel too bad, there was a 90's era FWD Cadillac in the shop and the struts were going to cost $2,500 they said. They were waiting for the customer to come back from lunch to tell him the good news.

Says I can drive this a long time like it is so I may wait a few months till spring. The shops around hear normaly charge an additional 1 hr of labor in the winter to allow car to melt and dry.

THANKS for the Info........

[16th hippy]

Originally Posted by Z15

The shops around hear normany charge an additional 1 hr of labor in the winter to allow car to melt and dry.

wish the shop i was at did that during that least freeze we had...i shot my eye out with an icycle...rofl.

[Tinman238]

What year Lumina?

[Z15]

1993 4 dr sedan 3.1L

[john51md]

Originally Posted by Z15

1993 4 dr sedan 3.1L

Excuse me if i am wrong, but a 93 does not have springs on the strut., I had less than 200.00 in my 91 replacing both rear struts and top mounts myself, that included KYB boots as well.

[Z15]

No springs in the rear. I am not into doing it myself as I have other things to do with my time.

I called for prices locally and the complete assembly (not just strut) cost anywhere from about $90 for Monroe to about $150 for AC Delco and.

I asked the shop if I supply the parts, what would they charge me to install? Sorry, we don't install parts that we don't supply. Thier prices for the same Monroe I can by for about $90 is much higher, they sell at MSRP.

[Blue Bowtie]

Originally Posted by Tinman238

What year Lumina?

Excellent question. I shouldn't have presumed it was a '95+. The UCP shows it listed as a '93, which, as you know, is completely different.

I'd still get in the trunk and watch the upper strut rod while someone jounces the car to see it the mounts are moving.

[Tinman238]

There is another common problem with Luminas with the transverse, composite rear spring, like yours (and mine). The ends of the spring have rubber insulators from the factory where they contact the rear knuckle. One of mine is missing ('94 3.1) and the other is quite deformed and about ready to fall out. These are very easy to see if you look under the car from the rear - no need to jack it up. I also have some banging noise occasionally and I believe the missing rubber is the culprit. The aftermarket makes nylon or teflon end-pieces to replace the factory rubber ones. They are about $25 each and are supposed to be much better than the rubber ones. I ordered them and am going to replace mine as soon as I get some time.

[Z15]

I had a brake line start leaking lat Friday, brake light came on and no fluid in MC, good ole rust. Its going in shop to be fixed tomorrow. I will have them check the rear spring.

Back in October I was driving down road one day and started to hear a squealing noise and then it suddenly stopped and I heard something hit under car. When I looked in mirror saw something rubbery and small bounching in the road. Went back and looked but could find nothing. Hmmmmmmmm, might be the spring rubber? I don't recall any noise prior to this.

[Tinman238]

Did you solve the banging noise? If so, what was it?

[Z15]

No not yet. I have been very busy with my business (Amsoil) and hardly used the car since last week. They did fix the brake fluid leak, Master cylinder to front LH wheel steel line with rust pin hole. But I forgot to tell them to look for the rear end noise when I dropped of the car the day before. Just as well, roads have been bad lately and car is all full of snow and ice underneath. I am going to to have to let it go till spring.

But I did look under there yesterday and it looks like there are no insulators at the spring ends but like I said, lots of snow and ice and salt crud all over the car. 8 inches of snow yesterday and still snowing.

[Blue Bowtie]

Good. That means Big Powderhorn should be in good shape this weekend.

I'd still look at the upper shock mounts.