Guest drumforever Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I just put new struts all the way around my Reatta. The front struts, on both sides, are making knocking sounds when I hit a bump. I have triple checked everything that should be tight. The struts look fine, as far as I can tell. I even replaced the two little sway bars on each side. Can anybody tell me what might be going on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Was it knocking before changing the struts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drumforever Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 No it was not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 I suspect the upper mount. Did you change them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drumforever Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 No, but they didn't look bad other than being dirty. Are they basically necessary to change when doing struts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie1 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Do not forget Strut Bellows. You can get from Rock Auto. Had similar problem on 1989 Riviera. Had to take everything apart.Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 A shot in the dark would be to disconnect the sway bar links and see if the noise goes away. It is possible they could be binding someway. Are you certain they are the correct ones and installed properly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drumforever Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 I heard the noise before I put on the new sway bars. I thought they were the problem since the old ones looked worn out. But, not the case. They match the old ones perfectly and I don't know how anyone could put them on wrong. My dad said the same thing about the sway bars, but I kinda feel like that's not it. maybe I'll try it anyway before I pull the whole darn front end apart again. But don't I need the sway bars??What are the strut bellows?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 You can do without the sway bars long enough to see if that is your problem. The car will handle a little different but it will not be a real problem. Strut bellows go around the strut cartridge to protect it from mud etc. It is inside the spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drumforever Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 The boots? I got new ones of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Are you certain the camber adjustment bolts near the bottom of the strut were tightened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drumforever Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Yeah, those are the ones the instructions said to leave loosened until i got it down and moved it around a bit. I tightened them with the wheels on and then again with the wheels off for better leverage. I just don't understand what could be knocking down there unless it is the sway bars. But I've yet to have a chance to take them off the struts and see what happens. Hopefully this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 (edited) The problem was not there before changing struts........... but you heard it after, change sway bar links but problem is still there.What if you did not get the top of the struts tight and there is clearance in the mounting stud?I would say it is the sway bar bushings.... but you said it was not there BEFORE changing struts.There are (I think) two bolts that hold a cover over the rubber bushing. Owners have seen the rubber shot and I remember a couple of owner that had busted bolts Edited October 2, 2009 by Barney Eaton (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnemac Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I did not replace the upper mounts when I did my struts and had to deal with them soon after. They may be good now but are they going to last another 60k. Also putting on new struts alerted me to realize I had cradle bushing problems. You might take the plastic covers off where the upper strut mounting nut is and put your weight on the fender and see if there is any play around the nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie1 Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 (edited) The boots? I got new ones of those.Their is a difference between Bellows and Boots. Go to Rock Auto and check pictures. I like to replace both when I have it all opened up. Edited October 2, 2009 by CHAS1 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drumforever Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Looks like a boot to me. It even says "boot kit" in parenthesis. I put the old donut bushings back on the struts and covered them with new boots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drumforever Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Well, I figured it out! It ended it being the top mount nut on each strut. I didn't have them down far enough and they were causing some play in the struts when I hit a bump. Thanks for all your help..... again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie1 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Well, I figured it out! It ended it being the top mount nut on each strut. I didn't have them down far enough and they were causing some play in the struts when I hit a bump. Thanks for all your help..... again!Thanks for posting final results. All to often this is not done and just leaves those following the post just hanging.Good Luck Enjoy your ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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