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Blown struts? - 6G Celicas Forums

Topic #75340 27 posts Started by jordisonjr
jordisonjr
#1
So I lowered my car on tien springs about 4 months ago.
I kept them on the struts that were on the car, i don't think they were still from factory.
I changed out my endlinks last weekend with the twos rus cause my stock ones were work out. I just kept them the same length as teh stock ones.

No yesturday i noticed that in the rear, the driver side is a bit lower than the passenger side.(about a finger width or so lower.)

Now i don't know if this problem was before teh endlinks or after, i didn't really notice. But anyways what could have caused this? Did I do something wrong with the endlinks, or are my struts on their way out?

Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.

This post has been edited by jordisonjr: Aug 6, 2010 - 4:04 PM
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
Spider77
#2
I would wager your struts. When I put my springs on I changed the struts as well. An easy way to check is the "bounce test"....push down on the car and see how it bounces, if the struts are good it should go down (when you push) and come back up, then rest. If it keeps on bouncing then your struts have seen better days.
Johnnyny
#3
im thinking blown strut even if it wasnt oem it was probably replaced by a cheap one bad quality
jordisonjr
#4
yea it wasn't the best idea, but i know the struts were replaced about two years ago, and i though kyb made the only oem replacement for toyota. and it was an old lady who ahd the car so should probably wouldn't have known about bilstien or things like that.

But anyways, if one side was worn out wouldn't the other be worn too? or does that mean that its slowly on its way out?

Is there any other way to tell if the strut is blown either then the bounce test and listening for clunking. cause my strut mounts have been worn out for a while and have clunked ever since, but i knew it was just the mounts. thanks for the fast reply guys.
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
Johnnyny
#5
there is no time frame per se as when they will blow but they will so everyone ussually goes kyb they are very good i have had them on for over a year no issues they even cover their warranty on a 1.5 inch drop dats how good they are
jordisonjr
#6
alright i thought there may be like a certain amount of miles you could go, or like a sort of range you know?

But thats what you hink it is? nothing else?
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
Spider77
#7
For reals though, replace your struts when you change your springs. But yeah, there is no "estimate" for strut wear on lowering springs.
azian_advanced
#8
oil residues around the bottom of the struts mean that the struts are blown so that's one way to find out if they're blown. but the most accurate way would be to pull the strut off the car and remove the springs. then push on the strut shaft to see if it either sinks all the way down (blown) or if it rebounds back to the original height (not blown).

btw, oem struts (with lowering springs) are not meant for winnipeg roads.

This post has been edited by azian_advanced: Aug 6, 2010 - 6:48 PM
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krom8
#9
>
QUOTE (azian_advanced @ Aug 6, 2010 - 7:46 PM) *
>oil residues around the bottom of the struts mean that the struts are blown so that's one way to find out if they're blown. but the most accurate way would be to pull the strut off the car and remove the springs. then push on the strut shaft to see if it either sinks all the way down (blown) or if it rebounds back to the original height (not blown).

btw, oem struts (with lowering springs) are not meant for winnipeg roads.


x2
Me and a guitar
jordisonjr
#10
>>Spider77:>> telling me what I should have done doesn't really help me.

>>Azian_advanced:>> Thanks for a more accurate method.
I knew I would have to change the struts eventually, I just couldn't afford new ones at he time of lowering, and I want
to make sure thats acutally what i need now, or if something else needs to be replaced.
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
HectortheRican
#11
>
QUOTE (jordisonjr @ Aug 6, 2010 - 11:55 PM) *
>>>Spider77:>> telling me what I should have done doesn't really help me.


Sure it does. Now you know for future reference.
taking too long to mod since '09June '12 COTM'95 AT200
SwissFerdi
#12
The gas tank is also located more toward the driver side, which could accentuate a blown strut.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Aug 7, 2010 - 1:43 AM
'97 ST\ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+[sold 10/18]'93 MX-5LE
jordisonjr
#13
DEfinately didn't think about that one. I think Im gunna pull it off thid week and take a look. I've done struts on a few different cars now so it shouldn't take too long.
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
Spider77
#14
I was doing some looking around, and you can get a full set for round 200 (or less depending if you have "rebuildable") or so. I remember when I did my springs all my struts were in various stages of suck. The pass rear went down but never came back up, the fronts went down and came up real real slow, and the driver rear was actually (for whatever reason) halfway decent, although not as good as a new one. As far as strut life...average life span is 50-60K, with some starting to go as early as 30K, some lasting longer. It all depends on several factors, but mostly road conditions and driving habits.
I guess while you are pulling apart your struts you may want to take a look at the mounts, as they could be going bad as well.
jordisonjr
#15
Yea the mounts are bad.
They've been bad basically since I got he car, cause I was told, and could tell there was new struts but theys till knocked.

My internet has been crazy lately and hasn't been working much so I haven't done a lot of research.
I got a price from a local shop for both rear struts and the mounts for 347 taxes included.
I think I may find something on ebay for cheaper, if anyones got some websites or something let me know.

Still gotta confirm that the struts actually need to be replaced, but might as well start looking now.
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
dubb_head
#16
>
QUOTE (jordisonjr @ Aug 8, 2010 - 1:30 AM) *
>Yea the mounts are bad.
They've been bad basically since I got he car, cause I was told, and could tell there was new struts but theys till knocked.

My internet has been crazy lately and hasn't been working much so I haven't done a lot of research.
I got a price from a local shop for both rear struts and the mounts for 347 taxes included.
I think I may find something on ebay for cheaper, if anyones got some websites or something let me know.

Still gotta confirm that the struts actually need to be replaced, but might as well start looking now.


Hey,
I just replaced the rear struts on my celica. 94 GTS, I bought 2 rear struts by KYB GR-2

I bought em from a Canadian parts supplier for $84 bucks a piece. Shipping charge included if order over $75 of stuff from this website

Check out:

http://www.importcarpartscanada.ca/ShopByV...367&mode=PA
jordisonjr
#17
Wow thanks a lot man. Thats definately cheaper then buying locally for me. thumbsup.gif
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
jordisonjr
#18
alright so me and a buddy pulled the strut off and took a closer look.
I couldn't tell forsure if it was blown, when pushed down it would come back up at a relatively quick speed.
I've seen blown struts before and they returned very slowly, so I think mine jsut may be on there way out.

>>azian_advanced:>>
you said there would be oil on the outside of the strut
Would that be where the shaft goes into the housing i guess you could call it? or somewhere else?
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
Spider77
#19
how easy was it to depress the strut? like one handed went down with no pressure at all, or did you have to apply a fair amount of pressure?
jordisonjr
#20
quite a bit, like two hands could push it. I also did the bounce test once installed i got my buddy to press down on the hatch, and then it would bounce back to normal height when he let go and would stay at the normal heightt again.

This post has been edited by jordisonjr: Aug 10, 2010 - 12:22 PM
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
SwissFerdi
#21
Not blown then.
'97 ST\ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+[sold 10/18]'93 MX-5LE
Spider77
#22
Are you still sitting at that slant?
jordisonjr
#23
I just ran out and cheked an I'm not.
But before it was sometimes and wasn't and others.
I haven't driven it since i had the strut assembly off last night
but maybe something was just off and taking it off fixed it.
ill keep this updated once i take it for a drive.
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
Spider77
#24
Yeah, let us know for sure if you got that "lean"
jordisonjr
#25
Well i took it for a quick ride, and it apperas to be the same height on both sides for now lol.
the wheel gap was the same, now Im just hoping it will stay that way.
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
RockyMountainCel...
#27
>
QUOTE (dubb_head @ Aug 8, 2010 - 8:15 AM) *
>Hey,
I just replaced the rear struts on my celica. 94 GTS, I bought 2 rear struts by KYB GR-2

I bought em from a Canadian parts supplier for $84 bucks a piece. Shipping charge included if order over $75 of stuff from this website

Check out:

http://www.importcarpartscanada.ca/ShopByV...367&mode=PA


That's awesome to know there is a good supplier within Canada for such things, I just replaced the struts on my Civic with the same KYB GR-2's and lowered it on Canuck lowering springs, so far I'm VERY happy with the combination. I've also had KYB GR-2's on another car and was very happy with them, they are my 1st choice for replacement struts.
2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo "Torque Monkey"SOLD1993 Honda Civic Si "Mean Green Cornering Machine"Track Whore1995 Toyota Celica GT "Baby Supra"Daily Driver
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