While my thumb is healing, Front Struts

[Mark Howard]

It has been a painful night on the teener....While my thumb was still throbbing from the caliper piston issues....I decided to check the type and functioning of my front strut inserts.

Well, the PO gave me some KYBs. They ride rather poorly, and I don't have any idea how old they are, but the question is: when I pulled the shaft out of the strut housing, they have no rebound at all. I mean you pull the shaft out and it collaspes back into the insert housing.

Now, is it just me, or do these things need to be replaced? I can feel the fluid dampening the movement of the shaft, but there is no gas charged type rebound.

What you guys think?

[Joe Ricard]

I remember someone saying that this is the way thy are supposed to be as the torsion bar will keep the car up. and the shock will only dampen the movement.

[rfoulds]

I wondered about that too, when I replaced mine. That is the way a strut functions, though. It dampens the movement, to minimize bounce, the torsion bar provides the actual rebound and torque of the front suspension.

I have seen used Boge's posted on here for $10-15 a piece. try those if you want a different feel than the KYB.

[rdvnac]

I've said this before, but I'll say it again. IMHO, KYB = Kick Your Butt. On teeners I've had they road really harshly and handled poorly.

I agree with Randy, try some Boges. They are cheap and were OE on most teeners. They are a very nice compromise between ride and handling.