96K miles on the '93 GXE and time to replace struts. I'm not into performance and don't need the Toks or KYB and just went to Auto Zone for a set of Gabriel's. This is the first time I've done struts and have been researching the wealth on information on the org. Did the job last night and I'm hearing groaning of the springs. When I turn the wheel i'm hearing bump, bump; when I make a dipping left turn I hear a loud Brrap like the tire is hitting the spring. The dampening action is great but the spring seems like it's mounted wrong. I noticed the bottom spring seat on the strut was a little different in that the detent in the plate for the spring end was not as precise as the stock strut. I torqued the dampening nut to 45 ftlbs. Is my installation flawed or are Gabriel stuts ****?

Thanks Guys

 

they're ****.

 

Gabriel's suck monkey *****. If you really don't a stiffer ride at all and have to put "normal" struts put Monroe. However i strongly reccomend KYB's as Toxico's are tighter.

 

how much money did you save buy getting that crap instead of KYB's. $20?

 

I think he wasn't trying to save money. He was just afraid of how harsh the ride would be with teh KYB's. What a crappy way to learn a lesson...

 

$20 was about it. Money wasn't the issue. I would have had to order the KYB's, nobody stocks them. And since all I'm looking for is a stock ride, I thought the Gabriel's would have been fine. I've used their shocks for years without a problem. Again, the dampening action is fine. I question the fit of the spring. Has anyone experience the same problem? Another thing I noticed is the stock struts have dust boots. Gabriel is too cheap to include them with their struts.

 

Bring them back to Autozone and tell them that they are crap and ask to switch over to KYB's. Then pay the difference. If you trow a fit in the store they will take them back. Once again... Experience is talking.

 

The aftermarket doesn't include the boots because people don't want to pay even $5 more for a strut that includes the boot.
BTW I sell KYB

 

Listen to Brian. KYB's are the way to go.

 

Monroes are crap but they shouldn't make noise the first day. Probably an install mistake.
Did you reinstall the spring condoms, seat the springs properly(ie.. ends into the perch), tighten everything up correctly? etc...

 

Yea, there was a spring condom on the top and a flat rubber type saddle gasket on the bottom. The hanes book said torque damper nut to 45 ft lbs; is this correct? I torqued it in the vise not in the car. Do the strut brgs ever go bad? Also does it make a difference if the spring was inverted when installed. Both ends looked the same and I wasn't paying attention to what end I took out of the top or bottom.

Thanks

 

Are you sure you got it to 45lbs? The shaft on the strut will turn unless you have an air gun or PROPERLY hold the shaft still. I would think the spring wouldn't make that much difference as long as both ends seat properly. Strut bearings DO go bad. And did you make sure to install them right side up?

 

Bring the struts back to Autozone and have them swap you for some KYB's. It might sound stupid, but if you do it now you will avoid a headache in the future

 

But he already said they don't stock them. Who knows how long he will have to wait while they bring some in? It could be weeks.


I think Jeff is right to question something about the installation process. I doubt that new struts, even if they don't last and aren't the best, should be making that much noise right away.

I've never changed struts out myself, but it's not a really simple process and it could be easy to forget something as you're doing all 4 corners and doing this for the first time.

If you have to take everything apart again see if there's a way to re-use the old dust boots. Maybe Gabriel sells them separately too. You really should try to cover that area.

 

Well, those were just my five cents... I guess you're gonna have to take the struts apart again...
Just look at it as gained experience!