The utility company has been working under the streets and those damned metal plates are everywhere. Today the rear started clunking, sounded like boulders crashing. I could not even get the back wheel off the ground with the jack, the spring rose like a slinky! Anyway you think I could ride on this for awhile? I want to research some lowering springs and make a decision sometime this week.

 

Eeeek

Get that replaced asap mang!

 

you might need a replacement strut housing if the threads are buggered up in there..

 

looks to me like the nut came loose and all the fluid came out. I would refill it, tighten back down the nut and check it again. if the struts were replaced at some point then I am 90% sure that is what happened

 

Is it OK to drive a week or two like this? I can have the strut replaced tomorrow, or I could order a lowering set and have it installed when it arrives.

 

that's just a replacement cartridge, it's no need trying to fill with oil! Hope the threads are ok as well!

 

it's not ok to drive like that. you need the nut tightened back down before you drive on

 

Wow, that doesnt even seem possible. Have you had that strut insert replaced before?

 

Update, she's going in for work tomorrow. This will be the 4th replacement strut at this corner in 315k miles, I've decided against lowering springs so this is just going to be another monroe cheapie. My mechanic had a look this morning and said I could drive on it today and he will work it in tomorrow.

On a happier note, I took this picture through the oil filler:

 

you know, if you spend a little more, you could buy GOOD struts that don't need replacement every year or so...

 

Well they never WEAR out, they always seem to fail catastrophically, and then I just take it somewhere and say FIX THIS DAMN THING! But yes you're absolutely right, I get what I pay for.