I have a blown rear strut. I'm a more "seasoned" gentleman and my high speed days are over. I just want a nice ride. I'm looking at Gabriel ultra for $75, napa response for $70 and sensi-trac for $86. Any recomendations? Do the struts come with all I need or do I need anything else? Looks pretty straight forward. Any recomeddations?

 

http://www.performancepeddler.com/se...2905&x=17&y=10

better strut. cheaper price. factory ride.

 

best suggestion would either be the tokico Blue strut and spring. Those are the stock replacements and will bring back a smooth oem like ride.

depnding on the condition of your control arms, ball joint, sway bar end links, might be a good time to swap those out as well.

 

uhhh. the title says "rear struts". anyhow, when you buy the new struts, they come with everything you need. whatever they dont come with, you simply use from the old strut.

 

I'm fully aware of what the title states, and I responded to the title of his thread by suggesting the tokico blues same as you suggested.

I dont know what your problem is, but I was offering him additional information about obtaining and maintaining a smooth ride.

 

That's what I would do. Also, depending on the age of the suspension you might consider changing all four.

 

The rears on an A32 platform are shocks.

Here's a nice little explaination on the difference between a shock and a strut:

Difference b/w Shock and Strut

Not trying to flame anyone so please do not take it that way. Thank you. -Slopp-O-Matic Snoodingtonhambonus

 

no the rears are struts....read ur own link......

"Shock absorbers" are physically separated from the car's springs. A "strut," on the other hand, is a shock absorber with a spring that fits around it.

 

I just had all 4 TOKICO blues put in. They're pretty sweet! The ride stiffed up a bit (prolly 'cause the old ones were so messed up), but the handling is where the REAL improvement is noticed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...0539585&rd=1,1

You can check these out: $265 for all 4 (shipped) but sine you just need the rear, they have those separately as well.

 

For the 1,000th time get Tokico HP's for stock ride. They come with new rubber bushings for the rear, but you may need new boots. Get OEM boots (aka billows) or reuse the stock bump stop and use rancho boots (about $3 each). NEVER, ever, EVER use KYB boots they are junk.

 

koni bumpstops FTW

 

Can someone gve me a part # for the Rancho boots as they are hanging off the bottom of both my rear shocks. And are blues and HP the same?

 

HP's are blue so they are referred to as blues.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Get those because the local Nissan dealer will want about $30 per side, I found out the hard way.

 

damn this is the first time hearing about those covers. I could have saved money too. OEM are expensive.

 

none are even cheaper

 

You and the damn rancho's..

 

Hmm, those are the same ones I put on my motorcycle. This may be a stupid question, but since the piston rod is so small how does the boot attach? I also had to order online, is there like a napa or auto-zone type store that carries these? Also, is there anything else needed besides the boots and struts. I live in the boonies and once there off they are being changed.

 

What you do it keep the OEM bump stop but trim off the rotting boot, then place the new boot onto the strut and zip tie it around the bump stop. I got mine at VIP parts store, which is New England only I believe. Summit has them too I think.

Since the rear has only a few parts and Tokicos come with the bushings there isnt much else to replace. The upper strut mount and insulator should be fine, the smaller spring isolators could be worn though you can wrap the spring with spiral wrap/split loom or not even use them (I dont), and that leaves the gasket on the top which will need to be replaced. Pick up a sheet/roll of gasket paper and cut out your own.

 

If your only gonna replace the 2 rears then I would recommend you go back to the stock ones. You don't know how your car is gonna behave (understeer/oversteer) if you replace them with aftermarket ones. I believe you can find oem rear struts for about 120 or 130 a piece. However, if I'm in your boat I would replace all 4 since I believe if one is gone the others won't be far behind. If your gonna replace all 4 then it won't matter which one you choose because it will be balanced. As others have said I would opt for the tokico blues since tokico is the oem strut for our nissan maxima.

 

I agree I need to replace them all but $$$ will prevent me till this summer.