GOT2B GM Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 I spent this past weekend installing my ST springs and Monroe Sensatrac struts in the front of my Z34, and I must say, I am pleased with the cars new stance. When I removed the strut cartridges out of the strut body, I found oil inside the strut body. To me it smelled similar to hydraulic oil. I simply drained the oil out, slipped the new nuts over the new cartridges and reassembled. Was the oil from my original struts leaking? Or was I supposed to have oil inside the strut body surrounding the cartridge? I also have a light clunk in the front suspension over bumps. Is this normal with the ST springs or do I have a loose/worn strut mount etc?? Sorry for the long post. I appreciate your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted May 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 That sucks... I drained the oil out of the strut housings, but never put it back in because I assumed my struts were leaking. Now I have no oil in my housings, will this damage my struts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted May 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 Ahhh thats good about the oil. I think I know whats causing my clunk. My new struts came with new nuts and washers for the top of the shafts, but my old struts didn't have any washers under the nuts, so I never put the washers under the new nuts when installing the new struts. Maybe I bottomed out the nut on the shaft and there is some play between the nut and the bearing. What do you think Invasion? BTW I really appreciate your help and knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlsp Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 did you use a little tranmission fluid to make sure the strut seats properly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWeb80 Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 i had oil in mine too.....my struts were completely empty of oil....so I'm sure the oil was from the very bad stock struts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 I think someone didn't read the instructions that came with the struts! :read: I bet somewhere in the instructions it says to leave a certain amount of oil in there to keep the strut cool. At least, that's what was on the instructions with the Monroe struts I installed. The oil isn't necessary though. The original strut cartridges were an open design and the outer housing was the strut housing which is why there's oil in there. Replacement cartridges are completely self-contained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intlcutlass Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 I think someone didn't read the instructions that came with the struts! :read: I bet somewhere in the instructions it says to leave a certain amount of oil in there to keep the strut cool. At least, that's what was on the instructions with the Monroe struts I installed. The oil isn't necessary though. The original strut cartridges were an open design and the outer housing was the strut housing which is why there's oil in there. Replacement cartridges are completely self-contained. I was headed there.... At least for the Monroe replacments, the instructions say to drain the oil in there, and add new oil.... I didn't know you don't have to add oil to aftermarket cartridges though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted May 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 My Monroes didnt have any instruction sheet inside the box, and my Haynes manual mentioned nothing about the oil. So if I want to add oil to the struts without removing the housing, I'll need the special GM tool to remove the nut that holds the cartridge in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWeb80 Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 dont worry aboot the oil, you don't need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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