96 rear struts?

[ron350]

Looks like after 14 years my 96 Regal needs new rear struts. The rubber bumpers are rotten and it and the dust shield have dropped down on the shock.

 

I have read that the Monroe Sensa-Trac Strut will give the softest ride is this fairly accurate?

 

[Addicted to eaton]

yes.

[ron350]

When replacing the rear strut how do you deal with compressed rubber auxiliary spring?

 

The rubber auxiliary spring is painted gray in the lower picture.

 

[mra32]

They have compressors for them. Looks like a pretty good deal for one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130432993501&crlp=1_263602_263622&ff4=263602_263622&viewitem=&guid=f185c70312a0a02663b144c1ff921208&rvr_id=146171342276&ua=WXS%3F&itemid=130432993501

 

Many cars did not get those and so people have left those off without issue. Including myself. But I was switching to coilovers. YMMV

[ron350]

Addicted to Eaton and Mra32 thanks for the help.

[GnatGoSplat]

I don't know if that style aux springs has a hole (looks like it might), but usually you can compress them using a bolt of a specific size. I'm sure the size has been posted before.

[BXX]

everytime I've bought rear struts for my wbodies they came with the correct bolt to thread in and hold the aux spring.

[GnatGoSplat]

You're right, come to think of it, my spring compressing bolt must have come with the struts because I don't remember buying a special metric bolt. It would probably be hard to find one by itself.

[Hairdo12]

I compressed my aux springs in a vise, used some wire to hold them compressed. Once installed, I cut the wire.

[ron350]

I was wondering why the lower rubber spring mount hole was threaded.

 

[chrisflstf]

I just did this few a months ago and fought like hell with that rubber spring. I was tempted to not install it. I finally used a wood clamp to compress it at the same time as getting 1 of the lower strut mount bolts in. The other side went together in a few minutes. Its a pain, but stick with it and try various clamp setups - it will go back together:)

[xtremerevolution]

I left those things off of my car a long tim ago. Never noticed a difference, but I reduced unsprung weight.

Edited September 29, 2010 by xtremerevolution

[ron350]

Thanks

Compressing the auxiliary rubber spring using a bolt worked great.

 

I used a 6-inch long all thread bolt 3/8 inch OD by 16 threads per inch along with a matching nut and thick washer.

 

 

[ron350]

Warning I used the wrong bolt listed above.

 

The correct bolt to compress the auxiliary rubber spring should be 10 mm x 1.5 thread pitch about 6 inches long.