[NewShockerGuy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...link:middle:us

OR

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-M...QQcmdZViewItem

I posted this on the RCE springs as someone recommended using one of these greases to use on the metal shaft of our struts before installing springs..to help prevent clunking..etc?

Has anyone done this before?
How much grease do you use?...
I have never done this so I am guessing I just put grease in my hand and then put it on the metal strut body and slide it up and down so that it goes inside of the tube... is that correct?

-Nigel
__________________

[Rookie84]

Links are not working, but I remember reading that you are supposed to use lithium grease.

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by NewShockerGuy

I have never done this so I am guessing I just put grease in my hand and then put it on the metal strut body and slide it up and down so that it goes inside of the tube... is that correct?

Putting it on the upper shaft will work short term. Grease will not make it past the seal and into the inside of the strut, however, so for a longer term fix you need to do a little bit more work.

I used general purpose lithium grease and put it inside the strut, filling the grease resorvoir near the top of the housing. You have to take the strut catridge out to get to that, but that only requires removing one nut on the bottom.

I don't think the particular choice of grease is as important as having some in the first place.

[NewShockerGuy]

Originally Posted by Rootus

Putting it on the upper shaft will work short term. Grease will not make it past the seal and into the inside of the strut, however, so for a longer term fix you need to do a little bit more work.

I used general purpose lithium grease and put it inside the strut, filling the grease resorvoir near the top of the housing. You have to take the strut catridge out to get to that, but that only requires removing one nut on the bottom.

I don't think the particular choice of grease is as important as having some in the first place.

Yes yes, I was actually planning on doing this once I get the springs off... I read the how to change springs sticky and there is a bolt right undernethe the strut... then it says pull hard to pull it out...

I was goingt to do this anways to cut the bump stops as well... Once I pull it out is there an actuall place where I would put the grease? I have never opened it up before so not sure what I am looking for..

See if that link works:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

Thanks,
-Nigel

[stretch]

I used Valvoline Durablend Semi-Synth. It's lithium grease with moly added. I used it because that's what I already had.
http://www.amazon.com/Valvoline-Dura.../dp/B0002KLBOC

I've repacked my struts once and haven't needed to again (in nearly a year). Just for curiosity's sake, I took apart my shocks recently and found the insides still very slippery and filled with grease.

Spraying the outsides of the struts is futile.

[NewShockerGuy]

Originally Posted by stretch

I used Valvoline Durablend Semi-Synth. It's lithium grease with moly added. I used it because that's what I already had.
http://www.amazon.com/Valvoline-Dura.../dp/B0002KLBOC

I've repacked my struts once and haven't needed to again (in nearly a year). Just for curiosity's sake, I took apart my shocks recently and found the insides still very slippery and filled with grease.

Spraying the outsides of the struts is futile.

So this is a no go and get the one that you chose?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

What is Moly?

Also I just used my new impact wrench... W00t w00t! To take everything off... BTW OMG IT WAS SOOOOOOOO EASY!!!!

Pulled out the strut tube... Where exactly am I putting the grease? I have to cut the front bump stops but where exactly am I squeasing it into? The rings of the bump stop, squirting it down the black tube then putting the shiny tube back into the black strut and tighening the bolt...etc?

Just want to make sure I do it correctly..

-Nigel

[supermarkus]

moly=molybdenum

[lackskill]

there is a seal inside the strut housing at the top. You will probably find some white-ish grease in there. I cleaned all of that out and used general purpose lithium grease. I would just buy it at any auto parts store. It should be cheap.

[Turninconcepts.com]

We used HP800. Why - because we had it here, it's nice and thick, and we've been happy with it. What else would work - oh, just about anything. If you don't have some of the uber $$ HP800 sitting around a good wheel bearing grease will work also.

Take out the insert, clean up the old grease really good, repack the seals and such, and give the strut a light coating before reinserting.

On a side note, if installing lowering springs at the same time cut your bump stops.

[NewShockerGuy]

Originally Posted by Turninconcepts.com

We used HP800. Why - because we had it here, it's nice and thick, and we've been happy with it. What else would work - oh, just about anything. If you don't have some of the uber $$ HP800 sitting around a good wheel bearing grease will work also.

Take out the insert, clean up the old grease really good, repack the seals and such, and give the strut a light coating before reinserting.

On a side note, if installing lowering springs at the same time cut your bump stops.

Everyone is talking about seals... where are the seals... I see the bump stops that I have to cut but the silver shaft that I pulled out of the black strut doesn't seem to come apart... or does it?

-Nigel

[supermarkus]

You're kidding me right? look at the mouth of the strut body, there is a seal there. It's the one people spray with WD40 in the mistaken hope that it gets rid of their strut clunk. IIRC there is also one at the bottom of the strut.

[Risk3233]

Use marine bearing grease. That stuff is sticky and won't wash off.

[lackskill]

Originally Posted by NewShockerGuy

Everyone is talking about seals... where are the seals... I see the bump stops that I have to cut but the silver shaft that I pulled out of the black strut doesn't seem to come apart... or does it?

-Nigel

The strut body (aka cartridge, is silver and will have the bumpstop attached). The strut housing is black and it the piece that bolts to the hub assembly.

Inside the top lip of the black (strut housing) is a seal. The seal is basically 2 rubber rings with white grease (and probably dirt/debris) between them.

[NewShockerGuy]

Originally Posted by lackskill

The strut body (aka cartridge, is silver and will have the bumpstop attached). The strut housing is black and it the piece that bolts to the hub assembly.

Inside the top lip of the black (strut housing) is a seal. The seal is basically 2 rubber rings with white grease (and probably dirt/debris) between them.

Cool, thank you!

How do you completly remove all of the old grease from the inner black strut... Should I just keep pushing rags in there and pulling them out?


I've completly wiped off all the grease from the silver inner strut, and cut the bump stops. Should I libberly cover the bump stops in the new grease?

Thanks!
-Nigel

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by NewShockerGuy

How do you completly remove all of the old grease from the inner black strut... Should I just keep pushing rags in there and pulling them out?

I wouldn't worry about getting every last bit out.

Should I libberly cover the bump stops in the new grease?

Nope. You don't actually want too much grease down there, because it could reduce the available strut travel. The lube matters at the interface between the cartridge and the strut housing.