Emergency! Need strut help!

[bullittandy]

I'm in the middle of R&R the front suspension and after inserting the new strut cartridges the nut holding them in does not seat totally. I've attached a picture. What's wrong if anything?

[superuber]

I assume thats a cartridge?Did it have a new o ring?What kind of replacement strut?I have had one do that on a camry. It was the way that particular one fit.



http://community.webshots.com/user/neheadsuperuber
Modified by superuber at 4:03 PM 6/16/2006

[maxnix]

I was kind of wondering if these were OEM struts?

Let us know what the problem is?

[superuber]

yeah, thats kinda strange. When I did my tokico's on my95 I took off the old one's and pitched them. I didn't think they were cartridges. Bullittandy, how did you compress the springs?

http://community.webshots.com/user/neheadsuperuber

[one ton garage]

When dealing with inserts, you actually do NOT want the gland nuts to seat totally flush against the strut body housing. As long as you didn't get any crud inside the housing, and you torque that gland nut down to spec, then a little gap is actually a good thing (there is a certain measurement range for the gap, but I forgot what it is specifically.

[bullittandy]

Bullittandy, how did you compress the springs?

JC Whitney spring compressors. Turns out both sides were the same. I bought strut inserts/cartridges which slide into the original strut housing. They are self contained-like a shock- and fit snugly. I put a touch of blue loctite on the retaining nut since they only "thread in" a few turns.