What is on Top of My Rear Shocks?

[my12by60]

I have the 2000 AE. The dash has a push button that activates a "Sport" mode of suspension. I can't feel much of a ride difference with Sport on vs. Sport off. I was tearing apart the trunk trim today to clean out all of the dog hair from the prior owners dogs. I was taking a look at the the shock mounts. Looks like all four nuts are fairly accessible if I decide to replace the shocks. The two on the passenger side are a bit more tight due to the location of the fuel fill line. The top of each shock has some sort of a sensor covered by a rubber cap. The sensor felt like it could be removed by twisting and lifting, although I did not remove completely.

What is the functionality of those sensors?

Do they come off with a twist and lift motion?

Do I need special shocks if I decide to replace the existing shocks, which I believe are the originals?

[Jttoka]

That is the sensor for the adjustable strut.
Yes, its twist and up, to remove.
As for replacement OEM part.
Do a search its been covered alot, on the replacement and upgrade.
And there isn't much availible
Cheers

[my12by60]

Yes. Thanks. I have been doing more research on the rear struts and have confirmed what you are saying. The best deal I can find for an OEM replacement is about $205 per strut. This would preserve the car's capability for "active" suspension, which is supposed to be a firmer and sportier ride than the other option, which is called "auto" suspension. Or I could the purchase the struts for the base 2000 car for $133 each, but I would then lose whatever functionality is offered by the "active" suspension, assuming I could install and use the struts without getting any sort of codes. To be frank, if you blindfolded me and told me to guess if the active mode was on or off, I doubt I could tell the difference. But for an extra $140, it probably makes sense to keep the car stock.

[Jttoka]

To each their own.
Blown struts are blown struts, anything new would be better.

[BadQ45t]

I would go for the active shocks. There are no aftermarket options other than coilovers and this feature was known to only last 10-12 years and 100k, so you're well past that timeline wise so you probably never really got to see what the system can do..it is limp at this point. I would go for the active if you plan to drive the car another 5 years.

[my12by60]

When you say "this feature was known to only last 10-12 years and 100k", do you mean the electronic system that manages the suspension feel or do you mean the front and rear struts themselves? I assume you mean the struts, because there would no point in spending the extra $ for the active struts if the electronics that made them operate were already shot. Have you been able to notice a meaningful difference in ride when switching between modes in your Q? Is your "t" suspension different than the suspension in the AE?

[BadQ45t]

The shocks themselves, just like any other type of shock they have a lifespan and 100k and 10-12 years is about the end of theirs. My regular shocks were toast at 75k.

I cannot speak to the performance of the electronic shocks, this was a new feature they put into the car in 2000, my 97' had ordinary KYB shocks. I do know they were not super sophisticated compared to the early Q45 Active Technology, but those were a technical nightmare.

I think if you rebuild the shocks that just getting it re-built will make a huge difference given your riding on an old suspension system.

[my12by60]

When you say rebuild, does that mean that I can ship off the existing shocks to a company that will rebuild the internals? How does the rebuild cost compare to just buying brand new "active" suspension shocks for $205 each?

[BadQ45t]

No, I don't think that anybody rebuilds these, probably best to just get new ones from dealership...but you can ask around. If you have a dealership near you what I would do is go in and ask them what the cost is to re-do the suspension installed and aligned and exactly what they would do. Then you can take that list to your local mechanic and see what the price difference looks like.

[my12by60]

Front suspension on mine was redone in 2011 when the car had 78,000 miles (102,000 now) by the prior owner. The 2011 work included struts, strut assembly with knuckles, tension rods and strut bellows as per the receipt for over $2,000. Then right before I bought the car in November 2015 the PO replaced the rack and pinion for $850. All work was done at the same local independent shop.

The rear struts look like a DIY job that I can handle. I am leaning toward spending the $200 each for the electronic struts from IOS. I can use the free loaner spring remover from O-Reilly to separate the springs from the old struts and to install the new struts into the springs. Reading old threads here it looks like the KYB Specials used to be an option but are no longer available. So I am stuck with the $200 struts from IOS. How many driving miles do you think I will get out of a set of new OEM rear struts?