Rear Strut Spacers?

[ConchZ]

About three years ago, I replaced my springs and struts. After nearly three years, first one side and then the other developed a random thunk associated with going over bumps. I read up enough to guess that it was because the strut cartridge was moving vertically in its tube, either because the gland nut wasn't tight, or there weren't enough spacers in the tube. I dropped the rear suspension, and took a look. The gland nut was tight, but it was cranked all the way down. While the strut seemed tight in the tube, I found no spacers in the tube. I just didn't think you needed them back when I did the job. I put spacers in the tube, cranked the gland nut back on tight, and began to reassemble. I then noticed I was missing those rubber spacers that fit between the top side of the spring perch and the bottom of the strut insulator.

I definitely remember putting them on, and remember using rubber ones, instead of poly. I bought them from MSA, and they were out of the poly at the time, so I went with rubber. Since they are gone, I assume they disintegrated. Well, I happen to have two never used poly bump stops. They are the about the right diameter, but taller than those spacers, but I could cut them down. Does anyone know how tall those spacers are? I seem to remember they were about a half inch thick.

Also, could these missing rubber spacers be the cause of my random thunk when going over bumps? The thunking didn't start for at least a couple of years, and it started on one side, then the other, maybe as the rubber spacers fell apart. There's some extra slack in that strut assembly because I'm using Eibach springs, which are shorter than stock. Without the spacer, maybe when you hit a bump just right, you get a thunk. Everything else seems tight as can be on the rear suspension. Make any sense?

Matt

[John Coffey]

Sounds like the cause to me. They are about 1/2" thick and you might be able to search McMaster-Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com) and find a poly washer that will work.

[ConchZ]

Thanks John. I think I can cut the poly bump stops that I have. Will give it a shot tomorrow.