I was working on the insulators for one of my cars and cleaned them up and stripped the paint. I have two questions:

How do you know when they need replacing. The rubber does not appear to be cracked or overly dry. I could respray them and install and put that money some where else. Also how do you remove the bearing from inside the insulator? The ones there now are very rough feeling.

Thanks, Charles

If they aren't separated you can still use them.

There is no bearing mated inside. On the front the thrust bearing just sits on top.

On the rear there is a hard plastic/rubber that just sits inside, it isn't attached. It just sticks a little. Should come out in one piece. The bump stop is the one that will come out in pieces.

Edited July 6, 201311 yr by Darrel

These are the fronts and the bearing appears pressed in. Is that not the case, should it come out fairly easily?

Charles

The bearing sits on top of the hat for the coil spring. The insulator sits on top of that. It isn't pressed in, not even a friction fit. Usually the bearing falls out on its own.

The separation Darrel speaketh of is between the outer metal shell, and the rubber. Look at the bottom, and check for separation around the circumference. Some, a little bit is normal from age. If you can probe into one of the gaps and make it worse easily, that's too much.

The only true test is to put it all together and jack up the car, and let the struts and wheels dangle, so that weight of them is pulling directly on the insulators and that bond. 24 hours with no change in the separation and they are likely just hunky dorey. Wheels on the ground in the morning is bad news...

This is the closest thing to stock replacements. Motorsport! Street Camber Kit, Front, 70-78 240Z-260Z-280Z - The Z Store! Nissan-Datsun 240Z-260Z-280Z-280ZX-300ZX(Z31/Z32)-350Z-370Z Parts

Thanks for the clarification. The bearings pulled out with a curved pick. Stuck but not too tight. I priced them and decided to try to clean them. If they clean up and turn smooth I will reuse them. I will check the insulators like you suggest when I get suspension back under the car. On the rotisserie right now waiting to paint the under side and trim out...

Charles

Have you tried RockAuto. They sell Moog parts and the bearing only costs $12.00. More Information for MOOG K9476. If they dont clean up really good I would replace them. OEM cost around $28 to $31. Its the same one thats used on the Maxima. 54325-21000 - Nissan BEARING-STRUT

Cheers.

Chas

Thanks for the info that is good to know. They cleaned up pretty good and after some brake clean and the parts washer they seem to be pretty smooth. Since they are under compression I believe they will be fine. Is there a special lube for them or just axle grease? I wonder about attracting dirt into the grease. I think gritty grease is what the original problem was.

Charles

They are pretty much enclosed when installed. Unless the car was used on really dusty roads. Axle grease is fine.

Originally an Arizona car so I guess that is possible. Thanks for the help

Charles