Hello all,

I attempted the rear strut replacement this afternoon on my 1971 240z. After failing, and doing a search doing it the way the manual says to do it is a joke.

Then there is the Atlantic Z way of doing it (Disconnect the opposite side of the transverse link), which I was going to attempt to do before I saw this little video.

Fast forward to 1:50 to see what I am talking about.

From what I can tell, I would only have to disconnect brake lines, disconnect driveshafts at the hub, the three bolts on the top of the strut and it should all drop down, and swing out? Is this correct?

I replaced a couple of those spacers last year and they were so molded in to their little space that you wouldn't think they were a separate piece unless you knew before hand. They're pretty well protected, not exposed at all. Mine were shiny. I only replaced them because I had bought the parts before a spring replacement, just in case.

I wouldn't bother taking things apart again.

I might actually have a picture of them somewhere... Found them. A little farther back than a year. One out, one in, and a comparison of fresh and squished.

Edited August 5, 201410 yr by Zed Head

Good. If you assumed they were one piece and you didn't pry them apart then they're probably back where they came from and you should be OK. The old ones are probably a little deformed from the pressure over time, but I wouldn't go tearing the whole back end apart again just to change them.

Now that you know what you're looking for, you can take a better look at them if you're ever in there again for some other reason.

Thanks for the help guys. I was out of town, and I think I lost a night of sleep because of this. haha. But those are definitely the spacers. Lowering springs are probably in the plans in the near future anyhow, so I can swap them out next time. Phew.