Suspension Question -- Please Help!!

[jphilipps]

I have a 2003 that I acquired that has c/c plates and stock shocks with Steeda sport springs. The front end sounds like the struts are rattling around in the c/c plates and yes, they are tight, at least as tight as I can possibly get them.

I have a Mach 1 strut/shock kit that I want to install and replace the c/c plates with the replacement mounts, but the problem is I think I am missing something vital. In the Mach 1 strut box there is a new upper strut mount, 2 bushings, a steel sleeve, 2 nuts and a bolt for the new mount, and a washer and nut for the top of the strut. The struts currently on the car DO NOT have the dust covers on them. If I mount the struts up with the pieces I have, I don't see anything that would hold the strut on the underside of the strut tower. Example: When you change a shock there is a washer you put on first, then a bushing. You slide it through the hole in the body and put the other bushing on and then the other washer topped by the nut.

Basically I do not have what would be the first washer in the example for my strut. If I install the strut with the pieces I have they will not compress at all. Do I need to find some of the dust covers that I am missing? I know they slide over the strut shaft and stop on the lip at the top...is that what tightens up against the underside of the strut tower?

If that is the case...anybody got some spares? Otherwise let me know what I need to do. Been to the local dealerships in town and they are not helpful at all.

Thanks

 

[tomustang]

If I mount the struts up with the pieces I have, I don't see anything that would hold the strut on the underside of the strut tower.

The c/c plate lays on the strut, you should find out what type of c/c plates they are before you replace them

Do I need to find some of the dust covers that I am missing? I know they slide over the strut shaft and stop on the lip at the top...is that what tightens up against the underside of the strut tower?

You might depending if your tokico kit tells you to swap them onto the new ones

If that is the case...anybody got some spares? Otherwise let me know what I need to do. Been to the local dealerships in town and they are not helpful at all.

You can call http://www.maximummotorsports.com/ and ask for whatever parts are needed, they should have a full supply of anything when it comes to shims, spacers or any other question you need

 

[invertmast]

the mach1 strut/shock package hardware kit is designed to be used with the stock C/C plates. There's a large stamped steel plate that those bushings go in, that the C/C plates replace.

 

[jphilipps]

Looks like I am taking a trip to the junkyard today based on some new information. It looks like I need to get a couple of original dust covers for the struts since they have the lower bushing integrated into the top of them and they fit up into the lower side of the OE strut plate. This would seem to be the piece I am missing to get the struts to tighten up to the strut tower.

The Mach 1 struts have all of the pieces to put the OE strut plates back in except for the dust covers, which I guess were taken off of my car when c/c plates were put on. So we will see what heppens...

 

[gtvertsoon]

My buddy bought a mustang that he thought had loose struts as well. He noticed it only made the rattling sound when he wasn't on the brakes. Turned out the brake pads were too thin and were rattling around in the caliper. Got new pads and fixed the problem.