Rear Strut 'bearing' How can you test?

[vdragonmpc]

Hey all

Im replacing my springs and struts. I found I needed the 'bellows' that cover my struts.. They seem to be a dealer item for the TEMS struts...
What is wierd is I had a clunk. I know my strut was bad beyond a doubt. How do you tell if that mount is bad. They say there is a bearing in there but it just looks like a solid mount to me. Maybe the guy before me put the wrong mount in? The thing is solid as far as I can tell....

Any suggestions other than a 130$ part along with 18$ for the bellows on each side? There has to be a way to check this...

V

 

[Dirgle]

There is no bearing in there. And not that it's a really big deal or anything but we have shocks on our cars not struts. If you had a 'clunk' that usually just means the mounting nut was loose.

 

[Bishop92t]

That mount doesn't go bad unless extremely abused. The only thing that might is the rubber piece that goes in between the spring and mount. If the shock is not properly tightened inside the mount then it will rattle. It's a bit tricky as the half moon shape tends to strip out, especially if some grease monkey used power tools on it. The only thing you can do at that point is carefully reach inside the spring with a pair of vice grips at the very top of the shock right above the smooth mirror section, and try to hold the shaft from spinning while you tighten the nut. It's very important that you don't even touch the part of the shaft that goes into the shock, there's just a very small area at the extreme top that is safe.

 

[vdragonmpc]

That mount doesn't go bad unless extremely abused. The only thing that might is the rubber piece that goes in between the spring and mount. If the shock is not properly tightened inside the mount then it will rattle. It's a bit tricky as the half moon shape tends to strip out, especially if some grease monkey used power tools on it. The only thing you can do at that point is carefully reach inside the spring with a pair of vice grips at the very top of the shock right above the smooth mirror section, and try to hold the shaft from spinning while you tighten the nut. It's very important that you don't even touch the part of the shaft that goes into the shock, there's just a very small area at the extreme top that is safe.

Well the line I was getting from the dealer is that there was a bearing in there that would go bad. I confirmed this at NAPA when they listed this part without a
bearing.....

My strut apparently jams about halfway as when I was pulling the spring it just stopped expanding...

I will just get the boots then if I dont need to replace these boots mine look fine... I just thought they needed replacing like everything else on the car!

V

 

[Bishop92t]

I've seen some badly abused MA70 suspensions in my day but I've never seen that upper mount go bad. http://www.ma70.com/bishop/pics/old_pillowball.jpg It's pretty much just a solid chunk of metal.

 

[vdragonmpc]

I've seen some badly abused MA70 suspensions in my day but I've never seen that upper mount go bad. http://www.ma70.com/bishop/pics/old_pillowball.jpg It's pretty much just a solid chunk of metal.

Thats what I thought until they started referring to a bearing. Mine looks fine other than the boot being dust.... I mean the boot literally disintegrated when I removed the spring.

I guess it doesnt need replacing the clunk was most likely the strut as it is still froze about half way extended.

V

 

[vdragonmpc]

I've seen some badly abused MA70 suspensions in my day but I've never seen that upper mount go bad. http://www.ma70.com/bishop/pics/old_pillowball.jpg It's pretty much just a solid chunk of metal.

Have you seen anyplace with the TEMS boots?

My dealer cant get them.... I can only find the standard non-adjustable boots.

V

 

[Bishop92t]

TEMS boots? You mean the upper TEMS dust cover, or the strut boot itself?

 

[vdragonmpc]

Its called a 'strut bellow' big rubber boot that protects the shock from dirt and dust...

I can now say for sure that the KYB non-TEMS rubber boot does NOT work.

I bought 2 across town hoping they might just need the center enlarged. NOPE they are too small and wont stay in the mount....

The dealer was worthless. They have NONE.

I may be screwed. :cry: :cry: :cry:

V

 

[Dirgle]

Go to Champion Toyota, they have everything, plus they give us good deals for being part of the supra community. Just let them know you’re from supramania or supraforums and they will give you the sale price on parts.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=213747

Enter this part number in 4834114040, Click on the arrow next to select make and click on Toyota, then click search. This will bring up the part.

Even though it says bumper, according to the TSRM this is the part number you want.

You will have the best luck by calling them. Plus you can confirm that it is indeed the correct part you want. Just ask for Jeff Jatson. He is the man :bigthumb: and will take good care of you.

P.S. Good to see you popping in every now and then Bishop.

 

[Nick M]

Well the line I was getting from the dealer is that there was a bearing in there that would go bad. I confirmed this at NAPA when they listed this part without a
bearing.....

While I like to point out that the car has coil over shocks from the factory, not struts, many people, including Toyota will interchange terms. Hence, them calling the mount a bearing. It isnt a bearing because it does not bear any sort of a load.

 

[vdragonmpc]

While I like to point out that the car has coil over shocks from the factory, not struts, many people, including Toyota will interchange terms. Hence, them calling the mount a bearing. It isnt a bearing because it does not bear any sort of a load.

Uhm The rear strut mounts do have a bearing in them. Look at the exploded view... There is actually an odd setup in the plate that the tems unit mounts to.

V

 

[vdragonmpc]

Go to Champion Toyota, they have everything, plus they give us good deals for being part of the supra community. Just let them know you’re from supramania or supraforums and they will give you the sale price on parts.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=213747

Enter this part number in 4834114040, Click on the arrow next to select make and click on Toyota, then click search. This will bring up the part.

Even though it says bumper, according to the TSRM this is the part number you want.

You will have the best luck by calling them. Plus you can confirm that it is indeed the correct part you want. Just ask for Jeff Jatson. He is the man :bigthumb: and will take good care of you.

P.S. Good to see you popping in every now and then Bishop.

Bless you. I must have had the part number wrong when looking it up. Jeff found it right away. That guy rocks the casba. He found me a set in Minn. Im getting tore up on shipping and the price but I AM GETTING THE PART I NEED!!!!!!!!! Every other dealer says its discontinued. My bump stop was toast... Heck my stock spring is shorter than the Eibachs Im putting on....

+10 from me to Jeff Watson at Champion.... Great guy and didnt mind sending me off to another parts department to get the part I needed once he found it...

:icon_bigg :icon_bigg :icon_bigg :icon_bigg :icon_bigg

I may drive my car yet this summer....

V

 

[Nick M]

Uhm The rear strut mounts do have a bearing in them. Look at the exploded view... There is actually an odd setup in the plate that the tems unit mounts to.

V

Perhaps you could use MS paint and point out the bearing for me? I dont see it. The bearing in the upper strut mount.

View attachment 6604

 

[vdragonmpc]

Perhaps you could use MS paint and point out the bearing for me? I dont see it. The bearing in the upper strut mount.

View attachment 6604

The suspension support. It is supposedly multiple parts pressed together. Here at work I cant pull up the part but go to napa online or advance and look at thier lil parts lists... After hunting for the bump stops I have seen so many parts views of that its just silly. There are 2 metal plates in that support and a ring in the parts view....

V

 

[IJ.]

If we're talking about the "Suspension Support" nope it's one piece.
(I used my stock parts when I assembled my Custom Koni Coilovers)

 

[vdragonmpc]

If we're talking about the "Suspension Support" nope it's one piece.
(I used my stock parts when I assembled my Custom Koni Coilovers)

Thats odd... The dealer keeps suggesting that it would be a good idea to replace the bearing as it could cause my clunking sound... I found that my shock
was quite gone... Along with my bump stops...

When I get a chance Ill try to find the expoded view of that part... Heck Napa lists it as strut mount without bearing...

V

 

[IJ.]

Dragon: On my car it's one piece.

It's VERY important to have good bump stops on our cars as there is nothing on the suspension that will bottom before the shock

I destroyed a Koni when a stock Bump rubber split.

 

[vdragonmpc]

Dragon: On my car it's one piece.

It's VERY important to have good bump stops on our cars as there is nothing on the suspension that will bottom before the shock

I destroyed a Koni when a stock Bump rubber split.

I know I will post pictures on my web site of the bump stop I removed and what I just recieved yesterday... uhm THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART! I thought the bump stop was 1 inch like the KBY replacement as mine was pretty worn out.... The new part is 6 inches estimated long and goes down the shock shaft...

Toyota loses -100 for making it so hard to get a part that is going to wear out.

V

 

[vdragonmpc]

I know I will post pictures on my web site of the bump stop I removed and what I just recieved yesterday... uhm THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART! I thought the bump stop was 1 inch like the KBY replacement as mine was pretty worn out.... The new part is 6 inches estimated long and goes down the shock shaft...

Toyota loses -100 for making it so hard to get a part that is going to wear out.

V

Oh and because it seems to be a pressure assembly it does seem to be one peice.... I am not prying mine apart to see.. Im going to run with it... The bump stops in the rear were the clunking...

Odd clunk in the rear = bump stop worn out.

V