Front strut question, Loose cap on top of strut Options

[Chad911sc]

I am restoring my 74 2.0 and when I purchased it about one year ago, it drove pretty good. I didn’t notice any weird or loose steering other than the bearing in my steering shaft which I’ve already replaced. When I shake the car I can hear a rattling sound coming from the top of the strut. I can reach my hand in between the fender and the top of the tire and rattle the top cap of the strut against the side of the strut itself. The rubber at the top of the strut inside the hood looks ok, but I’m not sure what needs replaced to tighten this up. If I remember from my 911sc it has a couple rubber nubs inside the top cap. I know they are not exactly the same, but close in design. Not sure if this is the problem…any ideas??

[bdstone914]

Sounds like the cap is loose. Easy fix. Jack up that recorder, remove tire, remove single nut on the sturt shaft, compress strut and pull down and out from wheel well. Tighten with piee wrench. Reasemble

[Chad911sc]

10-4….sounds like an easy fix and probably the first thing that hasn’t cost me money to make right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[friethmiller]

10-4….sounds like an easy fix and probably the first thing that hasn’t cost me money to make right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

I had the same problem right after getting mine back on the road after a full restoration. It was clanking like a bell! It's an easy thing to not get "tight enough".

[Chad911sc]

So I finally got a chance to get the front end up in the air to fix that bell ringing cap on the top of the strut. Not sure what I’m supposed to tighten down? The cap is just free floating on the top of the rubber bump stops inside of the strut.
I don’t see anything on the diagram either that I’m missing with my struts….

[rjames]

<EDITED>
The dust cover (that you have your finger on in the second pic) sits loose. Superhawk is correct and it's not resting on the shoulder of the strut as it should. (How did I miss that? I just redid my front end! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) ) Make sure the gland nut that secures the strut within the strut housing is tight (arrowed below). Torque spec is pretty high but I can't recall what it is off hand (90 ft lbs?). If that's tight, then it's possible that the nut that goes on the top of the strut wasn't on tight enough. That should be 57.9 ft lbs. Tighten it with the car on the ground.

[Superhawk996]

You’re not going to like the answer.

1) The strut rod cover is jacked. It should be resting on the shoulder on the strut rod (circled) and moving with the strut rod. Hole looks like it has been enlarged and is allowing the cover to slide up/down the strut rod. This is why you felt it loose and jangling even before you loosened the top nut and lowered the strut out.

2) the strut rod is jacked - there is rust on the rod. That along with the cover sliding on it will have worn out the strut seals - probably leaking internal to the strut. Sort of surprised I don’t see oil on the outside of the strut though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Personally, I’d replace the struts just based on the rusted rod.

Time for new struts and find a new strut rod cover.

[sixnotfour]

rust is up by bump stop , how low is you 914 ?

[Superhawk996]

rust is up by bump stop , how low is you 914 ?

Fair point.

Would really need to see better photo of the whole rod. Should have asked before jumping to the bad strut rod comment.

However, I think I see rust below where the bump stop would end and don’t forget the bump stop gets collapsed about 1/3 of its height during full compression. Depends on how deep the seals are in that strut (Old Koni adjustable?).

On the whole, you’re probably correct and that’s why there is no evidence of seal leaks external to the strut housing.

[rjames]

I hate it when I give wrong info. I just rebuilt the front end on my car and don't know how I missed that the dust cover should be resting on the strut shoulder, not the rubber stop. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[Chad911sc]

Now it makes sense! I see what you’re talking about now. I lifted up the rubber stops and the strut rod is perfect. It’s just at the top of the strut rod where there is some rusting. That’s the first thing I checked when I seen that rust at the top. I didn't see anything fluid either leaking out at the seal. I think what I’ll do is pull the caps and weld nice study washer into the cap that allows it to sit back on the top of the rod in its correct position. This should then allow it to bottom out at the top when the nut is properly torqued down. Thanks guys! I love this site! So helpful why rebuilding this 50 yr old project! And it’s still going to be a cost free repair (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Chad911sc]

Ringing bells are silenced! Went ahead and freshened up the braking system while I had it all apart. That wasn’t rust that was on the strut rod, it was just goo from the rubber stopper on it. Every once in a while I have a good day…lol.

[sixnotfour]

nice job, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Superhawk996]

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