Strut inserts: question?

[Sal]

Although I have a Grinnall and this is a 7 forum, and it is actually a Rover SD1 insert in the strut, the principle is the same (i.e. The shocker is an insert going into the suspension leg), so here goes. After rebuildIng the struts and doing about 500 miles I had a strange steering wobble and so started to investigate and it turns out that the strut insert locking nut is loose by about two turns: I didn't locktite it when I rebuilt them, so is this the mistake? Do I need to de-grease and then locktite the nut before tightening up?

And what has caused this? They are standard springs (not uprated/ lowered) so is this the problem? I hope not as it's the best riding tr7 I have ever had...

Cheers, Ed.

[curley03]

Sounds like loose wheel bearings. Did you follow instructions and tighten them up hand tight and back off 1/4 turn? if you did they are too loose. The old school USA cars method was tighten up till you feel resistance then back off 1/4. It just makes the bearings alittle tighter. And grease them very well. Don't mix grease types they don't react well to mixing, stick with the same type grease or remove ALL the old grease. If you already know this sorry for too much info.

[curley03]

Yes remove the grease and apply BLUE lock tite.

[saabfast]

Some of the originals had the tube punched into the strut insert locknut to lock it.
This is slightly worrying me now. Mine did not have the punch but were just done up pretty tight, although they had obviously been changed before as the inserts were Koni's. On the basis that they were not 'locked' before I just did them up tight (TBH did not even think about it). Not had a problem yet but have only done about 400 miles since the rebuild.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1 (now passed to son for his family car)
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto (now gone that others might live)
Saab 9000 2.3 LPT Auto (sold on, wish I had it back)
Saab 9-5 2.3 Vector Auto Estate
'81 TR7 DHC

[FI Spyder]

Do it right away. When greased the nuts will back out. They have to be Loktited into position. One side came out on my trip down to California and by the time I got back, the threads were ruined. Fortunately I had a set that former forum member gave me (launie)so it cost me nothing to replace it.







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