Just wanted to know if anyone else runs their struts with no dust cover? The car I'm installing on will be pretty much track only, not daily driven, so I'm considering it. But I'm worried about dirt damaging the seals. If anyone else has done it, I'd like to hear about your experiences. Thanks!!

 

why would you want to run without them, they only weigh about an ounce each, and its not worth the risk to the bearing.

 

Two reasons, first the OEM shields are stuck on the old strut/mount units, whoever installed it last overtorqued the top nut way too much and its not possible to loosen (strut shaft spins with the nut). Only way to do it is hold the dust shield steady with a vice but this will damage the shield (its already bent, not cracked yet). I've sprayed some WD40 on the nut, gonna let it sit overnight and try again tomorrow. Second reason is I'm running aftermarket strut mounts as the replacements and I dont even know if those OEM shields will fit if I ever happen to get them off the old parts.

It would be much easier to run them without the shields, but I wanna do it right so I figgured I would ask and see if anyone else is doing it and what kinda issues they might be experiencing.

 

I had a car that just didn’t have room… thought about using some 4x4 shock boots but didn’t have time to get them when I had the car apart so I just took some polyethylene sheet, wrapped it around the area a few times and zip tied it on the top and bottom. Worked great for years

 

Thats a great idea! I might give that a try. Thanks! I finally got one of the nuts off (drivers side unit) but the shield is all mangled. Ended up I was wrong and the shield is not the only way to hold it steady (feel so stupd now) was able to use two wrenches and two cheater bars and loosen it, no contact to the shield needed. Feels like I manhandled them for nothing now. I test fit the shield in my HMS mounts and it does fit. Might bend it back into shape, sand, and paint it. Still gotta think about it (and finish polishing the pass side mount).

 

I don't have about half of the boots on the front of my maxima. (CV joints are all good, though.)

Haven't had any problems yet.

Still wouldn't recommend it....

Scott