Does the black plastic cover need to be reinstalled on new struts? I just bought new Konis and some shaft mounted bump stops but I would like to know if anyone has deleted this covers or reused them. I guess the point of it is to keep road debris out of the top of the strut where the shaft goes in.

 

Id put em back on. They are the shaft protectors.

 

I figured that. I only asked because one of them was bent out of shape and I needed to install the strut tonight to get my jack back. I managed to "fix" it good enough to use it.

 

You definitely want to protect your shaft. Oh and your struts too.

 

Are you running OEM style or aftermarket strut mounts?

 

the stock dust covers wouldn't work with my Koni's and UMI strut mounts. I left them off.

 

If you don't have stock strut mounts, you cannot use the stock sheild. They will not allow the strut to go into.the bearing in the mount all the way.

Even with stock mounts and the koni, I would make damn sure everything goes all the way together. You never know if anything aftermarket will fit exactly like.stock

 

I am running the polished aluminum fabricated mounts from Spohn.

I will look into this tonight. I did bolt up my
Koni strut with the shield on and everything seemed to go in fine but I can move the shield up and down about a half inch. I will see how the other side looks.

 

The shield is going to prevent articulation of the bearing in the Spohn mount. It needs to be removed.

 

Well it looks like I will be removing the drivers side strut tomorrow morning. Im glad I didnt do the other side yet. This reminds me to check the condition of the mounts. I hope I can replace the rod bushing in them. Note to self: call Spohn and see what they say.

 

Supposedly some of the off road/4x4/truck applications can fit and work, I have heard some members mention doing it. Go to an autoparts store and ask to see some.

 

I too would be very interested in what Spohn says. A few years ago I swapped in Spohn mounts and Koni Reds. I replaced the shield (there is no movement as you mention above). I've never experience any issues that I'm aware of--but I'm not aware of everything.

JamesC

 

Spohn told me not to use them as it will interfere with the articulation of the bearing in their mount. Now the downside to this is now road debris and water will get into the strut where the piston goes in and I will now need to figure out how to stop this from happening. If I make something then I cant allow it to interfere with the mount and the bump stop.

 

The bearing has to move to work properly. The shield is a much larger diameter than the bearing so the edges of the shield prevent the bearing from moving. In reality the shield probably just bends each time the bearing articulates. Or maybe yours has self clearanced by now.

 

For the sake of info, I checked Spohn's and UMI's websites. Neither make mention of the OE shield and possible issues. Interesting--and perhaps annoying.

JamesC

 

I ran the shields for a few year when I had KYBs and the Spohn mounts. I didnt notice any issues but who would when its just plastic. Its not like you are going to feel the plastic binding when you drive. Anyway, I took the struts out to put Konis in a couple weeks ago and I did notice that the metal ring on top of the shield was elongated and distorted to a point where if positioned just right, it would slide all the way down the shaft of the strut rendering it basically useless.
It seems that these aftermarket companies dont bother putting this info up on their site because maybe they feel it will deter some people from buying that part. When I called Spohn and asked the guy on the phone, he had to put me on hold for a few minutes while he went and found the answer to my question. Im not sure who answered it per say but he did say NOT to use it. Someone else here should call and ask the same question and see what you get for an answer.

The only downside to not running it is that you will now get contamination on the strut shaft which is going to find its way down into the seal. So, I am going to have to figure out a way to make a slip on cover that now will rest directly on top of the strut body.

 

I wouldn't worry about it. The seal's job after all is to keep the junk out. Think about all the hydraulic rams out there on construction sides getting caked with dirt and mud, getting rained on, with no issues. I suspect a strut seal is fairly similar.

 

I'm sure the seals are very robust. What I worry about is stones nicking the shafts then taking the seals out.

 

Go to a 4x4 shop & buy 2 of the accordian style shock boots (available in many colors). They fit tightly over the shock body & extend up to the top of the strut mount. You can pull them down over the shock body & it stays in place. At the bottom, just above the shock body poke a few small 1/8" holes around the perimeter to allow any accumulated moisture to dain out... just in case. I put a set on with my new upper strut mounts a few years ago & they were spotless inside when I pulled it apart this past winter.

 

I said this earlier and everyone seems to have ignored it.

 

As said above...

Im sure you could find a way to run something like these shock socks.


or a racharo truck boot.

 

I like the idea of the boots, rubber or nylon. But I don't know how good they would stay up on the shaft. There is no ring or collar like on shocks to hold them in place.

 

You can secure it to a shaft mounted bump stop like this Spohn, Koni, Ground Control all sell them.



Heres a link
http://www.ground-control-store.com/...php/II=10/CA=1

 

http://bermmotorsports.com/shocksox.php

Used these years ago for my dirt bike worked excellent, should do the same for your struts.

 

Tibo, I didnt ignore your advice. I have been thinking about it for a while now and I am just basically absorbing everyones comments here. I like those black boots and I am running those same exact bump stops so yes, they would help secure the top of the "sock". I dont care for the look of the rubber boots but I would install them if its all I had to buy.

I will post back here when I decide what I want and then take pics. Thanks guys.

 

These would look good



ok ok just kidding.
Here just black
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Banshee-...80fe55&vxp=mtr

 

I don't run them on my Koni Yellows but I don't drive in the rain or on particularly dirty roads. I have had no issues so far. I like the idea of protecting them though but I doubt regular daily driving road dust & debris would hurt much.. :/

 

My question is where to buy the replacement? Napa no. Car quest no. Oreileys no. :/

 

I found em at Advanced Auto Parts... Under $20 for the pair. They may be called strut bellows, shock boots, or shock or strut dust civers., I don't honestly remember what they referred to them as. Just zip tied them on and forgot about them. It only takes a few minutes to undo the top nut on the strut, jack the car up and zip a boot on, so if anyone's reading this and thinking about it, just do it.

 

Ty 6 hrs too late though desided to say screw em

 

except it?s usually part of the maintenance plan to clean them and wipe em back down with hydraulic fluid. These are not the same at all these are gas charged.

 

You bumped an old thread to post this? Your argument isn't sound anyway, you're talking about a maintenance issue, not an operational issue. The hydraulics get dirty while in operation, the operator doesn't get out and wipe them down if they get dirty

 

I?m not arguing about something futile, case and point GM did lots of research deeming it necessary to require the installation of these covers to assure the life of the parts covered.

 

Yet they don't install them on all the new cars.....

 

So is it okay to not use the stock dust shields on the struts? I'm currently putting in new UMI caster/camber plates and Koni yellows. The stock dust cover does not fit up into the plate near as I can tell.

 

If you can't install it, you can't install it. Not needed anyway

 

I haven't seen these in person but I assume they're the factory pieces on the new 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE-7:

 

just another dust shield to add more weight, you dont need em