JustinY

I recently replaced all four struts in my 2IS with KYB struts. I did the front and rear a day after each other. After I changed the front two, I drove the car for a little to see how it felt, it drove fine. I did the same the next day with the rear, and she had a creaking sound coming from the rear when I would go over bumps. I didn't have the torque specs or an impact gun, so I'm thinking it was either an issue with the torque specs on the bolts or maybe I didn't screw one of the bolts in all the way. I did had a hard time screwing in the top mounting enough bolt without an impact gun, I don't know if that would cause the creaking noise though. I'll be taking out the struts to send photos of the top bolt in a few days. I know I probably butchered some of the names of the places, please help!

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

Search is your friend. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...ere-first.html

Just remember that if you tightened everything in place with the suspension hanging down it will destroy the new shock ends.
Best practice is :>> Only tighten pinch bolts when the car is level on all fours.

JustinY

So I put on the tires, lower the car, then tighten the two pinch bolts and the smaller bolt? Or do I torque the bolts to spec beside the three on top of the mount?

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

Think of it this way, grab your index finger with one hand. Rotate your index finger wrist 30°. Thats what happened to the vulcanized lower pinch bolt when you lowered the car. It twisted the rubber over rotating it.


So, loosen the pinch bolts, bounce on the car or drive it back and forth 20 feet a couple times and then get under there and tighten it. You want joint in a neutral rotation position so that when the suspension goes up and down the joint can flex both directions an equal amount.

JustinY

That makes much more sense, thank you!!

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

NP - hate to see new parts get ruined.

Some jack up the lower control arm lifting the cars whole side and tighten the bolts. I prefer is sitting on ramps.

JustinY

I jacked the lower control arms to reach the hole. Is that going to also be a problem after I loosen and retighten the bolts?

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

Not at all.

Here's a tip: measure from the fender lip to the center of the spindle, hub, or center cap with the car sitting on the ground. Lets say its 22". With the wheel off and you jacking the car up by the control arm and you get the center of the hub to 22.5" or so from the fender, go ahead and tighten the pinch bolts.

Make sense?

JustinY

I think I understand what you're saying. I will try to fix these issues in about two hours. I'll reply here with my progress and what I find.

JustinY

Is it possible to over-torque the top nut on the strut mount? I'm using an impact gun and don't know when to stop, is this enough? Here is a photo

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

Most all of them have a solid stop on the shaft, but it can depend on the hardware kit supplied too.

I found the spec for the front is 21ft/lbs w new nut. www.alldatadiy.com screwed up and left that detail out of the rear service guide.

One area eludes to 13ft/lbs but I can't confirm. The 3 nuts on the rear are 55ft/lbs.

To your point, can you over tighten them and damage them, yes.

JustinY

Thank you! I finished the installation, and the problem was solved. It was the top bolt all along.

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

Good to know!

So,, for your records,, get the car on level ground and measure from the center cap to the fender lip on all four corners. Record it in your handy dandy 2IS service log. Then check it in a month or so. How much did it settle?

JustinY

It rides great now, not that it rode terribly before. I heard good reviews about these kyb gas-a-just struts. How are they compared to the stock struts?