Strut bearings

[Rocking-M]

The strut bearing has a rubber seal around it that seems to creat a lot
of drag on the turning of the strut. Has anyone left it out and periodically
taken the strut apart , cleaned and greased the bearing and reassembled?
It seems it would make the steering much lighter to leave it out.
But, then I haven't driven the car yet:)
Thanks,

[Gregory Smith]

Hi Robert,

I don't think the seal creates as much drag as you suspect. It's a good idea to clean and grease the bearing, but to leave out the seal would destroy the bearing in short order. A large amount of dust and sand gets up there, just look at the spring perch!

If you are experiencing excessive steering effort, check your tie-rod ends, tire pressure and alignment, and P/S system.

[Rocking-M]

Heck I dont know if I have hard steering or not:)
It still aint got the engine in it.
I was turning the tops of the struts by hand and noticed the drag.
I decide to do as you suggested. Cleaned and regreased and freshly painted
Koni struts (painted chevy orange which is what the color looked like on them). Set the struts to full hard (they are the reds so that shouldn't be to
bad for the missus).
There standing in the corner now waiting to go back in:)
Thanks,

[SubGothius]

Set the struts to full hard (they are the reds so that shouldn't be to bad for the missus).Yegads, y'sure about that? Consider that Koni reds, even set at full-soft, will still be notably stiffer than stock -- IMHO about right for daily driving. My Zag's PO had installed Konis set to full-soft in front and a click or two stiffer than soft in the rear, and he mentioned during my test drive that he wished he'd set the rears to full-soft as well, and after buying and driving the car, I have to agree. If you plan on primarily street driving with little-to-no track action, Koni reds set to full-soft (relatively speaking!) are IMHO the way to go, and will still be appreciably taut without offending the missus. ;)

[Rocking-M]

Hey, now I may have to pull them off after she notices it :?
anyway, we're use to wagon hard 4X4's and I we can't stand
to float down the road :) I'm planning on full damp all the way around.
But, I may get new orders. :wink: