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Re: Broken rear strut, and I mean BROKEN
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flicko
New User
Mar 23, 2011, 10:20 PM
Post #1 of 4
(2491 views)
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Re: Broken rear strut, and I mean BROKEN
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Bump!
I have this exact same problem on a '95 olds cutlass supreme (likely the same design as the '96 buick - 1st gen GM W-body). I drove it around for a day before I realized what the hell happened. I'm still slightly baffled by the strut being completely compressed?
Not sure I will be doing this repair on my own after reading this thread. I usually do my own work (did a head gasket job a little over a year ago), but I have to drive a pretty good distance to use my uncle's garage and I'm pretty uncomfortable driving it with the strut just leaning against the inner side of the wheel well. I'd hate to drive that far and not be able to remove the lower bolts on my own.
I'm wondering how much it should cost me to have both rear mounts and struts replaced at a shop?
(This post was edited by flicko on Mar 23, 2011, 10:20 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 23, 2011, 11:52 PM
Post #2 of 4
(2476 views)
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Re: Broken rear strut, and I mean BROKEN
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Separated your post as a new thread. I see you are new here but tagging onto a near 3 year old thread doesn't cut it. You need your own with your own exact issues please.
OK - if a strut broke right off with rusted bolts or whatever control of the car is now iffy and probably shouldn't be driven. Not sure what you mean "completely compressed" with the strut. Dealing with rust if the reason it broke right off could be easy with torches or impossible by location. Air tools might do it or not and penetrating oil (like PB the best) might do it. If it's leaning and still in there now there's no telling what extra damage could happen if you can't get it out. Control of vehicle will be severely compromised except to move it into your own shop/garage would be OK.
How much to have it done locally (tow it) is impossible to know. Cost of parts plus what trouble it is to remove. Most shops can deal with some tough stuff with torches and powerful air tools. If stuff is so bad it breaks it'll cost more. Air tools, PB and heat if possible can do wonders. If you can't even remove lower bolts I'd send it out locally unless you have towing thru a club of some kind to get it to your uncle's shop that cost could totally outweigh getting it done locally to you. If you are keeping the car let the pros do their thing. I swear I live in the rustiest spot on earth and it's usually the demise of older cars even when they run well - it stinks.
Ask your uncle what he thinks you should do too.
Good luck, rust is a pill,
T
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flicko
New User
Mar 24, 2011, 12:16 AM
Post #3 of 4
(2472 views)
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Re: Broken rear strut, and I mean BROKEN
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Ya, I assumed 3 year old threads didn't pop back up very often. I found it via google. The picture from the thread pretty much shows what I'm dealing with:
1996 Buick Regal 130,000 miles
The strut is completely compressed which just seems odd to me (I would expect there to be a spring causing it to fully extend unless under load).
I drove with this on the highway going 65 a couple of times before I noticed the problem. My first clue was the clanking coming from the rear right whenever I hit a bump. I thought something came loose in my trunk until I saw the top of my wheel tilted in while getting gas the next day.
What is currently supporting the wheel without the strut in place? There doesn't seem to be any rubbing or scraping happening anywhere. Am I putting undesirable stress on other components?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2011, 12:43 AM
Post #4 of 4
(2466 views)
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Re: Broken rear strut, and I mean BROKEN
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The threads are there for archives at that age. Always best to start your own as it's a pain for us when stuff get tagged on. Glad you could find CarJunky on Google and should because owner pays them royally AND Google ads make this site free to use which is cool. If exactly like that old pic it should be doable without breaking anything - just the parts and labor,
T
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