Hey everyone,
I have been hearing loud popping noises and rattles when hitting almost any size bump in my '01 protege.
I had a feeling it had to do with the left rear strut or its top mount.
When i checked, I noticed the strut has sort of exploded out and extended a couple of inches, and it now resting on the seat belt mount, just above.
I am wondering if the seat belt mount was not there, would it have exploded up wards even more.
I feel like my strut could still be ok and that all I need to do is change the mount for it, but I am not sure.
Either way, Is it safe to take out the whole shock assembly without having the strut pop up and be unsafe for me to work on ?
If in fact the mount is broken and nothing is holding the shock from pushing upwards, then I feel like it would be dangerous.
Here are some pics of the broken side and the other side which is still fine. Please tell me if you know what I should do.
Thanks guys
BAD Strut:
Good strut, i just removed the rubber cap to see that the top is in tact
I have been hearing loud popping noises and rattles when hitting almost any size bump in my '01 protege.
I had a feeling it had to do with the left rear strut or its top mount.
When i checked, I noticed the strut has sort of exploded out and extended a couple of inches, and it now resting on the seat belt mount, just above.
I am wondering if the seat belt mount was not there, would it have exploded up wards even more.
I feel like my strut could still be ok and that all I need to do is change the mount for it, but I am not sure.
Either way, Is it safe to take out the whole shock assembly without having the strut pop up and be unsafe for me to work on ?
If in fact the mount is broken and nothing is holding the shock from pushing upwards, then I feel like it would be dangerous.
Here are some pics of the broken side and the other side which is still fine. Please tell me if you know what I should do.
Thanks guys
BAD Strut:

Good strut, i just removed the rubber cap to see that the top is in tact
