tokico blues installation trouble....

[nitekrawler]

So I got my tokico blues yesterday afternoon, and me and a friend decided to install them.

Well we ran into some trouble.

1) The rear right after installation was giving us trouble in that we could not get the little nut on top of the strut assembly to tighten without turning the entire strut rod (which I assume is bad because the bushings will bust up). So we held the saucer shaped metal piece that sits on top with some pliers and tightened till we couldn't tighten anymore. And now the entire strut assembly seems loose because it rattles while I drive. (mind you we never put the interior back together so I made sure it wasn't the seat belt assembly by taping it down to the floor).

2) The rear left strut assembly won't come apart! The same nut that I mentioned earlier (sitting on top of the saucer shaped metal piece) won't loosen without turning the entire strut rod. So we try to hold it with pliers and loosen it but after the both of us were practically hanging on to this strut it still didn't come loose!

That's it.

Btw the front struts went on super easy and were done in like 15 mins each. I know we double checked because it seemed too easy. But all is good in front. The rear is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO tough it sucks!

Anyways gimme ideas how I can fix this and what I can do because as it stands, I have my original strut in the rear left, and the new one that is rattling in the rear right.

Thanks in advance.
~nK~

 

[mountjonas]

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25438&highlight=noise+strut+rear

 

[WRCprotege]

use a big par of vice grips, and one of those jar lid opener pads on the shaft.. only hold the shaft at the very top.. if you scratch, dent or mar it up you could ruin the shock, if you do and its at the very top where the bumpstops are normaly, this wouldnt affect the shock as bad.. the pad will help from teeth marks and give alot of grip.. and be sure to use BIG ass vice grips too..

 

[nitekrawler]

Thanks all for the suggestions and the link that was posted was exactly what I was having trouble with funny how the search didn't bring it up on the first page?!

Anyways thanks. All is awesome now! and the struts are WAY WAY WAY better than stock unbelievable!

~nK~

 

[Vanimaniac]

My brother and I are installing Tokico's on the P5 tomorrow (sunday).
Any weird special funky tools needed (besides the jar opener!)?
Anything else to watch out for?
Thanks for any help.

Van

Thanks all for the suggestions and the link that was posted was exactly what I was having trouble with funny how the search didn't bring it up on the first page?!

Anyways thanks. All is awesome now! and the struts are WAY WAY WAY better than stock unbelievable!

~nK~

 

[L8R]

My brother and I are installing Tokico's on the P5 tomorrow (sunday).
Any weird special funky tools needed (besides the jar opener!)?
Anything else to watch out for?
Thanks for any help.

Van

1. oil the end links connecting the strut to the sway bars for the front and rear, ull have a b**** of a time losening it. dont be surprised if u eat a nut or two... no pun intended

2. losen all the top bolts (in the motor and trunk) before removing anything from the bottom. remember where the white marks are on the front struts.

3. give your self a lot of time to do this installation

good luck!

 

[importcircuit]

weird but just installed it last night and guess what... reaer right clanking too... i drove a round with a friend in the trunk (i have a p5) looking a the shock from inside. everything is tight and the rear gutted and he noticed that the top bolt seems to be loose although there is no way else to tighten it. looks like the washer deal from the link on the second post will do the trick. will have to try that tonight.

vanimaniac... just in case, you should call your local mazda dealer if you plan on sticking with stock endlinks if they have them in stock. just note that rears are shorter than the fron... aside from the nut... its easy to strip the 5mm allen key bolt on the endlink. try to use liquid wrench or something overnight. like what l8r said... give yerself alot of time. oh yeah... the washer trick, read up on it on the second post in this thread.

 

[Mike R]

Use a pair of vise grips on the top of the strut on the washer, it is keyed, so it should not be able to turn. It's a big PITA.

 

[importcircuit]

wohoo... the washer deal worked like a charm!!! installation is now complete!!! love it!!!

 

[Vanimaniac]

Yep I ruined one of the endlinks. Going to the dealership to order another now. Also we are noticing a clank too. But seems like its on the left. I actually haven't put the interior together just yet just for this reason. So I will check tonight to make sure and then try the washer trick.

PS. Both seatbelts are in locked position so I can't pull them back far enough to put back on! What am I not doing right?

Thanks,
Van

 

[importcircuit]

i was actually getting both rears at one point. you'll need the washer if you notice the bowl shape can be easily moved around while installed due to the lack of threading.

 

[Vanimaniac]

Well did the washer trick and it worked! Took minutes to do. And it was the left one and not the right that was making the noise for me. However, I did the right one also just in case. I still can't get the back seatbelts to retract so I can put those on. Oh well, at least we don't use the back seats anyways. They are always down so the dogs can have room.

Van

 

[uclap5]

hold it at the exact level position it was at before taking it off and the seatbelt will come out. its all about finesse.

 

[importcircuit]

hold it at the exact level position it was at before taking it off and the seatbelt will come out. its all about finesse.

w3rd!!!

 

[glitch32]

lol! omg this whole thread explained a lot to me, thanks! i couldn't figure out what that noise was, and when i actually got to a computer, i forgot to look it up or ask someone about it... i gotta go fix mine too -

 

[andyfatsax]

The design flaw of the top of the strut shaft has caused a lot of people problems...if tokico struts came with the proper nut the problem would be solved.

 

[Scooter_TO]

The design flaw of the top of the strut shaft has caused a lot of people problems...if tokico struts came with the proper nut the problem would be solved.

So I guess that means that they DON'T fix the problem? I was thinking of switching to HPs thinking it would get rid of the annoying noise. Mine didn't go away with the washer tric. But if HPs aren't going yo be any better,...I'll just save my cash.