paging a suspension person about description of washer on strut mount.

**doublezero30** · 07-14-2008 04:47 PM

ive searched and searched on here about the thumping ive had and i finally think i nailed it on the head. i didnt see the part on a4mods that said to reuse the washer on the rubber part of the strut mount or i will get clunks. i have my drivers side apart now and guess what, no washer. my question is...what did this washer look like? is it a small brass washer(i found two during clean up and saved them)? and which side of the rubber thing does it go on? bottom between rubber and mount or top between rubber and nut? thanks!

oh and my bilstiens also came with new washers which i didnt know what for...could i use those instead? thats probably why they were there huh?

**diagnosticator** · 07-14-2008 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by doublezero30

ive searched and searched on here about the thumping ive had and i finally think i nailed it on the head. i didnt see the part on a4mods that said to reuse the washer on the rubber part of the strut mount or i will get clunks. i have my drivers side apart now and guess what, no washer. my question is...what did this washer look like? is it a small brass washer(i found two during clean up and saved them)? and which side of the rubber thing does it go on? bottom between rubber and mount or top between rubber and nut? thanks!

oh and my bilstiens also came with new washers which i didnt know what for...could i use those instead? thats probably why they were there huh?

There is a narrow thick washer on the shock rod under the rubber mount, and a flat washer under the nut.

**doublezero30** · 07-14-2008 05:02 PM

ok, im guessing the narrow thick one fits between the rod and the mount to prevent the knocking?

thanks, you are the man!

and narrow thick would be the smaller one with less circumferance right?

**golgo13** · 07-14-2008 05:06 PM

For sure it sucks when you are done installing your brand new suspension to see this litle gold washer stare at you in the face letting you know you have to take everything apart to put him back where he belongs. It happened to me twice.... gay little washers

**doublezero30** · 07-14-2008 05:08 PM

haha, well this is the third time in 3 days ive taken it out. took me about 15 minutes to get the drivers side out.

so smaller circumferance under the rubber, larger circumferance on top of the rubber? correct?

pic:

**diagnosticator** · 07-14-2008 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by doublezero30

ok, im guessing the narrow thick one fits between the rod and the mount to prevent the knocking?

thanks, you are the man!

and narrow thick would be the smaller one with less circumferance right?

Yes, correct on both, the narrow thick washer, is fitted onto and slides down the rod and stops against a shoulder an inch or so from the top threaded end of the shock rod, then the shock rod is inserted into the rubber mounting. It's important that the shock rod is held firmly against rotation while tightening the nut to spec torque. If this isn't done, the rod can still have slop in it after reassembly, causing continued clunking noises.

**doublezero30** · 07-14-2008 05:25 PM

the whole narrow thick thing is confusing me here. lol in the pic...the one on the right goes below the rubber correct? i slid that one on and there was still a small gap between the washer and mount.

**diagnosticator** · 07-14-2008 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by doublezero30

haha, well this is the third time in 3 days ive taken it out. took me about 15 minutes to get the drivers side out.

so smaller circumferance under the rubber, larger circumferance on top of the rubber? correct?

pic:

Yes, narrow washer (right,) on the rod first, then the rubber mount, then the wide washer, (left,) finally the nut.

**sambrody44** · 07-14-2008 05:28 PM

Yes, and left goes above.

**doublezero30** · 07-14-2008 05:28 PM

ok awesome. sorry to ask so many times, just wanted to get it right.

once again, you are the man. i appreciate the help bigtime!!

**diagnosticator** · 07-14-2008 05:29 PM

Now I'm confused too. I need to double check my ETKA/Bentley to confirm, standby......

**diagnosticator** · 07-14-2008 05:34 PM

Item #3 is the narrow thick washer that goes on the rod first. The OE nut is a flanged nut, so that is why the pic doesnt show the wide washer, but it should be used if the nut you use on the new shocks is not a flanged nut. Note that the narrow thick washer, #3, fits between the bracket and the rubber mount.