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Upgrading shocks - Missing shock component?

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mutant_spider

Probationary Member
16
0
Sep 28, 2005
WestChester, Pennsylvania
98' Eclipse RS

I'm about to upgrade my suspension. I believe I have all the parts needed but am a little confused about a diagram I found. I think I am missing a part from the count I currently have; either 40434 or 40286b. Below is a list of parts I have and the diagram I am using.

Any suggestion on the setting for the Tokico Illumina for daily driving / backroad twists & turns would be greatly appreciated also. If there are any concerns about the Illumina / Sportline combination, feel free to let me know; I read this was a nice setup.

Tokico Illumina - Illunina - Tokico Performance Shocks

Eibach Sportline Springs - Eibach Sportline Springs 95-99 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2WD (Incl. GS, GS-T, RS & Turb

Coil Insulator - Buy Moog Coil Spring Insulator K7476 at Advance Auto Parts

Shock Mount Kit - Buy KYB Mount Kit SM5091 at Advance Auto Parts

Strut Mount Plate- 95 99 Eclipse Talon FR & RR Upper Strut Mount Plates | eBay

Strut Boot - Buy KYB Strut Boot SB103 at Advance Auto Parts

Front Suspension Diagram - Front Suspension Strut and Spring

One more question, is the strut setup the same for the rear? Do I need the strut mount kit, strut boot / bump stop, and coil insulator all the same? I'm just asking if there are any differences, besides the shock and spring used. I'm assuming not, but you know where that gets you.

Thanks in advance,
Ken
 
Yes, the rear needs them too. I know the spring insulator is the same from the front and rear. Iirc the front and rear bushing are the same too.
 
Do not get Sportline springs. They're garbage for performance. Show cars like them but if you actually want to drive your car and/or improve it's handling sportlines won't help you.

You can re-use some of your old hardware, such as the Strut Mount Plates. I cleaned up my old shock boots too and installed them on my Illuminas. Same goes for the bump stops. The only thing you may need to purchase are the Coil Isolators - I've seen 'em thrashed after 65k on stock suspension.. But it's always nice to be able to have fresh bushings so if you're doing it look into the Shock Mount Kit, too.
 
Thanks for the quick responses.

The list I have in the first post is everything I already have. I want to assemble to shocks before tearing into the car to decrease downtime; at the moment, it is my only car to drive.

Another question, which I might be able to figure out with some thought but might as well ask, is a question of clearance. I have 17" Nippon Lite wheels with 215/45/17 (fairly certain). I'm not positive that is the sizing of the tire, I don't have the car in front of me. Currently, there is less than one inch between the tire and the control arm in the rear. When I hit a bump, it rubs. Think this will be worse or between with the new shocks? If worse, I'll start looking into my options for different wheels / tires; any suggestions to sizing would be appreciated here, also.
 
Thanks for the quick responses.

The list I have in the first post is everything I already have. I want to assemble to shocks before tearing into the car to decrease downtime; at the moment, it is my only car to drive.

Another question, which I might be able to figure out with some thought but might as well ask, is a question of clearance. I have 17" Nippon Lite wheels with 215/45/17 (fairly certain). I'm not positive that is the sizing of the tire, I don't have the car in front of me. Currently, there is less than one inch between the tire and the control arm in the rear. When I hit a bump, it rubs. Think this will be worse or between with the new shocks? If worse, I'll start looking into my options for different wheels / tires; any suggestions to sizing would be appreciated here, also.

What is your wheel offset? What width? I'm surprised that it rubs with that tire size.
 
Here is what I have and the included instructions. Can someone confirm I have all the parts I need here. I placed the parts in, what I believe to be, the proper order. The included parts look different than the illustration.

I see already the item 2 spots above the metal sleeve should be below the coil insulator. Any other corrections. Is the bump stop and dust cover oriented propely?
 

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Looks right to me. I don't think you'll have trouble but you can confirm orientation, etc. when you remove and disassemble the old shock.

Anything that you might be missing (looks unlikely) could probably be reused.
 
I assembled the strut and the shaft pokes right through the top and sways all around, I'm obviously missing some critical component. If you look at the diagram I have listed in my first post, I'm pretty sure it's the part labeled "40434".

I don't know the name of the part, nor do I know where to pick it up. I'm sure I could use the old part from the strut I'm replacing, but this is my only car at the moment. I want to reduce downtime and alleviate the potential of being 'up a creek...' if something were to go wrong and break during disassembly.
 
Still need help figuring this out. Here are a few photos of what the part does; I threw the shocks on so I could take these photos. Don't worry, I'm not driving with them on ;)

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There should be a ring or collar that keeps the lower cup and bushing from sliding down the shaft so that you get the strut plate sandwiched snugly. If you were running OEM, look at the strut piston and you will see what I am talking about. Doesnt allow the cup to drop all the way down to the strut body.
 
HaZAA! People using my post and pictures and getting further than I have :p wonderful.

So, if someone can just clarify... I'm thinking I need to get a washer yet since I'm not using the OE cup. Am I correct in this or do I just have the order of the components wrong?

Thanks... hopefully I can get this done this weekend :)
 
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