Strut bearing issues

[mcmillonbe]

Hey Guys, Maybe someone can help.
I bought new struts at Autozone for my 92 legacy wagon 4wd. I need to know if anyone else had experience with Gabriel struts because now I have popping from my struts coming from the strut bearings on both sides when i turn the steering wheel. This popping was not present with the stock struts even though I have removed them before.
I know that I installed the struts correctly because I have done this before on this car, but never had this happen.
1. Do Gabriel struts require Gabriel strut bearings or
2. The washers underneath the top hat are excessively worn?
I also checked for proper spring installation and they end is in the recessed spot just like my 00 forester.
Any thoughts would be great before I put the old struts back on so at least I can drive the car.

thanks,
Be McMillon

[entirelyturbo]

I presume you bought just the strut and not the entire pre-built strut/spring/mount assembly.

If so (meaning you're using your old springs), then you might be having the same problem I am.

I put GR2's on my car, and since then I've been having a lot of popping and clunking. I had used my old strut mounts, and replaced them thinking that was the problem. It wasn't.

I think that my springs are old and worn, and by putting new stiff struts on, the springs no longer bear all the weight of the car, and move around inside the strut, creating the sounds.

Do this: Try to grab one of your springs with your hand while the car is on the ground. Jerk it around and see if the spring moves at all inside the strut. If it does, then that's most likely your problem. If your spring was good, then you wouldn't have enough strength to move it.

[mcmillonbe]

Thanks for the reply, your suggestion does make a lot of sense, because the car has 215k and I did notice when I was compressing the springs, they did seem a little dead.

Thanks a lot, now I think this thread can be closed. This website rocks!
Be McMillon