I got the new struts in today, and went about installing them. Now I have a HUGE problem, the left rear suspension is locked solid. The process was relatively straight forward, and pretty easy. I am left with this:




Not even counting how crappy it rides.

How could I have possibly screwed it up? The quickstruts didn't have any issues expanding or contracting before installing, but this is what I have now. I have no idea how this happened?

Help!!

Now that'* a odd one. Do you have auto ride hight on these? It'* odd that one side is sitting so high.

Randall, not sure what you mean by locked solid? I'm confused.

You have struts in the rear? Or are you talking about the front?

Bent piston rod maybe? I say pull the thing back out and see if it will still move. Usually they are pretty easy to do. I've stripped and reassembled many struts over the years. The only way I could see one getting stuck is having a bent piston rod, or broken piston. In which case, sounds like manufacturing defect, and nothing you did.

I'm a bit confused as to the issue as well..

These are air struts right? Fed by the factory system or an aftermarket setup? I'd check the T in the system that should distribute air equally. Seems that all the air may be going to one side.

The only thing the air system did was vent pressure, the compressor never fired. I never did pressurize the struts before putting the car back down, so I suspect the airbag is bound up inside. Later I intend to jack the rear end off the ground again, get the rear suspension at full extension, fire the compressor off manually, and set the car back down, to see what happens.

One things i've found when doing struts is they do sit higher until you drive and they have a day to settle.

This isn't a matter of ride heidth Bill. There is no suspension travel at all in the left rear corner. If the air bag is stuck in the strut, and being pinched and binding up, that explains everything.

Except that likely can't happen with the design of it. If this were my car or a customers car, I'd try giving it a drive and a few quick stops/starts to get some weight transfer moving the strut. If it fixes the issue great, if not the warranty will cover you.

And...I'd take another look underneath to ensure the spring didn't move out of it'* cup. If that happened, it could explain the overly high side.

Bill, the suspension is high because the strut is extended, and will not compress, at all. I thought the same thing about the spring, but the a-frame was supported at all times, whether by jackstand, or by strut. Also, I took it for a drive to grab beer, and hit a pot hole, there was no suspension movement at all.

When I say the suspension is locked solid, I mean it aint going no where. I am over 350lbs, and I can hop on that corner of the car, and all I get is bouncing from the tire.