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I installed my ZX-2 Tokico struts over about a year and a half ago. Ever since then when I go over a speed bump or something, the front end does fine, but the rear end just slams down after going over the bump. The struts aren't leaking or anything, and they were brand new. I used new Mx-3 H&R springs.

I didn't change the strut mounts because they looked okay. The strut towers where the struts mount are not rusted out. I've checked the tightness of all rear suspension nuts and bolts (trailing arms, lateral links, strut mounts, etc), to no avail.

It seems though that I can almost move the rear springs when the car is on the ground, and I remember when I took out the old struts that I didn't even need the strut spring compresser because the springs weren't compressed.

Only thing I can think of is that the top strut nut maybe isn't tight enough. So I went to tighten them last night and it just spins the strut shaft when you turn the nuts. I can't remember how the heck I originally tightened them, obviously you need to lock the shaft from spinning somehow, but I don't know how or if I did it.

when rece helped me do mine, we just used 2 vice grips on that metal piece that prevents the shaft from spinning and tightened it, but we also did have an impact wrench

I just do it when the car is down, give it a few good pushes on the nut and it should be good.

or you can do the above mentioned. or get a clotch and put that in the vice grip and grip the shaft

They seem like they're on there decent enough I guess. There's about 4 or 5 threads from the stud showing above the nut.

Has anybody else had this issue with the ZX-2 Tokicos and H&R (or similar) springs where the rear end just seems to slam down after going over a speed bump or something similar? Or where you can pretty much spin the springs in their seats while the car is on the ground?

umcamara wrote:They seem like they're on there decent enough I guess. There's about 4 or 5 threads from the stud showing above the nut.

that about how much mine is too

umcamara wrote:Or where you can pretty much spin the springs in their seats while the car is on the ground?

That is not good. Is there a bump stop or something of the sort preventing the strut from retracting? There should not be any play in the spring while the weight is on the suspension. While it's off the ground, only my old crap Dropzone coils had play in them... they blew my oe struts really quick.
How is your rebound if you push down on the rear corners of the car VS the front?

I did use new ZX-2 bumpstops when I installed the struts.

The rebound front-to-rear seems to be very similar. I'll check again in the morning and report back.