Do you adjust struts?

[trophyhunt]

I have a 2002 Honda Accord, replaced the struts myself with les schwab struts.  All the bolts are tight but I still have a clunking sound in the rear.  Do I need to or can I adjust the struts by tightening that center nut??

[jackelope]

Are you sure it's the struts making the noise?  Is there strut mounts? Did you replace those too?

[jackelope]

Doesn't look like there is any adjustment needed.

Replacement


•Special Tools Required
•Strut Spring Compressor, Branick MST-580A or Model 7200, or equivalent, commercially available.

Removal

1.Raise the rear of the vehicle, and make sure it is securely supported. Remove the rear wheel.
2.Remove the rear bulkhead cover.

 

 

 



3.Remove the two flange nuts (A).

 

 

 



4.Remove the flange bolt (A) from the knuckle.
5.Remove the flange nut (B) from the stabilizer link.
6.Lower the rear suspension, and remove the damper (C) from the vehicle.

NOTE: Damper springs are different, left and right. Mark the springs L and R before you continue.

Disassembly/Inspection

 

 

 



1.Compress the damper spring with a commercially available strut spring compressor (A) according to the manufacturer's instructions, then remove the self-locking nut (B). Do not compress the spring more than necessary to remove the self-locking nut.
2.Release the pressure from the strut spring compressor, then disassemble the damper.
3.Reassemble all parts, except the spring.
4.Compress the damper by hand, and check for smooth operation through a full stroke, both compression and extension. The damper should move smoothly. If it does not, replace it.
5.Check for oil leaks, abnormal noises, and binding during these tests.

Reassembly

1.Install the damper unit on a commercially available strut spring compressor (A).

 

 

 



2.Assemble the damper in the reverse order of disassembly, except for the washer and self locking nut. Align the bottom of the damper spring and the spring lower seat (B).
3.Position the damper mounting base on the damper unit.
4.Compress the damper spring with the spring compressor.

 

 

 



5.Install the washer (A), and loosely install a new self locking nut (B).
6.Hold the damper shaft with a hex wrench, and tighten the self-locking nut.

Installation

 

 

 



1.Lower the rear suspension, position the damper (A), and loosely install the two flange nuts (B).

 

 

 



2.Loosely install the flange bolt (A) and nut (B).
3.Raise the rear suspension with a floor jack until the vehicle just lifts off the safety stand.
4.Tighten the flange bolt and nut on the bottom of the damper to the specified torque.
5.Tighten the two flange nuts on top of the damper to the specified torque.
6.Install the rear bulkhead cover.
7.Install the rear wheels.
8.Check the rear wheel alignment, and adjust it if necessary.
 

[trophyhunt]

Didn't see any strut mounts?  It just bolted in place right on the frame.

[Woodchuck]

That era Honda is kind of known to have clunks due to rear control arm bushings being torn and or sway bar end links. Not a bad idea to look at sway bar mounting bushings as well.
As a side note, and yes I have seen this, check your trunk and make sure you don't have something like a loose jack or something that is bouncing around when you hit bumps.

[jackelope]

They do "list" strut mounts in AllData so I assume they exist. I'm with Woodchuck. The noise was probably not from the struts in the first place.

[Woodchuck]

You might try this... jack up the back end, use a dead blow hammer and whack the bottoms of the tires to see if you can duplicate the noise. If you can duplicate it, have someone else hit the tires while you trace the noise. 

[h20hunter]

I'd look at anything  with a bushing like trailing arms and any other suspension  arm or knuckles.

[trophyhunt]

That era Honda is kind of known to have clunks due to rear control arm bushings being torn and or sway bar end links. Not a bad idea to look at sway bar mounting bushings as well.
As a side note, and yes I have seen this, check your trunk and make sure you don't have something like a loose jack or something that is bouncing around when you hit bumps.

i will check the trunk, have to admit that made me laugh when I read that!  Thanks guys I will try all these ideas.