Sup y’all . Been holding off on doing struts but I think it’s about time with 130k on the originals. I know I should replace the front strut mounts when doing struts but what about the rubber bumpers? Specifically 48331-30120 and 48157-30040. Will add another $100 almost to the total so want to make sure it’s actually necessary.

 

Some may disagree with me on this, but I don't think the jounce bumpers are too necessary. Especially with good struts/shocks. Bottoming out would be very unlikely with the new struts. Now on some older cars that were prone to bottoming out, they can be what keeps you from loosing control of the vehicle if you were to smash off the strut body at high speed and a large bump. I don't think it's too big an issue on the stock suspension on these cars though. In my experience, since I replace struts frequently as a tech, they are I'd say 4-5 out of 10 times missing from the struts I'm working with anyways. They deteriorate and are long gone, same with the bellows. No one every want's the strut job to cost their whole paycheck, so the struts get installed with no bumpers and half or no bellows all the time. Never really causes an issue, but it does stay pretty dry here in southern California. just some things to consider.

 

I will gladly spend the extra $100 since I plan to keep this gs400 forever. Drives better then most new cars even with 20 year old struts. I just want to make sure it’s not a cosmetic part and actually has some type of function.

 

What is more important? The spring insulator or the strut bumpers ? There’s so many bumpers and insulators especially for the rear there’s a few pieces labeled cushions. I’m not sure which ones actually deteriorate

 

Glad to expand on this. The spring insulator is more important for the fact that the strut would sound terrible without it. The bumper has nothing to do with noises and only comes into effect if the suspension travels enough to bounce off of it. The GS has long shock shafts. Bottoming out is very unlikely unless the shock part of the strut is so blown it is no longer doing any kind of jounce or rebound support. The jounce bumper the is installed onto the shock shaft is what deteriorates often and usually never has an effect on the suspension. It’s there as a fail safe for totally blown shocks basically.

 

Thanks so much great explanation. So would you recommend I only get the spring insulator? Is that the one you see go out all the time? I don’t want to buy that for no reason.

 

My biggest concern wold be good quality front upper mounts. I dont usually see bad spring insulators. They are usually always in good enough condition to swap over, but it would suck if you went to do the job and they were deteriorated and unusable. But just in my experience, they are always reused when we do struts at my shop and are fine. Again, this is Southern Cali. Things hold up well here, not sure about your climate and road conditions with snow and salting etc. If you look through your wheels do you see a rust nightmare or does it look pretty clean? If it looks terrible you might want to replace more.. but if it looks clean, you can probably transfer parts.

 

yea I’m getting OEM struts and mounts. I don’t see rust really but I do live in NY so I’m sure it’s not in as good condition as California cars since we get snow. I guess it’s not worth buying them then they’re most likely fine. Thanks for your help bro