Hey guys on the strut rod bushing, the yellow tab points toward the ground but can anyone tell if its facing the right direction in the pics below. This is only the passenger side. I am experiencing premature failure due to the cushion being position wrong and the noise is coming from the passenger side. Notice the yellow tab pointing up.





Is this how the new cushion should be position on the passenger side?

 

the answer is yes, but now listen...

you can place the tab UP or DOWN, 6 oclock or 12 oclock.. you get the same action either way.
the internal action is the same.... BUT BUT BUT..

what is important is when you tighten the BOLT ..
we always jack the spindle up until it is no longer on the jack stand (the wheel is in a normal height position) and then tighten the bolt..
like the car was on the ground and then tighten it

if you tighten it while hanging and then let the car down and the wheel goes to normal position, all the slack/action in the bushing is used up and the first "bump" you hit you tear the bushing/rubber.

hope you understand what I am saying..

 

Billy, are they accessible to tighten if the car is on ramps? Of course you would want to jack up the opposite end of car to level it up. I ask because there aren't really good jack points and the leverage factor on the suspension. But when the car is on the tire it properly loads the suspension.

 

Thanks guys, and yes billy I completely understand. But here's the deal some time last year when I replaced both strut bar cushions. I installed the bars on both side THEN I LOWERWD the car on ground so the bushings would be loaded with the car weight then I had torqued the bolts to the factory 134ft lbs. Did everything correctly to a tee but some how the passenger cushion gave out. Only reason I can think of is the shop I used to press out the old cushion and press in the new cushions. I told them that one of those cushions were positioned incorrectly, but I looked over it. Or mabey I hit too many pot holes here in Dallas.

 

after all our rain we got a lot of pot holes to hit..... what part of town you in, I'm in Carrollton.

 

North Dallas by Richland community college, but I drive all all over the metro area from desoto to Frisco. By my sister house they have some nasty roads by the down town area, that's when I first notice the metal on metal sound.

Well I got it off, now I just gotta find a shop.

 

I use a friends press but he uses it too... so I have to be careful.. not to crowd him.

 

I found two or three machine shops, I will shop around and post the results in the next day or two.

Update 6/4/15 8:20pm: I was able to find a shop to press in the new cushion, it took him less than 20 minutes using a 12 ton press from Harbor Freight and it only cost me $15. Strut rod is back on the car and sure enough there is no more of that metal on metal clacking noise. I torqued the cushion bolt with with the wheels on the ground.