[cdgatti]

Looking at the picture, wondering about the washers #7 and #8 in the diagram. Do they both go beteen the guide support and the perch? In what order?

Also is there no washer between the top strut bolt #4 and the guide support?

[mike-y]

#8 is the infamous washer that is sometimes installed upside down, which will cause binding/rubbing of parts when you turn the steering wheel. That washer goes on to of the spring plate (part #9), with the black stripe facing UP.

#7 is a very thin washer that covers the bearing. it bends easy and sometimes comes off with #1, since it sticks to the grease packed in the bearings.

#4 goes on top of the strut shaft (not shown in the pic) and is tightened down from the top of the engine bay. I don't recall a washer here, it may just seat against the top of the bearing. though a washer in between the two wouldn't hurt anything.

[KD_e92]

Replying to an 8 year old post...

Thank you for sharing this.
Replaced my shock absorbers and springs late last year, and kept getting binding / clicking sounds from the top hat a few months after everything is fitted. Replaced the top mounts again, assuming it was faulty, clicking returned soon after.

Finally decided to do some forum digging on the issue and found this thread. Took the assembly apart yesterday and sure enough - I installed the bulging washer upside down both times. I suspected something was wrong as the bearing wouldn't spin freely when torqued to spec but couldn't figure out why and assumed the power steering sorts that out.

Replaced the washer this time, and ensured it has the black line facing up. All smooth and noise free now.

With the amount of work that goes into flipping a washer upside down, this is a mistake you only make once

[KhaosKid]

Originally Posted by mike-y

#8 is the infamous washer that is sometimes installed upside down, which will cause binding/rubbing of parts when you turn the steering wheel. That washer goes on to of the spring plate (part #9), with the black stripe facing UP.

#7 is a very thin washer that covers the bearing. it bends easy and sometimes comes off with #1, since it sticks to the grease packed in the bearings.

#4 goes on top of the strut shaft (not shown in the pic) and is tightened down from the top of the engine bay. I don't recall a washer here, it may just seat against the top of the bearing. though a washer in between the two wouldn't hurt anything.

Okay, I might as well also share my thanks for this post, 8 years later. My last strut and spring change I paid a mechanic to do it and he placed one or both of the washers the wrong way. This resulted in a binding or ticking noise sometimes when turning the wheel.

I'm glad I can finally fix these issues, as I never knew that the washers was causing the binding, and neither did he.