I recently picked up a set of KYB agx struts with tien s tech springs for my 1996 Eclipse GS. Used, cuz i'm cheap like that... anyway... no issues with the front pair. The rear driver's side was just fine. But the Rear passenger side is making a wonderful loose clanging noise. You can put you hand on the strut mount and feel it move around. We tried tightening it, which made it better for a little bit. But within a day, it was back to being just as bad as it was. So, we took it apart and replaced it with a new strut mount. In the process of tightening, that little tab on top of the stud broke off. Fun huh? It wasn't anywhere near tight enough, so we got some vise grips, and grabed the inner strut shaft (i guess thats what it is called) far enough up that it wouldn't cause a problem. We managed to get it tighter. Once we got it as tight was we could, we put the assembly back on the car and took it for a test drive. It was 10 times better than it was, but it still clanged when you hit manhole covers. Since it was 4:30 in the morning, we packed it up and went home. By the time we got home (about a 15 minute drive) it was just as bad as it ever was.
How do I fix this problem?
Did we do something dumb and forget a piece of rubber? (we replaced what was there)
Any ideas how to get it tight enough?
Is the strut itself bad?
Is the spring worn out?
Has the head light fluid gone bad?
Other than not getting it tight enough, I don't know what is causing this issue. I would assume that the old strut mount was worn out and every time we tightened it, it would just wear out that much more. I would also assume that we just haven't gotten the new mount tight enough.... Unless we missed something upon install...
Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

Did you use the same nuts that were on your car originally?

 

crankwalk

 

Did you put those flimsy plastic dust covers back on? I didnt on my front shocks thinking that they were just dust covers and didnt need to be on. Well, after i put the new shocks/spring on and went for a test drive, i heard a loud "clunking" noise coming from the passenger side. Turns out there is a metal washer attached to the end of the plastic dust cover, and it keeps your shock rod from pushing up through all the bushings and hitting your hood. Took me 3 times of taking the shock/springs out of the car, taking them apart, and puting them back on until i realized what i forgot.

 

we went to tighten it up again today and discovered the strut is leaking....
would that cause the issue i am having? or did i just find a whole new issue?
thanks