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While I was moving stuff around outside today I came across the old front struts originally out of my wagon. Then I remembered something I read on here about some of these cars having rebuildable shock absorbers, for the really early models which are no longer available. My car being an 81' and having never had the front struts replaced that I can remember I started to wonder. I've looked at these in the past and thought that top plate looks like it was spot welded on. May have even attacked it with a big wrench once before but gave up because of effort required

Anyway today I gave them a proper go with a bigger wrench and a crow bar and was surprised when the top started turning



So is there any real use for these? Are they better than the non-rebuildable struts in any way?

Commodores are like that: You pull the shocker rod out, tip out the oil then fit a sealed insert shocker.

I recently threw out some inserts I mistakenly bought from someone in Adelaide. My 84 struts were not rebuildable, and one insert seemed to have gone bad. Ended their existence I did. They are better than non rebuildable coz you can rebuild them if you can still get inserts

But can you get the inserts for them.....?

Possibly not new mattw but they do turn up on eBay.

Cut, add some extra tube and use the Toyota cartridges for 200mm of travel and 2in longer front struts to use with a lift without strut lift blocks.

Thanks for that Phiz, got me thinking about this longer strut idea again Now it seems that much easier for me to accomplish.

I measured the old shock and checked in the FSM for its travel specs. Stock for 4WD wagon is 421mm closed and 521mm fully extended for 100mm travel. So if I was looking for longer inserts I would be looking for 200mm travel, 421mm closed and 621mm fully extended? Using this Monroe catalog search function punching in the above numbers when searching for cartridges comes up with a few results.

24-0625+ for a 77' - 80' Mitsi Sigma
24-0902+ for 62' to 66' (!) Ford Cortina
25-0229+ 89' to 92' Ford Corsair, Nissan Pintara rear shocks
25-3418+ 70' to 73' Nissan 1200 and 120Y

Can't find the diameter of these anywhere in the catalog. I guess the way to find out if any of these would work is either to ring up Monroe and bore the parts guy or pull a few off a wreck at U-pull it to see?

The front struts on my 82 MY wagon have the removable nut on them.
I looked at this a while ago and it appeared inserts were available though Autopro.
I plan to look at this again as I wanted to keep the insert option as well as the screw up suspension option the struts have.

if you go Subaru ala FWOG you retain the adjustables, not rebuildables for a price better than many ///

Slightly off topic and probably covered somewhere on the forum previously but is there a preferred brand of shock people are using on the front and rears and why is the brand stated better than others.
I was going to pursue KYB but may look at other brands.