Monroe Quick-Strut rattle clunk - rod assembly & nut torque issue?

[fenixus]

Some time ago, people started talking about Monroe Techs suggesting to use 50ft-lbs torque on center/rod nut in Quick-Struts to overcome the rattle/clunking issues plaguing some of the assemblies.

some of our comments were posted under a different thread (Deeza vs OEM sway bar end links) as off topic:
Old OEM sway bar end links vs new Deeza links

I tried emailing Monroe/Tenneco Support 2 times using their website form here, once the Installation department, other time the Warranty department to get the proper torque value in a written statement. Never received a reply.

Finally called them (1-734-384-7809) myself choosing Warranty Issues (#2 and then waited for operator) today asking about rattling quick struts and confirming torques for example model 271679 (Solara V6 front left quick strut).

Here's what they told me.

First of all the very nice guy I spoke with said that the recommended torque on the rod nut (sometimes called a center nut here on TN) is same as OEM torque, 36ft-lbs. He said one can try overtightening it a tiny bit with no harm, but he personally would never go above a few foot-pounds higher than the specified torque or something may get broken (sounds logical to me).

I asked then, that some other people I know called this help line and they heard to use a 50ft-lbs torque to over-come the rattle issues with quick-struts.
He just said that he personally doesn't recommend that and said the reason the rattle exists might mean something else is wrong with the suspension, steering or brake parts on the car.

Well, I was persistent and said that all other stuff was checked and all is OK, while the slight rattle in upper area of Quick-Struts still exists even after re-torquing the mounts nuts (29ft-lbs) and the rod nut (36ft-lbs), also notified him that I found one being almost loose (way below 36) formerly.

Then the guy looked up this procedure in the database:

With wheels on ground, loosen the strut rod (center) nut by 3-4 full turns.
Then use a 10mm hex socket to rotate the rod by around quarter turn (his instruction doesn't say which direction) until it locks into place (!). Then tighten the rod nut again to OEM specs (36ft-lbs). Drive the car to confirm issue is gone (or not).

... and said to try this first and then if it doesn't help to call back and they will take care of it further (more procedures?) or under warranty if anything is proven wrong.

sounds interesting. How about this procedure to fix a rattling quick-strut?
Have anybody tried it or even was suggested to perform it by Monroe Techs over the phone?

I need to wait a few days until it gets warmer (working in a parking lot).

All I can say however, is that his procedure makes A LOT of sense. if the quick-strut was assembled wrong with rod nut not locked into place (and the nut torqued down) then it would explain the space between the mount vs bearing and rattle. Also if the torque on the center nut was too low from factory it maybe explain why the strut rod had popped off from locked position during shipping?

Eager to try this procedure, just don't ask me to do this with 12F real feel temperatures and wind gusts up to 30mph out there

P.S.
Sorry if a Monroe procedure I posted was already posted once, maybe I even personally commented under it somewhere else, but my memory falls short sometimes. Just trying to share information, sorry if this is a re-post.

[pmesfun]

I wonder if loosening the center nuts and raising the front a little would help if something is not seated.

[fenixus]

no idea. judging by techs tone it should snap into place with wheels on ground as it is when turning the rod by 10mm hex. not sure why his instructions mention only quarter turn, and do not say which way ...

[redgtxdi]

Anybody remember my ridiculously masochistic fiasco from '07?

Monroe Struts 30% off 'til 11am this morning.........

[BMR]

Originally Posted by fenixus

no idea. judging by techs tone it should snap into place with wheels on ground as it is when turning the rod by 10mm hex. not sure why his instructions mention only quarter turn, and do not say which way ...

I *think* I know why they're saying what they're saying. Look in my rear strut R&R thread here, and scroll down to the part where I'm reassembling the strut, putting the upper mount back on and and talking about aligning the slot on the underside of the mount with the flats on the strut shaft. If that isn't done properly, loosening the nut and rotating the shaft 1/4 to 1/2 a turn would get it to "pop" into position. So if my guess is correct, it wouldn't matter which direction it's rotated... Just rotate it until it snaps into place. Make sense?

BMR

[fenixus]

^ so now all makes sense

[JohnGD]

Hopefully something that simple solves the problem. But it's a surprise that Monroe is having all these noise problems caused by poor workmanship.

[fenixus]

hopefully it helps

I will try that on both cars as both cars' fronts are quick struts. I do not have a terrible rattle (something clunks over there sometimes though), but I remember it being dead silent on both cars before, one had old worn out OEM assemblies and other had Gabriel struts and old OEM mounts (that gave up eventually).

hopefully this is it. will see in a few days. post your feedback people, especially those that can check it faster than me.

Originally Posted by JohnGD

Hopefully something that simple solves the problem. But it's a surprise that Monroe is having all these noise problems caused by poor workmanship.

[pmesfun]

I have my aunts solara here at the house for the next 4 months, might take it for a spin since it has quick-struts IIRC.

[BMR]

I don't have Monroe quick struts, but when I replaced the struts on my Avy a while back (w/ KYB's), I noticed some clunking a few weeks later. When I checked the center nuts, the front two were both loose by about a turn. So I must've misaligned 'em and they found their way home by themselves. After I re-tightened them, no more clunking.

[fenixus]

I suspect one or two of mine (having 4 fronts here to check) could have a problem with misaligned rod.
can't remember now, but once I found one center nut almost finger tight while all others were below 36ft-lbs specs ... so who knows. will get back to that once the weather warms up.

Monroe sucks for their poor workmanship ... what a lame quick struts they sell nowadays... maybe the ore recent ones (since Tenneco own them now) are different, especially those having OE Spectrum struts, somewhat different design, twin piston or something like that.

However considered the price drop on Autozone's Gabriel ReadyMounts I think I will never consider Monroes again. not worth the $10-20 difference on the assembly (used to be almost $100 in that difference per assembly).

Originally Posted by BMR

I don't have Monroe quick struts, but when I replaced the struts on my Avy a while back (w/ KYB's), I noticed some clunking a few weeks later. When I checked the center nuts, the front two were both loose by about a turn. So I must've misaligned 'em and they found their way home by themselves. After I re-tightened them, no more clunking.

[pmesfun]

I took the solara for a spin(had to since the battery was dead), and it has just the Sensa-Trac replacement struts in the front, not the whole shebang. I don't like how it rides, way too soft and steering is extremely loose(unrelated I know).

[fenixus]

yeah those sensa-tracs are hard to be liked. kinda stiff when new and at same time they could be too soft - car's nose goes up upon fast acceleration or goes down during hard breaking, new struts shouldn't be like that.
it was the cheapest OE replacement anyways, for what it's worth.

I noticed they get softer generally over time/miles. how old are those on your aunt's solara?

Originally Posted by pmesfun

I took the solara for a spin(had to since the battery was dead), and it has just the Sensa-Trac replacement struts in the front, not the whole shebang. I don't like how it rides, way too soft and steering is extremely loose(unrelated I know).

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by fenixus

yeah those sensa-tracs are hard to be liked. kinda stiff when new and at same time they could be too soft - car's nose goes up upon fast acceleration or goes down during hard breaking, new struts shouldn't be like that.
it was the cheapest OE replacement anyways, for what it's worth.

I noticed they get softer generally over time/miles. how old are those on your aunt's solara?

Not sure, probably around 30k miles, the car itself has 140ish. I like KYBs, they give a solid and smooth ride with no extra bounce. I haven't had any problems with Monroe strut mounts though.

[fenixus]

Monroe strut mounts are fine. in most cases with quick struts it's probably only an incorrect assembly being a problem, and not the components themselves.

On the next set of struts I may try KYB Excels with OEM mounts ... or will go with Gabriel ReadyMounts if price is comparable. no more monroe struts for me, they are weird.
I loved the idea of a cheap OE QUICK strut, hate how they are put together ... plus the sensatracs are generally weird

Originally Posted by pmesfun

Not sure, probably around 30k miles, the car itself has 140ish. I like KYBs, they give a solid and smooth ride with no extra bounce. I haven't had any problems with Monroe strut mounts though.