Strut Upper Insulator... Is it necessary?

[REAPER STRAIN]

My Upper insulator (the rubber that covers the strut) are shredded and has been for ... years. I just got all the ingredients for a SpringTech/Tokico install and wanted to know if I NEEDED these items. I've looked and found them but they are a bit pricey. I am tempted to go and pull some off of another car but I cant help feeling that I really dont need them. Since, after all, the ones that are on my car have been dangling not doing anything for years now. Can I leave them off? Will the elements (water or dirt) damage my babys soon?

[amerikim]

Not sure what you are referring to.
You say insulator but describe the boot.
If it is the boot, it is the rubber sock that covers the shaft of the rod for the shock absorber. Protects it from getting nicked by rocks and debris. Its not critical, some people replace it and some don't. If you do a search here, this has come up before. There was a note about how the universal boots won't fit.
When you say insulator, I am thinking about the top shock mount. If that is messed up, you must replace. Dangerous to leave that messed up.

[REAPER STRAIN]

Sorry about the misunderstanding. I orginally coined it as the boot too but I took a look at my trusty Haynes Manual for the Gen3 and in section 10-5 the illustration refers to it as a Upper Insulator although it all seems to be one peice. But yes, i am talking about the boot. Im glad I dont HAVE to replace it though. Thanks

[BullMarket]

^I would.

BULLMKT

[REAPER STRAIN]

I can see why. My baby blues are kinda dear to me. Does anyone have any stories of what happens when they are not installed?

[karazy]

I'm getting my struts changed tomorrow, because I let mine go. Somehow water got inside and froze up. I thought I was going to lose the rear end. Every little bump sent a thundering bang through the whole car. It drove me nuts for the entire day. When they took it into the shop to look at it, it thawed and everything was fine. Luckily they have the struts and install on sale this week at Crappytire. My boots were shredded.

[REAPER STRAIN]

I actually went the the junk yard and saw a camry with the strut assembly still on. The rotors and calipers were already off so I loosened the 3 bolts holding it to the frame and then the center bolt that keeps the assembly together. I walked away with both boots (in real good shape) and the strut mounts and bearings. I figured since I had the opportunity to get one cheap I would go ahead and install it. The strut mounts was extra just incase I see something I dont like on the old ones. Cant figure out why those boots shred like that since the bottom end isnt really attached to anything.
So if you have a chance to get another pair of strut boots off another car for cheap then replace your old ones if they are shredded. Otherwise, I cant see paying too much for it. I even read that the KYB ones for the gen3 dont really fit rite.

[REAPER STRAIN]

I just finished my tokico/springtech install today. The strut boot or upper insulator (as the Hayes manual ID's it) was completely shredded on the bottom sections and bits of it were jammed into the spring bumper (aka bump stops). This was the case with all 4 struts. I had the boot and bump stops for the front but not the back. I replaced the front ones with the ones I got from the junk yard and reused the insulator for the back. I tore away the lower half of the insulator and put it on the new strut. One of the bump stops for the back was no good so I left it off.
The top part of the insulator (where the spring and the strut mount actually makes contact) is a thick 1/4" rubber and is the most important part. The lower part is for protection of the stainless steel neck of the strut but not that crucial. I am glad I got the replacements but it was not really necessary.

Moral of this thread is: If you can get them for cheap (junkyard) then do it. If you have to buy them new then it’s not worth it. Reuse the old one and be sure to tear off any part that is deteriorating.

[ruoknow]

If the "upper insulator" (i.e. the boot preventing dirts from gettting in) is not in good shape, the whole shock absorber system needs to be dissembled to install a replacement?