[Xerlic]

This is on a 2001 Corolla. Monroe part numbers are 171953 and 171954.

Does anyone have any experience swapping out the OEM rear struts with the Monroe Quick Struts? They only come with 2 mounting bolts instead of the 3 on the OEM and there's this loose screw that I guess is supposed to bolt down the third mounting hole. The problem is I can't get this loose screw to line up with the hole on the Quick Strut even after filing down the holes. Am I fine with just having the 2 bolts attached to the strut mount?

Thanks.

 

[336Racer]

This is on a 2001 Corolla. Monroe part numbers are 171953 and 171954.

Does anyone have any experience swapping out the OEM rear struts with the Monroe Quick Struts? They only come with 2 mounting bolts instead of the 3 on the OEM and there's this loose screw that I guess is supposed to bolt down the third mounting hole. The problem is I can't get this loose screw to line up with the hole on the Quick Strut even after filing down the holes. Am I fine with just having the 2 bolts attached to the strut mount?

Thanks.

I wouldn't use 2 bolts on a strut mount, since the holes in the chassis are 3 holes evenly spaced in a triangular formation. I would think it might distort the mounting location and cause huge problems for you down the road and probably safety things aswell. For me to feel comfortable doing that I would have to see many people doing this already with reports of how that shock tower is holding up after plenty of miles.

With a 12K MSRP if you could use 2 bolts and have everything be ideal, im pretty sure they would have only used 2 bolts.

 

[nthorn]

I have them on my car, you are getting nuts and bolts mixed up. There are two studs on the shock tower that use nuts and then there is one on the other side that is tapped that uses a bolt.

 

[336Racer]

That makes sense. Did you torque the nuts down before trying to thread the bolt? If so try loosening up the nuts and hold the shock while threading the bolt. With the shock pressed up into the shock tower. Tighten everything down to about snug and then torque them down once everything is seated evenly.

There might be an ideal order on whether you do the bolt or the nuts first when torqueing it down. Im not sure as I haven't seen those shocks. Food for thought.

 

[Xerlic]

I decided to do the smart thing and remount the strut. I widened the holes on the mount with a drill by a few mm and was able to thread the bolt into the strut after doing so. Definitely feel a lot better about this project knowing that I did it "right".

I also replaced the sway bar links from OEM to Moogs since I noticed the boots were all cracked when I was changing the struts. The torque specs for the Moogs were 26 ft lbs whereas the OEMs were torqued to 39 ft lbs. Should I go with what was specified in the instructions with the Moogs since they have a slightly larger nut? 15mm vs 14mm on the OEMs.

 

[nthorn]

you should not have to widen up any hols, the Monroe struts will fit on without any change. You need to first completely remove the old strut and then starting with the two bolts and nut at the top get them all threaded but do not tighten them down at all. the two bolts that go to the wheel hub assembly do not get bolted on until the top is connected because this prevents the top bolts from lining up.