I took apart the rear strut assembly. As I am putting everything together I notice that the spring seat is way too high I tighten everything any way but the spring is way too loose inside. The springs are stock and new upper mount bushings were replaced.

So I decide to compare the original strut (which is completely lifeless) and the other KYB AGX and guess what AGX is a whole inch taller???. The part number for AGX is 741019. Stock is 6-1/6 inches, AGX is 7-2/16 inches. I took the measurement of the damper shaft only(the chrome part) not including the very top where the bushings are mounted. Thelower part of the strut is exactly the same as original except for the adjustment knob.

While searching I found a link where a guy has the same problem (spring too loose) but he is lowered and he is using different struts and there is no solution to the problem in that post
http://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=6&topic_id=6993&mode=full

What is going on HELP.

Yea, that happens on the rears... Even when i installed my prokits on tokico HP's the spring could move around a little... Unless someone else says differently, i wouldn't worry about it. What you forget is, it's going to have the entire weight of your car, and you on top of it when you're driving it around. When you install it, just make sure it's alligned correctly.

more important measurement is the stock shock completely compressed (where the washer seats to the bolt hole on the bottom) versus the same measurement on the AGX's compressed. Unless ypu got the wrong shocks this measurement should be fairly close. Also ^^^ is correct in trying to reassure you, unless you plan on jumping the car regularly (in which case you have the wrong parts for the job) the weight of the car will be more than enough to prevent the spring from ever losing contact with the perches while driving. When I installed AGX's on my car with STOCK springs there was still space like you described, it shouldn't be a problem. On the other hand you should know not to expect too much improvement with these shocks for to long as they lose their adjustability with time.

Rule of thumb in general is that you don't want a shock that is going to lose compression travel (assuming you won't contact tire to wheel well, or other interference event) and you don't want something that is going to be to extended with weight on the car, as you will lose some of the effectiveness of the shock.

ThankThanks for quick replies.

I have installed a few regular aftermarket shocks at my old job and friends cars. And they always fit very tight like stock. I have never seen a spring move inside a strut. That is why I am worrying

Hazard: I didn't forget about the weight of the car on the spring I am mostly warring about accidents, like big potholes on the road or accidental jump or me running away from the cops and going over curbs. I have never done it though.

Keith2172: By saying that they loose their adjustability with time are you talking about regular wear or are you saying they suck? Cuz if they do I will be very disappointed. BTW on the compression the size of old new shock is identical.

What about lifting the car on jack or lift I have to check spring alignment before I lower it every time?

I forgot another imprtant reason which is also the reason why I am not lowering the car. It is very tight with parking where I work so some times I have to climb a curb 8-9 inches high if not more. I do that very slowly, one wheel at a time. It's hard to explain but I think my supension flexes quite a bit in that exersize. I wish I knew before about that issue with KYB

Any one who has anything else to say or contribute their opinion about the issue please do before I finish the install

What I meant to say about the AGX's, and I've heard similiar things from other people on this subject. It's not so much that they suck as shocks, they just suck as adjustable shocks. Mine worked just fine to begin with, and there was a definate difference between each individual setting, but after a while the difference started fading. The best way I can describe it is to say that in the beginning, the difference was like white to black, now, it's like varying shades of grey.

Wow, the rears take 5 minutes :P :wtf

Well I put everything back in yesterday morning (it was less than 32 decrees). It does take 5 min I was just worried about the spring being loose. A fact that contributed to the spring being loose on the side where stock shock died is that the rubber seat for the spring was messed up which was not obvious from the start I only realized that after I took apart the other side. I will revisit the shock with new spring seat as soon as it gets a lil wormer.

I didn't have a chance to play with the setting cuz it's cold and cuz I have finals coming up and need to study. I left them at 4 out of 8 as they came form the factory and there are a few new squeaks that became apparent with new shocks :-D.