I just installed FSD's today along with my old HSports. The fronts installed perfect but the rears seem to make a slight clunk over bumps. I was wondering how many threads should show on the top of the rear struts? Also the kit came with some open ended nylon washers, where do they go? I wonder if I need to add spacers in the rear because the main top bolt seems be bottomed out and I don't want strip it.
Help
Thank you
M

 

The nylon washer goes around the shaft and rests on the top of the shock body, for the clunk look for contact or loose bolts, a photo of a mounted FSD.


The nut is suppose to bottom on the dished washer/shaft sleeve/beveled shaft washer. The shaft shoulder is rounded to fit the beveled washer, the sleeve bolsters the bushing while providing a positive stop, the upper bushing takes the majority of the side load, the dished washer allows for movement while still acting as a retainer, and this is all so the strut can move without over stressing the shaft.

 

Thank you very much, also just to be clear the white nylone washer goes the the very bottom of the strut on the piston? Where the piston meets the gold FSD housing?
M

 

Where the piston's shaft enters the shock body, at least that's what is shown in the directions.

 

All better now, I took both rears all a part tonight and fixed them in about 25minutes. Now everything is all better, my new FSD's ride smoother and handle better than my OEM's. But there is a little bit more bounce on uneven roads. The weird thing is my car has been lowered for over 5 months and all I did was replace the struts and now my car pulls to the right and seem way out of alighnment.
Thanks guys.
Mario

 

Replacing the rear struts shouldn't alter the alignment if the ride height remained the same, but the fronts are almost impossible to replace or RR without the alignment going wonky since the 3 bolts of the top plate have enough play to prevent reinstallation in the exact same position. That would be my guess---I too had bad pulling with my recent install, and luckily got it all right before getting the alignment!!

 

I thought that FSD's and lowering springs were an absolute no-no?

 

You are right, but everyone does it. In fact if I had to guess I would say 85% of people that buy FSD's lower their Mini. The car rides much smoother and it is very noticable in this one section of the freeway where I live. My car doesn't jiggle my fat anymore. lol
Mario

 

Just because "everyone does it" does not make it right.

 

True, but I will take that risk, and its not everyone just the majority.

 

Funny but I would guess exactly the opposite -- that 85% of FSD owners are running on stock springs.