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New Gabriel struts groan when I turn.

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Offline Invincible

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New Gabriel struts groan when I turn.
« on: January 07, 2011, 08:09:18 AM »
Anyone else experience this?
I just put new ones on.  When I turn the steering a little, you can see the upper mount flex then pop back into a neutral position and it makes a noise.  When I turn the steering a lot this happens over and over making the groaning noise.  As the sruts get warm the noise is diminshed.
Most struts have a pivot bearing at the top.  The XL7 has a rubber mount that does not spin so the shaft has to twist in the strut housing.  I am thinking that Gabriel didnt plan for this in the design.

Maybe I will have to return the struts and run a different brand.

What struts have people had good success with?  I would like something fairly stiff if possible.
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Offline Invincible

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Re: New Gabriel struts groan when I turn.
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2011, 11:09:22 AM »
Strut Update.
The Gabriel struts started geting louder and the handling started getting worse.  I verified they were installed correctly by comparing to my parts rig which had never been disassembled.  A call to the Gabriel tech line yielded the audible equivalent to a blank stare.
I ordered new Monroe Sensatracs.  When I went to install them, just jacking the rig up made a crunching noise.  Once removed from the car, the struts moved relatively freely with no noise.  One moved more freely than the other indicating valve failure.  The new Monroes ride smooth and quiet.
I can only suppose that the side load once install causes the binding and associated noise as both struts had the noise.

If you have a choice, do not install Gabriel struts on an XL7
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Offline Toy Box

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Re: New Gabriel struts groan when I turn.
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2011, 01:18:39 PM »
Quote from: Invincible on January 28, 2011, 11:09:22 AM
Strut Update.
The Gabriel struts started geting louder and the handling started getting worse.  I verified they were installed correctly by comparing to my parts rig which had never been disassembled.  A call to the Gabriel tech line yielded the audible equivalent to a blank stare.
I ordered new Monroe Sensatracs.  When I went to install them, just jacking the rig up made a crunching noise.  Once removed from the car, the struts moved relatively freely with no noise.  One moved more freely than the other indicating valve failure.  The new Monroes ride smooth and quiet.
I can only suppose that the side load once install causes the binding and associated noise as both struts had the noise.

If you have a choice, do not install Gabriel struts on an XL7
I had Monroe  Lasted 400 miles off road in the hot desert . I have been riding KYB  I went back to stock Made sure all the washers in the right place.
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Offline Invincible

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Re: New Gabriel struts groan when I turn.
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2011, 02:06:57 PM »
I thought about KYB, but after two sets on other vehicles under-performing, I decided against it.  To be fair, KYB has always been big with import cars and the cars I put them on were domestic.
I'm never happy with shocks anyway.  I always want more than they will give unless I buy a race shock.
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Offline Toy Box

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Re: New Gabriel struts groan when I turn.
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2011, 06:33:03 PM »
Quote from: Invincible on February 01, 2011, 02:06:57 PM
I thought about KYB, but after two sets on other vehicles under-performing, I decided against it.  To be fair, KYB has always been big with import cars and the cars I put them on were domestic.
I'm never happy with shocks anyway.  I always want more than they will give unless I buy a race shock.
[/quote  KYB are in the wrecking yards on GV and XL7 at a good $ I would love to have a race shock
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