I was driving yesterday and my strut started to knock a little and then this morning is was horrible sounding, so I popped the hood and the top of the strut is floating like 2 inches over were it should be and when I hit a bump the top end of the strut is bouncing up and down and knocking. Any idea what may have broke/came loose? I need to fix this as fast as possible cause I need the car for school any help would be appreciated.

 

If you have a GS-R like your screen name (you didn't mention what car), then you have shocks, not struts.

The problem is the "bumpstop plate" is not in place on the shock piston. For stock-style shocks (OEM or aftermarket), the shock piston tapers down near the top, and there is a special washer with a tapered inner hole to match the piston taper. This goes on below the dust cover, and the upper shock mount, and keeps what you see from happening.

If it was not installed, or broke off (never seen that happen), then your shock is basically doing nothing, as there is nothing to compress the shock as the spring is compressed. So you're basically running with no shock on that corner of the car.

#15 is the part you need in this diagram:

 

no i used to have a gsr and sold it and now I have a ej8 civic, very simaler suspension I believe though, and yes I ment shock sorry lol, and the part had to have been installed cause I have had the car for about 4 months and it just happend today

 

Is it stock suspension or aftermarket? I guess the plate may have broken. You'll need to disassemble the spring/shock assembly on that corner to replace it.

 

its skunk2 struts with skunk2 springs and poly urethande bushings heres a pic

all the garages in town are inbred retards and say they wont work with it cause its "custom" suspension, I tryd to explain its the exact same as stock suspension but with a different spring rate and such but they couldnt comprehend anything I was trying to explain.

 

I see what your trying to say I believe the piece youre talking of is the one I need, I am going to tear it down today and make sure. Thanks alot for all the help and the diagram

 

tore it apart and that was the problem thanks for the help, imo these shocks are junk and badly designed and thats what caused the washer to break

 

How are they badly designed? Are they different than the tapered portion of the stock shock piston? Can you take some pics if it's still apart?

 

heres the washer, it got jammed down onto the shocks arm

and here is why i think its badly designed, idk if stock is the same way but instead of being flat its at a angle witch allowd the washer to be jamed onto the arm.

 

OEM shock shaft also has a taper on it

 

Yea same as stock, but the stock bumpstop plate is VERY thick compared to a normal washer, with a matching taper to the middle hole.

Looks to me like who ever installed the suspension last time put a normal flat washer on there, causing it to fail.

You need to order the #15 part shown above. And I'd say you better check the rest of the shocks just to make sure. Maybe go ahead and replace all of them.

 

already picked one up from autozone and its all back together, hopefully this one holds up

 

you would think it wouldnt be taperd down like that and it would just have a 90 degree groove in it and stuff like that wouldnt happen?