KYB GR-2's on a 93

[Wayne Cox]

At 10:24 AM 6/2/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm on tire rack and looking for the GR-2's.  Sure enough I find them for
>$46 for the fronts and $44 for the rears.  There are several other things
>on the page that are recommended for use with this vehicle.  They are the
>strut boots, strut mounts, and something with a note that states "Strut
>Mount Bearing for SM5066 Front fitment."

I just ordered this whole set up from them (for the wife's NX) and received
it Friday.  I was hoping the mount was the entire top assembly.  But it's
just the "insulator" - the top metal part with a molded in rubber bushing
that allows the strut shaft to flex in the mount.  Hardly seems worth
$26/$29, esp since they're labeled as made in India or Korea.

See this site for good pictures of the stock
components:  http://www.rensch.com/se-r/
The KYB mounts are just the "mounting insulators" shown there.  The "strut
mount bearing" is the "thrust bearing" pictured.  You only need the
bearings on the front (since the strut twists when you steer.)

I think you definitely want the boots and the bearings.  I'm going to check
the condition of the mounts / insulators, and if they're OK I might see
about returning those to Tire Rack (for $110 !)

Other wear items:  there are rubber seats at the top and bottom of each
spring.  Last week Courtesy told me the tops were $8/ea and bottoms
$6.50/ea (they're the same at all 4 corners)  Almost $60, ouch!  I'll be
trying to re-use those.  And there's a paper gasket at the top of
each.  IIRC, those are around $6/ea.  Last time I did an install, I just
bought sheets of gasket material and cut them to fit.

And of course you'll need a four wheel alignment when it's all done.  A
bunch more bucks than $45/strut would suggest.

If you order from Tire Rack, try Damon @ ext 643.  He's a motor-head, sport
biker, and all around cool sales guy.

    -Wayne  91 NK2k,  93 NX2k,  92 SE-R-Parts-Car