Rear strut complete assemblies

Tiny
ROGERMM65
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 154,000 MILES
Where can I find a rear strut replacement pre loaded. Googled it only front available.
Tuesday, February 11th, 2020 AT 9:04 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,464 POSTS
That isn't uncommon. The companies make the items they can sell and the front units are more of an interchangeable item than the rear units as those don't get replaced near as many times as the fronts. Plus the rear mounts are not as easy to replace as the fronts. For the rear units you normally break them down and replace only the struts.
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Tuesday, February 11th, 2020 AT 10:58 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
They do not offer fully loaded struts for the rear of this car. You will need to separate this coil from the strut your self. Here is how in the diagrams below. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Thursday, February 13th, 2020 AT 10:49 AM
Tiny
ROGERMM65
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  • 50 POSTS
Ken on a 1997 Malibu struts, will the front 3 1/4 bottom hub bracket be the same as the rear struts?
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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 AT 6:13 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,464 POSTS
The brackets are different front to rear. The early rear strut unit holes are 3.25 apart. The fronts are 3.5 and located in different areas on the bracket as well. The front and rear struts also have different spring seats and damping calibration. Plus the rear struts extend through the mount bracket where the fronts are even with it to provide room for the axle and CV joint.
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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 AT 7:40 AM
Tiny
ROGERMM65
  • MEMBER
  • 50 POSTS
Thanks, this Chevrolet is proving to be a one off replacement parts kinda confusingly.
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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 AT 10:50 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,464 POSTS
GM changed the strut design mid year on the rear. Take a look at rockauto, they had a few options listed for early and late units.
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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 AT 11:43 PM

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