Leaderboard

Ok. I got to spend some quality time with the Reatta this afternoon. Cardone 1993 Allante Struts They will fit with following modifications: 1. Remove the lower rubber bushing and steel support for the original mounting hardware. 2. Grind a bevel on the sides of the bottom bracket once the rubber has been removed. 3. Flatten the round portion of the lower mount to make it slightly oval. This will allow the strut to slide into the lower knuckle. Unfortunately this is as far as I got. The overall extended length of the Cardone strut is too short to allow for it to pass thru the top mount on the Reatta (even with the suspension at full compression using a floor Jack. As ErnieR stated, the top of the piston needs to be extended by 2 inches to allow for the upper mount to be attached. As others have mentioned, this strut may top out on full extension… (Top photo) I am waiting on mounts for the sway bar, but it should work (middle photo). There is not a lot of insertion depth of the lower strut housing into the knuckle, so I am looking at using a high strength bolt through the modified lower mounting hole as an extra margin of safety. (Last photo) I have not ordered extensions for the top mount as I need to validate thread size…. And my thread gauges do not fit the thread of the upper mount. I believe it is 5/8 or 16mm, but do not know threads per inch or pitch…. Thanks to all who have willingly shared knowledge/findings. This site and the members have been awesome. Thanks.

Problem with rocks is they last too long. Difficult to get rid of them if you ever want to. Prob rubber is the same though

That is a gland nut style which would work, just the tube portion of the adapter would need to be longer and have a thread to accept the nut. Looking at the limited options, the gland nut style is probably the best or only option unless the cut-a-strut units of an appropriate size are available.

I hope these will work.

Check out the front strut cartridge for a 1996 Buick Regal on RockAuto. They look like a possibility to use with an adapter. The one shown in the photo is a Sachs #030001 The downside is there is a good chance they will be discontinued soon to.

It is shortsighted to limit this to 4 production years of Reatta. What about the other “E body” vehicles… The Toronado, Allante, and Riveria owners would purchase them as well…

Yes this is the rout I plan to take as well. He would not give me a list of available cut a struts available with dimensions so the only thing to work off of is the race strut, which, since held in by a gland but, would need a full length housing, but the same concept applies.

Well it is a pretty nice picture. Looks like a fun drive too.