Breaking rear shock 200 TQ

[Peter Golledge]

DanMurphy1 at aol.com wrote:
> 
> Can anyone tell me why my 89 200TQ keeps breaking yhe reae shock? I am
> on my third one, all breaking at the top shaft just beginning at the
> threads. This car has the orig. springs but has always looked jacked
> up. Bought the car about three years ago, put 18,000 miles on it and
> three right rear shocks. Did a search , see some references but no
> fix. Any sugg. or help would be aprec.

Dan,

My 87 5KQ broke three rear shocks (Passenger side each time).  Each
time it was fractured in the same manner as you are describing.
A local shop did some pretty heavy duty investigation using a 5KQ
that they had no obvious cause.  Unfortunately the car was rear
ended and totalled not long after the third shock.

I believe Igor Kessel documented a procedure to 'upgrade' the
shocks to accept 20V spec shocks which are thicker.  I can't
find the link right now though.....  I would suggest a complete
strut replacement as these can be had for relatively little and
a easy to pull of a wreck.

Cheers
-- 
Peter Golledge