90Q suspension question

[Al Powell]

So I was driving my daughter's 1993 90Q around today, and again felt a bit
more thump from the front end than I thought it should have.  I rotated the
tires and while doing so, found that with the front tires off the ground,
the front struts drop down far enough that I can reach in above the top
suspension component (between the top plate and the body). That much slack
doesn't seem right.

Lowered the car back to the ground, pulled the plastic caps off that cover
the top of the struts, and found that the metal retaining washer on top of
the strut is about 1/2" clear of the body when weight is on the tires.  It's
just sitting there in the air making no contact with the body.

What gives?  I haven't had a chance to get at the Bentley, but clearly the
top of the strut shouldn't be sitting 1/2" above the body so the whole strut
can travel up and down 1/2" before making contact with the body.

Looks like front struts are original (from their rusty condition and no
visible evidence the caps have been unscrewed from the strut tubes), but
rear shocks have been replace with Boges.  Could some rubber washer or
spacer have worn out and fallen out on each side?  At 128K, I might be due
for new front shocks anyway.

Comments?
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Al Powell
Fort Collins, CO
apowell at gocougs.wsu.edu

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we
are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and
servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." Theodore
Roosevelt, 1918, during WWI.
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