[RamAir02]

I noticed the clunking on track yesterday on the passenger front. Jacked up the car and confirmed the DSSV is not bolted to the blue top hat -- I can lift the entire wheel/strut assembly about a half inch with the car in the air. So it seems I have run into this same issue where the nut has come loose from the top hat bolt.

My car is out of warranty, so I'd like to repair if possible. A new DSSV is about $1500! Is it possible to get to that nut? If I remove the strut, remove the bottom nut and release the spring compression, is there a way to get to that nut and tighten it to the top hat?

[cdb95z28]

See the posts above, no you cannot go after it. You would have to discharge the gas to get to it.

There's used DSSVs on ebay.

[RamAir02]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

See the posts above, no you cannot go after it. You would have to discharge the gas to get to it.

There's used DSSVs on ebay.

Thanks for confirming. This is what it seemed like from the other posts, but I needed the sanity check.

Used might be the way. I also have an inquiry into Multimatic -- we'll see if they get back to me. Seems a shame to toss away a perfectly good damper just because a nut came loose...

I need to check the driver's side. I have a feeling I might need both front dampers.

[nighttowl]

Originally Posted by RamAir02

Thanks for confirming. This is what it seemed like from the other posts, but I needed the sanity check.

Used might be the way. I also have an inquiry into Multimatic -- we'll see if they get back to me. Seems a shame to toss away a perfectly good damper just because a nut came loose...

I need to check the driver's side. I have a feeling I might need both front dampers.

I contacted multi-matic a few years ago.

Their reply was that these are non-serviceable, they dont offer parts for them and to contact a chevy dealer.

[RamAir02]

Originally Posted by nighttowl

I contacted multi-matic a few years ago.

Their reply was that these are non-serviceable, they dont offer parts for them and to contact a chevy dealer.

Thanks. I heard back from Multimatic and they said they want to call me to discuss, so I'll report back with anything I learn that may help others.

I did end up finding and ordering a set of used fronts from eBay -- $981 shipped for LF & RF DSSVs. Not too bad!

[RamAir02]

Took a short video of the DSSV I removed (with loose nut) vs. the used replacement I am installing

https://youtube.com/shorts/J1yU6DBmti4

[RamAir02]

Update: I spoke with Joe at Multimatic yesterday.

As expected, once the nut loosens or comes off from the camber plate, the whole DSSV is trash. Not only are they not serviceable, but once the seal between the camber plate and damper is broken, the gas is discharged.

I did (mostly) install the used DSSV that I got from ebay. Just waiting on new hardware since the lower bolts are TTY. Super easy swap -- it took maybe 20 mins once the car was in the air and wheel off.

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by RamAir02

Update: I spoke with Joe at Multimatic yesterday.

As expected, once the nut loosens or comes off from the camber plate, the whole DSSV is trash. Not only are they not serviceable, but once the seal between the camber plate and damper is broken, the gas is discharged.

I did (mostly) install the used DSSV that I got from ebay. Just waiting on new hardware since the lower bolts are TTY. Super easy swap -- it took maybe 20 mins once the car was in the air and wheel off.

The lower bolts are not TTY, they are torque to angle, there is a difference. GM does say in the service manual that they are reusable.

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by RamAir02

Update: I spoke with Joe at Multimatic yesterday.

As expected, once the nut loosens or comes off from the camber plate, the whole DSSV is trash. Not only are they not serviceable, but once the seal between the camber plate and damper is broken, the gas is discharged.

I did (mostly) install the used DSSV that I got from ebay. Just waiting on new hardware since the lower bolts are TTY. Super easy swap -- it took maybe 20 mins once the car was in the air and wheel off.

I agree the DSSV's are trash, over the last year or two, I've seen more and more reports of them failing. I guess we are starting to get to the point where people have enough miles on them that they just end up falling apart. Seems swapping to coil overs is the better solution that many people end up going with.

[RamAir02]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

The lower bolts are not TTY, they are torque to angle, there is a difference. GM does say in the service manual that they are reusable.

Ah, think you're right -- those two lower bolts are the "Front Suspension Strut Nut at Steering Knuckle" in the fastener specs, right?

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by RamAir02

Ah, think you're right -- those two lower bolts are the "Front Suspension Strut Nut at Steering Knuckle" in the fastener specs, right?

Yep, that is correct!

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by RamAir02

Update: I spoke with Joe at Multimatic yesterday.

As expected, once the nut loosens or comes off from the camber plate, the whole DSSV is trash. Not only are they not serviceable, but once the seal between the camber plate and damper is broken, the gas is discharged.

I did (mostly) install the used DSSV that I got from ebay. Just waiting on new hardware since the lower bolts are TTY. Super easy swap -- it took maybe 20 mins once the car was in the air and wheel off.

So...while I don't have a ZLE, I had a set of DSSVs to install on my SS 1LE. As I mentioned above I had dissected a damaged front assembly, last winter, for which I have lots of pics of the internals. On Tuesday I decided to install my complete set. I started with the LF, got everything bolted in and relieved the jack from the bottom of the suspension assembly. When I did that I heard a 'pssssst" sound from the camber plate area. I immediately knew what this could mean. A loss of pressurized nitrogen from the strut. I was able to duplicate the sound by prying the upper spring perch away, to the point of complete nitrogen loss. This caused the upper ball stud to have large clearance.

I dissected this LF strut today at work and was able to finish off the loosening the large nut that is inside the strut insert. I was able to just spin the camber plate off, relieving it of the internal nut, just as Snakebt6 posted.

Lucky for me that LF was the first part of the DSSVs I tried to install and not the last of the other three.

Here is a video of me bleeding off the nitrogen.
https://youtube.com/shorts/SgRH2A0s6...dwbBVd3YZQcLDE

The ball stud.


Ball stud within the upper strut insert.

[Marozl1LE]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

So...while I don't have a ZLE, I had a set of DSSVs to install on my SS 1LE. As I mentioned above I had dissected a damaged front assembly, last winter, for which I have lots of pics of the internals. On Tuesday I decided to install my complete set. I started with the LF, got everything bolted in and relieved the jack from the bottom of the suspension assembly. When I did that I heard a 'pssssst" sound from the camber plate area. I immediately knew what this could mean. A loss of pressurized nitrogen from the strut. I was able to duplicate the sound by prying the upper spring perch away, to the point of complete nitrogen loss. This caused the upper ball stud to have large clearance.

I dissected this LF strut today at work and was able to finish off the loosening the large nut that is inside the strut insert. I was able to just spin the camber plate off, relieving it of the internal nut, just as Snakebt6 posted.

Lucky for me that LF was the first part of the DSSVs I tried to install and not the last of the other three.

Here is a video of me bleeding off the nitrogen.
https://youtube.com/shorts/SgRH2A0s6...dwbBVd3YZQcLDE

The ball stud.
Attachment 1163391

Ball stud within the upper strut insert.
Attachment 1163392

bro how did you get fixed this ? after tightening the strut die problem was solved right ?

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by Marozl1LE

bro how did you get fixed this ? after tightening the strut die problem was solved right ?

I haven't. You technically cannot fix it. I mean yeah, you can dissect it to tighten the nut but how do you refill the shock oil and nitrogen to an assembly that was not intended to be disassembled and repaired?? I haven't figured out how Multimatic did both of those to begin with during initial assembly.