So I have had a rattle coming from the rear of my 05 Base Z for the last couple of days. I finally had some time to see where it was coming from. After ripping everything out of the back and not being able to find anything I lifted up the rear of the car and found that my rear Shock/Spring has a crack. You will be able to see from the picture. I have little mechanical knowledge and quickly realizing that owning this Z was one of my biggest mistakes. It has had nothing but problems since I bought it last year. As you will be able to see from the pictures I took, it looks pretty bad. I did not have these springs put on. The car was already lowered when I purchased it. I'm beginning to think this car was really abused by the owner before me. None the less, would it be in my best interest to have a shop replace the one spring or replace all 4?

 

You should atleast replace in pairs. However if it were me, I think I'd have more peace if I replaced all 4.

 

FYI, that is not a spring. That would be your shock mounting plate.

I don't remember if shocks like Tokico D-Specs come with the plate or reuse the old ones. I would replace the shock with something quality (D-Spec) and order a new shock mount from the dealer if needed.

 

Thanks, I will start to price those parts out.

Thanks for your help.

 

It looks like the tire is hitting the shock, or at least the rubber boot. Does the car have aftermarket wheels? Maybe the offset isn't correct.

What's the other side look like? If the boot is damaged there also, you're going to have to do something about that soon, too.

 

yes, I do have after market wheels. I'm going to take it a wheel and tire shop here have them fix it. I bought this car the way it was set up. Was planning doing several things to it right after I bought it and one thing after another was needing to be fixed so I haven't got around to what I wanted to do to it.

 

The first shop I took it to, said they wouldn't touch it since it had a modified suspension. And its a place where I have gone for the last 5 years... So I am gonna try place number 2 hopefully they are true to their word (since I called them earlier today) and will get it taken care of for me.

 

Since you were able to "rip everything appart" and also raising the car to get to the shocks, you should be able to replace them. Very easy. Look in the marketplace for good used ones. Lots of guys take theirs off for coils/lowering springs when they are almost new. There are DIYs for them too.

 

The car is most likely too low and has been bottoming out hard in back.