Need To Gain Access To Rear Strut Tops From Inside Car...

[Dus10R]

Anyone know how to gain access to the rear strut tops? The compression adjuster knobs are on the tops of the rear strut units and I'm not sure how to get to them. I need to increase the compression a little.

These are Bilstein PSS10 coil-overs.

[Loren]

The strut mount are under the rear carpet panel behind the rear seats.

If you have Bose the speakers will need to come out first.

[Dus10R]

The strut mount are under the rear carpet panel behind the rear seats.

If you have Bose the speakers will need to come out first.

Do the panels just lift out once the speakers are removed? Are they clipped in anywhere?

[Loren]

Carpet covered foam - that' all.

[Dus10R]

Carpet covered foam - that' all.

There seems to be more to it than just pulling out some carpet... The shelf behind the rear seats appears to be attached somehow. The two Bose wooofer horns don't have any fasteners that I can see and I don't see any fasteners anywhere else.

I have a .pdf service manual and it shows removing everything on the car except that rear interior...

Clueless... anyone else with PSS9's or PSS10's attempt to adjust their rear struts?

[Loren]

Removing the BOSE speaker enclosure

Removal Instructions

1. Remove the cover trim 1 at the left and right towards the front.

2. Unscrew the fastening screw 2 at the left and right.

3. Pull the sound package 3 in the direction of the arrow out of the bracket 4 and fold over.

4. Disconnecting the plug connection. Press plugs 5 together and pull apart.

Then lift the carpet/foam cover. You can see the strut mounts in each corner.

[Dus10R]

Removing the BOSE speaker enclosure

Removal Instructions

1. Remove the cover trim 1 at the left and right towards the front.

2. Unscrew the fastening screw 2 at the left and right.

3. Pull the sound package 3 in the direction of the arrow out of the bracket 4 and fold over.

4. Disconnecting the plug connection. Press plugs 5 together and pull apart.

Then lift the carpet/foam cover. You can see the strut mounts in each corner.

That was the directions that I was missing! Perfect!

Now for a second question....

Never having seen these installed on a car, does this look normal? There's a secondary spring on the PSS10's and with my car sitting on the ground it's practically bottomed out, doesn't look like that secondary spring can even move. Is that normal? I had them installed at a very reputable local shop, owner was even a crew chief for a Porsche Cup car... the only reason I'm questioning is that when I wentto adjust the rears (Thanks to you Loren) one side of the Bilstein adjuster was maxed and the other was Full Soft... seemed like a pretty rookie mistake.

Edited April 13, 2010 by Dus10R

[Loren]

Usually they look pretty close.

I would find a good shop the do corner balancing and alignment.