novicaine

I have an 87T2 with about 110 on the odometer. I have stock springs with about Tokicos I have put around 15K on. Well I have removed the metal around the strut towers in the past in a weight reduction effort, so now out of the blue when I hear this knocking I can see the first "disc"(about 3" diameter) knocking up and down with about .75" of play! I know I put all of the parts back in there when I installed the struts a its been fine for a year now. Also the car rides pretty stiff/harsh a it always has. Any ideas/suggestions. I would love to get a new full suspension like teins, or the like but am not in the financial position to do so right now. Anway any iseas........