I'm planning on getting a suspension upgrade (gc/agx) and would like to know how to tell if I need new strut mounts. Also, what's the diff between oem, kyb, and motivational?
thanx!
Jae

 

When you go over bumps or even slight bumps youll hear a rattle from the front right side or front left side. That means basically your strut mounts are bad or not there or almost gone. With any suspension mod that is going to be new its always a good thing to put new ones on.

 

When upper strut mounts/bearing start wearing it's usually associated with suspension noise and rattles especially when turning and over bumps. If your current set-up isn't making any adverse noise I wouldn't be too concern about the mounts. Once you have the strut assy apart you can physically check the bearing to see (or feel) if it's starting to wear. With the bearing in hand, it should feel nice and smooth and not a chopping gritty type feeling when turning. Another item that you might want to consider changing is the rubber insert bushing that site between the bottom of the spring and the lower spring perch/seat. Again once you take the strut assy apart you can have a closer look at this rubber piece.

To answer your second question, I have no idea.

 

I kinda learned the hard way. I had the Eibach/Tok setup put in when I had 50K miles. The car was already 6 years old. The following summer they started to bind up and make a clunk when turning. I lived with that for 3 summers! The reason I say summer is b/c they only made noise in warm weather. I just had them replaced yesterday to the tune of 300 bucks! Should have done it when I had the struts put in.

Mike S.

 

Good questions. I'd also like to know.

*bump*

 

i'm still on stock suspensin and have not heard any noises yet. I will be sure to check the mounts when I get my gc/agx by year-end.

I looked at pics of the motivational mount online. It looks like there's grooves for the spring to sit in to prevent rotation. Other than that, I haven't found any usefull information about them.

Yeah, I need to change the bellows, so I'll likely go with oem bellows/bumpstops. Thanx everybody!

Jae

 

My wife is complaining of a noise in the front expecially when going over the hump at he end of the driveway. Could this be a TSB, should i have a dealer work on it or a specialty shop, Any recommendations? Any help is appreciated, i hate stock parts!!

 

$300? cos of the labor?

 

If your car is more than 5 years old and/or has more than 60k miles, I would just bite the bullet and get some new mounts (and bearing, dustboots, spring sleeves). I lowered my car about a 1 1/2 years ago and have been having clunking noises for about 6 months. Well, I looked at my strut top on the side making the noises and it is now toast! Scraps of rubber from the mount insulator abound and the strut piston rod is no longer centered...I just hope my Koni insert is not damaged in any way.

Anyways, new suspension hardware (THANKS TOM!) is on order... Ultimately, you cheap out and you eventually lose. BTW, I had to redo the brake hardware too after less than 1 year when the shims just rusted to oblivion. Live and learn I guess...