I need rear strut mounts replaced. Mine are loose and I know they will only get worse. The labor on replacing these is about $200, so the garage suggested I might as well get the 9 year old original struts replaced at the same time. The wife doesn't understand. Seems to think maintenance on old vehicles should be zero. So the question I have for those with some experience...

What happens if I don't replace worn shock mounts?

Does it eventually cause more damage?

Does it pose a safety hazard?

Any details or experiences will help to paint the picture for her...

 

Mounts are cheap, and they are easily replaced when doing a rear strut job, since you essentially do the exact same operation when replacing the struts . It would be semi inefficient (for lack of a better word) to not replace the struts when you replace the mounts.

 

Any chance you might try do do it yourself? The hardest part is breaking loose the lower strut mount nuts.

 

If anything, older vehicles should be maintained more regularly if you want them to last...

As far as replacing the strut mounts, it won't really pose any kind of danger if you don't. Unless they're like...gone, gone.

However, worn strut mounts on new struts might start making clunking noises/strange rattles and squeaks over bumps if they get too worn.

 

absolutley nothing.... its very annoying though if you drive on old roads/gravel roads, i had a neon that i owed for like 6 years with bad mounts, i even put lowering springs in and still didnt change them.... its obviously a good idea to change them but nothing to serious is going to happen, its rubber, and eventually wears so rather than the rubber absorbing the hard hits to the suspension it makes a metallic clunk. it is an older car, its up to you whether you feel like changing them.
doing it yourself is not a hard job (1) take the wheel off
(2) unbolt the 2 lower bolts holding the bottom of the strut to the spindle (3) pull back the carpeting in your trunk to acess the top 3 mounting bolts while someone holds the base so it doesnt fall, then you will have the strut and spring in hand, from here you will need a spring compresser, you can buy cheap ones at auto stores or even rent a decent one from them. compress the spring and unbolt the big top bolt and bang!some people worry about doing suspentions because the think if they start unbolting things a spring is going to come flying out.... you will be fine nothing will be under pressure until you remove the spring from the strut pulling out the assembly, nothing is under pressure. i would do it your self to be honest..... if you plan on keeping the car for a long time, or just wait until one of the struts fail, then you have a good reason to do it!

good luck

 

The OP is talking about rear strut mounts, not front.

There's only one bolt on the rear axle, and two nuts up top under the carpet in the trunk.

 

Oh well thanks for correcting me, at least now he has the just of it.

 

Amen to that! I ended up using a hacksaw to cut the bastards off.