Front Strut mounts and bearings

[Toul]

Did a bit of searching and I couldnt come up with the answers I was looking for.

Question A. What is the recommended way to check to see if you need new front strut mounts?

B. Partnumbers for everything I'm going to have to replace. I dont know what exactly I need, I know obviously the strut mount, but does the bearing come with? And then would just the strut mount and bearing and then thats it? Ive read something about isolator pads or something. Totally clueless here. I looked on rockauto but it seems like they have about 50 different choices.

C. Police strut mounts? Can these still be had or no?

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Pricing and part numbers will depend on what you plan to purchase - OEM or aftermarket parts. Ford separates the front upper strut mount in to: a) strut bearing and seal; and, b) upper strut mount. There were no SHO-specific part numbers for either part. Ford dealer price for both is around $70 per side. Aftermarket choices that come to mind are Monroe and Moog, and will run you around $50 and $70 per side, respectively.


The upper Police Mount is long obsolete, as I posted in the other thread. You might be able to find them with some luck, but you're looking at nearly $110 per side, if you find them.


The spring portion of the strut assembly is the lower spring insulator, spring, bear and seal, upper mount. Like I said, to a search. Use the advance search function, the term "online repair guide" and my user name and you will find links to the AutoZone repair guides, with procedures and illustrations.

 

[Toul]

Planning on aftermarket, whatevers considered the best honestly for reliability and quality. Assumed moog?

Looking at rockauto, there is K8630. Which includes the bearing? If it includes the bearing is nothing else needed?

 

[LOUDSHO92]

All of the strut mounts are the same. I had a Moog and it looked the same as the one from the Auto Parts store.

For the front you just need the bearing and you are fine.

We do carry strut mounts as well as adjustable ones: SHO Source

 

[Toul]

But that moog part says it comes with the bearing, doesnt the bearing sit down inside some sort of reciever?


http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/jpg/small/0900823d800c1378.jpg show the bearing as it at part number 7, but when looking at the rockauto parts, the bearing is not shown like that.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

The white ring is the bearing. You just need the bearing and the mount to replace. The bearing just rotates into a retainer. What they are showing is the retainer which you do not replace.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Yes, the bearing sits in the lower mount and can be replaced as Matt stated.

In the Ford unit - the bearing, lower mount (bearing plate/seal) come as a kit. I generally inspect the bearing plate to look for corrosion and the seal for damage, as the rubber seal sits on the spring. I have seen bearing plates that required replacement due to rust corrosion. The latter is only likely to be a problem in dry climates where the rubber dry-rots, instances where the spring has broken and cut into the rubber, or a cut-down spring where the angle of the coil literally cuts into the rubber mount.

If the car is a daily driver and you have to order the parts in advance, the conservative thing to do is to get the entire lower bearing and seal. If you have the luxury of being able to tear it apart and then order what you need, that's the least expensive way to go. And if you can't wait for shipping times, James or I can help you out.

But that moog part says it comes with the bearing, doesnt the bearing sit down inside some sort of reciever?


http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/jpg/small/0900823d800c1378.jpg show the bearing as it at part number 7, but when looking at the rockauto parts, the bearing is not shown like that.

 

[Toul]

Would I be better off going with an adjustable front strut mount? Is there anything negative about having an adjustable one? And then is it still just said adjustable strut mount +bearing and I'm good?

 

[LOUDSHO92]

There is nothing wrong with going to an adjustable mount. Just makes adjustments easy.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Adjustable depends on the type of adjustable mount you get - there is a slotted type and a washer type. The latter you have to disassemble the strut assembly to change the camber-offset washers.

The "other Matt" (SHO Continental) had a problem with his adjustable front mounts (slot-type), but that's the only one I'm aware of - do an advanced search for the thread.