strut bearings and mounting plates Q's

[DavidT]

My front end makes all kinds of noises when turning the steering wheel. I had a mechanic look at it. He agreed that I needed strut bearings and strut mounting plates replaced. Where is the place to get these parts at the best price?
Autozone has mounting plates for $23.99
and
strut rod bushings (strut bearings??????) "rubber bushing on axel from shock to mount" was his description for $9.99 each.
Are these the parts I need and are these good prices?

 

[DavidT]

anyone?

 

[yamahaSHO]

Strut rod bushings will have nothing to do with the mounting cups and bearings. I assume you want the black mounting cups w/ the three bolts that stick up out of your strut tower and the bearings?

If you are looking for mounting cups and bearings, Josh sells them at a reasonable price. www.shonutperformance.com

Describe this noise, just about any SHO I have heard has a power steering whine when turning.

Mounting cups(I think these are the rear though, but you get the idea)

Bearings

 

[DavidT]

thanks.
Noise is hair-raising POPPING sounds.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

in your case:

strut rod bushings if you hear popping or thumping.

strut bearings if you hear squeals, or rubbing noises.

 

[yamahaSHO]

in your case:

strut rod bushings if you hear popping or thumping.

strut bearings if you hear squeals, or rubbing noises.

You can visually inspect the strut rod bushings.

 

[DavidT]

Hmmmm. Any good writeups on either procedure?


BTW, the mechanic said the mounting plates were shifting/ moving a lot while turning the wheel. Does this STILL leave the possibility of strut rod bushings? The noise is very loud...

 

[yamahaSHO]

BTW, the mechanic said the mounting plates were shifting/ moving a lot while turning the wheel.

Is it the plates on top of the strut towers, or the cups with the bolts sticking through? If it is either, tighten your three bolts on top of your strut towers. Are your welds drilled out?

You can visually inspect the strut rod busings from under the car. If you don't know what/where those are, let me know and I can get a pic for you.

 

[DavidT]

I've got a strut tower brace installed using the 3 bolts there.

Oh, pics. would be great!

 

[yamahaSHO]

I've got a strut tower brace installed using the 3 bolts there.

Oh, pics. would be great!

Are they tight? How did he see the cups or plates move with those on?

 

[DavidT]

I had the front end jacked up to see what is going on.
1. When turning the wheel, the passenger side makes a dripping or leaking sound when turned in one direction (its NOT the same noise I hear when driving!)
2. On that side, the strut tower stud/nut that sticks out in the engine bay MOVES when turning the wheels
3. When turning the wheels, should the inner tie rod slide in and out of the boot OR move together?

I have no idea what that STUPID mechanic was talking about regarding the shifting in the mounting plates!

Mechanics and used car salesmen go hand in hand

 

[DavidT]

anyone?

 

[SLOSHO89]

Just currious...what did you do to your Mocha '91 to give it 380 hp?

 

[DavidT]

9 lbs of Vortech boost
Thats to the CRANK btw... sounds better than 322 fwhp
I'm probably playing russian roullette with my aforesaid strut/tierod problems, I lost 2 lug nuts (side by side on the same hub) on my way to work the other day

 

[Electricat]

A popping or clunking noise in the front end can also be caused by worn sway bar end links, be sure to check them carefully for looseness in the ball & socket joints.

 

[Denny]

I'm chasing down various suspension related noises and found this thread. I don't recall changing my strut bearings when I did the suspension years ago. Where would this be located at? In plain view(hopefully)?

 

[sdpatt]

You can purchase the upper front strut mount and bearing kit in the Moog K8630 set. I picked them up for $43.99 from O'Reilly. This kit includes the upper mount and the loose bearing. The old bearing must be unclipped from the upper spring plate in the picture in an earlier post and replaced with the new bearing. The plate does not have any wear parts and this should not be a problem.

I have been trying to remedy a popping noise during turns that sounds much like the one discussed here. The strut mounts and bearings above are about the only parts, other than struts and spings, that I haven't replaced to correct this problem. The struts are Tokicos and I have verified that the upper nut is still torqued. The Eibach springs are not suspect as noise generators.

1. Lower control arms with ball joints and bushings
2. Strut rod bushings
3. Sway bar links
4. Sway bar frame mount bushings

The steering rack and tir rod ends were replaced 2.5 years ago and I have checked them for looseness. The rack still moves freely and the ti rod ends and tie rods are still very snug. I am waiting for an opportunity to replace the upper strut mounts and bearings and curious as to what the bearings are going to look like. There has to be a cause for an unnatural and non-trivial popping noise that I am hearing. It takes energy to make a noise like that.