front strut bearings

I have a bad front strutmount/ bearing. Does anyone have the exact way to reassemble the after market Monroe bearing? When I took apart the factory mount it came apart and I do not know how it went back together. I put it together how I thought it should go and obviously it is wrong because I am having problems with it after a few months. Any help appreciated. I have Monroe struts and mounts. Also can I get the spring seats aftermaket or are they dealer only? Thanks

The Monroe upper strut mount and load bearing should be similar to the OEM GM. You have the top strut to tower plate, the load bearing, the upper coil spring cushion and the lower coil spring cushion.

Are you getting noise or what problem are you having?

yes when I turn the steering wheel there is a knocking/creaking noise. I had my wife turn the wheel while I checked it while it was lifted/jacked. The bearing plate is kind of seperating and the noise is coming from the plate. I replaced the struts and mounts a year ago then found the springs at Murrays so I had a friend at a repair facility put those on( it was worth 100 dollars to save time and aggrevation) well a month after it was done I noticed the noise . I origanally put the plates on and he just put the coil springs on. So I think it was either a mistake I made putting them on originally or a bad bearing plate. Thanks for any help

Yep, thats typical. The noise is very annoying. I would remove the strut assembly in question and inspect the load bearing disassembled. When you installed it did you coat it thoroughly with some form of silicone grease? I found out that by doing this it helps out. Hopefully, the new load bearing is not damaged or worn prematurely. It is really hard to go wrong installing the upper strut mount, the load bearing and bushing. It all falls into place and it will only mount a certain way to the strut tower. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

The only thing that confuses me is that when you buy the aftermarket strut plates there are multiple applications. Some of the parts may not be used. I am going to work on it tonight if I can get the spring compressor tool. Thanks for the help I will keep you updated on what the problem was. OHHHH and no I did not use grease but I will this time!!! :(

yes when I turn the steering wheel there is a knocking/creaking noise. I had my wife turn the wheel while I checked it while it was lifted/jacked. The bearing plate is kind of seperating and the noise is coming from the plate. I replaced the struts and mounts a year ago then found the springs at Murrays so I had a friend at a repair facility put those on( it was worth 100 dollars to save time and aggrevation) well a month after it was done I noticed the noise . I origanally put the plates on and he just put the coil springs on. So I think it was either a mistake I made putting them on originally or a bad bearing plate. Thanks for any help


I took off the strut last night and noticed that the coil spring was kind of off set. The coil spring seat or isolator whatever it is called is all mangled and the coil is not set on it. I also noticed that when I turn the wheel I hear a spring popping sound, I think that is being caused by the seat being messed up. Does the Seat/Isolator have a major impact on the performance? Is that what may be causing my problems???????? I originally thought that maybe the springs were installed wrong (somehow switched front and rear) but I called the TRW tech line and they comfirmed that the variable rate coils do go on front.

Help??????????

Help??????????

I would replace the damaged parts. You might consider using OEM parts. I never liked Monroe struts or their mounting hardware. A lot of GP owners had problems with them after installation.

I may have to do that. I just hate to buy all that stuff over again. Everything is newer.

I may have to do that. I just hate to buy all that stuff over again. Everything is newer.

Hopefully you can minimize cost. As you mentioned the Monroe struts and mounts are just too generic. BTW - I found that old post on Monroe struts. It may help to review it. Good luck!

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=530385&highlight=monroe

Well I can not get Murrays to refund the cost of the struts and Mounts but they will exchange them due to the lifetime warranty. So I guess that I will try and sell the new ones off and buy some KYBs to help offset the cost.

ARE TRW COIL SPRINGS OK TO USE WITH THE KYB STRUTS. I bought the TRW coil spring and do not want to exchange those because they were special order. Has anyone had any experience with the TRW Coil springs any feedback welcomed?????? Thanks for the help!!!!!!

Murrays are exchanging them for the KYB's.....I just have to pay the difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! About time I get some closure.............. Now I have to deal with this stupid Windstar

How does the DOORMAN Bearings/mounts fit with the KYB struts???? I am trying to save $40 per mount by using the doorman bearing/mount instead of the KYB.... Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How does the DOORMAN Bearings/mounts fit with the KYB struts???? I am trying to save $40 per mount by using the doorman bearing/mount instead of the KYB.... Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really don't know. I used the OEM upper strut mount/load bearing. Do you have a link to where we can review them?

I decided to stick with all KYB. instead of mixing and matching. I was looking for the doorman links and seen a lot of it is being dicontinued...... so I did not think that was a good sign. I will keep you updated on how the KYBs fit I plan on installing them this weekend. THANKS FOR THE HELP EVERYONE!!!!!!!!

Before you quit on the Monroe upper strut bearing, I ran into this problem over a year ago. Monroe packed the pieces to fit into the box without regard to the installed position in the car. One part of the bearing assembly will be upside down if it is taken straight from the box and installed. I wish I could remember more about it, but I believe an internet search will turn up the solution to your problem

I already purchased the KYBs so I have lost faith with the monroes on this car. That is nice to know to inspect the bearing mounts more thoroughly!


!!!!!!!!! I am replacing everything including the insulators. Is there any particular way to put the coil spring back on???????? I hope the TRW aftermarket coil springs are Ok to use. Anyone have problems wiith them????

I already purchased the KYBs so I have lost faith with the monroes on this car. That is nice to know to inspect the bearing mounts more thoroughly!


!!!!!!!!! I am replacing everything including the insulators. Is there any particular way to put the coil spring back on???????? I hope the TRW aftermarket coil springs are Ok to use. Anyone have problems wiith them????

That was good choice to go with the KYB hardware since you are using KYB struts. But I don't understand why you are having problems orienting the coil spring on the strut assembly. The key to alignment is bottom orientation of the coil spring on the rubber insulator and where it rests on the lower portion of the strut. Here is a pic of a spare strut assembly I have. It has never been disassembled. So what you see is how it came off the car. I don't know if it will help but better than nothing. Are the TRW springs any different from the stock other than being aftermarket?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/strut_assembled.jpg
Red Arrow Marks the End of the Spring on the Insulator

For some reason the trw seems to be a little different compared to the picture above. I know how the coil spings usually end perfectly at the stop on the lower seat/insulator. The reason I am having a problem with the spring orientation is because I did not replace the O.E coil spring with the TRWs. I had a Mechanic do it at a shop. He only charged me $100 to switch all 4 over for me and did an alignment. Now-I wish I would have done them myself so I know exactly what they looked like. I may just try and take the TRW up to the dealer or junk yard and compare them with the O.E. I called TRW and they verified that I had the right part #s I was just hoping there are no descrepencies between the two. I shall see tomorrow when I put them on....... I would do them today but I can not miss the BROWNS GAME!!!!


Thanks again for all the help bnaylor

UPDATE:

Well Murrays could not get all the parts for the KYBs in. SOOOOOOOO they credited me for all the parts I previously purchased as well as for the Monroe sensa-tracs,coil springs and mounts that were currently installed on my car, and I went ahead and got the Monroe Quick Struts. I replaced all 4 of them and so far so good. The reflex struts actually feel really good a hell of alot better steering and reaction than before. Hopefully it lasts.