A Plethora of Strut & Shock Questions

[00GTP4ME]

I've been suspecting that it's about time to replace the shocks and/or struts and any necessary associated parts (mounts?) because I hear a random knock when I go over bumps and so I got under the car and couldn't see anything awry. I had a more experienced friend take a look who also didn't see anything wrong. I then had a shop look at it and they came up with the same conclusions suggesting that it's probably a bad strut mount but that can't be determined by any kind of visual inspection. So I'm thinking I have a bad strut mount (those suckers are expensive! ). When I go over bad bumps, it also sounds like the front struts are bottoming out. The weird thing is that I press down on the corner of the car to see if the car bounces a lot and it just goes down and comes right back up without any real bouncing. So I have a few questions:

1. How do strut mounts work and how to they go bad?
2. How difficult of a job is it to replace the struts and strut mounts?
3. What tools are required?
4. Do I need to replace the springs?
5. Anything else I should know?

As always, thank you all for your time and help!

[jd-autotech]

well first off this a very common repair on all front wheel drive vehicles, a strut mount is at the top of the strut it is basically a bushing. when a strut goes through the center of a strut its called a mcphearson strut. and at the top is the mount which has a bearing and the studs for mounting the assembily. the go bad because the are mostly rubber and rubber dry rots cracks, etc. its not difficult to replace providing you have some essentials like air compressor(w/ atleast 30 gal tank) a spring compressor, an assortment of air and hand tools.you gotta jack up front end by frame, pull wheels, disconnect tierod ends from spindels, then remove lower strut bolts careful with the abs wires. under hood remove 3 bolts at the strut tops, and remove assembily now you may want to take the struts in to someone to swap springs from old to new struts.(dont fool around with the springs unless u know what your doing) or you can buy the full assembliy its called a quick strut made by monroe. then reinstall in reverse proceedure i always push the strut bottom in as i tighten the lower bolts that is your camber adjustment so you want it about where it was. then you need an alignment when its done

[00GTP4ME]

Excellent information; thank you!

Is the strut mount the strut's pivot point when you turn the wheels? If so, that makes sense how they can wear out.

[jd-autotech]

yes it is
there is a bearing allowing smooth turning

[00GTP4ME]

How would you say Monroe struts compare to the KYB GR2 struts that ZZP has?

[tblake]

no comparison, kyb are much superior in quality.