Strut mount installation story. Lessons Learned.

[joopa]

OK,
I had the famous '97-99 clonking problem. After changing the sway bar links and bushings it was still there and I opted to change the strut mount.

This is actually not hard at all, a little sweat and time is all it takes if you are aware of the following, which I learned:

First lesson: The strut to control arm bolts are 22mm.

Of course I had 17,18,19,20,21,23,24,25 mm but no 22mm. Now I have. Set me back 1/2 hour.

Second lesson: The left and right side are different.

It dos not say on the strut mount box (from KYB) nor in the Haynes (I think). It is not stamped on the new mounts. BUT it is stamped on the old ones. This is done so that when you throw out the old ones you realized that there is a difference. And have to do it over again, due to Murphys law. (You had 50% chance of getting it right, but you will get it wrong).

I had the left strut out while I had put the left mount in the right side! So I thought: "Just use the old left mount, but change the bearing as these are the ones always wearing out on other cars, then I can just change the right mount back mount". This brings me to lesson #3:

Thrid Lesson: It is the strut mount that is worn, not the bearing.

After finishing up, I drove to the Diner. And the left side with the old mount/new bearing was still making noise. !$#@. Back on the Jack Stand, changing the strut mount and putting it back together.

But now everything is quiet. That is, now I can hear my rear mounts clonking..........

All in all, with some help from my father in law compressing the springs (this helps) it took me from 10:30AM to 5PM, including lunch and a trip for the right socket.


Hope this will help someone not do the same mistakes I did and get the job done faster.

J

PS Use a torque wrench 'cause it is surprising how tight some of the nuts have to be tightened and others not.

PPS I got my strut mounts (KYB OEM) at autopartswarehouse.com. ~$65 each + two day shipping.. Much cheaper than local, non-oem.

PPS My struts are original ('97) and in fine shape, rear ones just changed 'cause they were out.

[Brian R.]

This is good for the FAQ thread.