front strut mount replacement
I had bought these parts a long time ago and never got around to replacing them, because apparently they were worn out and had a part to play in the creaky suspension noise.
So I finally got around to doing that. This is what it looked like before:
http://i43.tinypic.com/izrrqf.jpg
If you look under the hood, at the upper corners on each side you'll see these, it's at the top of the strut assembly
the parts to be changed
http://i39.tinypic.com/2hi3v9y.jpg
the wheel taken off
http://i40.tinypic.com/a57ujl.jpg
that skinny bar to the left of the shock connects the stabilizer bar to the shock. we werent able to get that off without breaking it off, so that was replaced too.
a better shot of that skinny bar
http://i43.tinypic.com/e9g934.jpg
and off it comes ...
http://i42.tinypic.com/110aydf.jpg
undo everything else
http://i40.tinypic.com/256s8t1.jpg
then the whole shock assembly piece comes out, and you see an empty hole!
http://i42.tinypic.com/dqj6rt.jpg
you can see into the wheel well with the shock stuff removed
http://i40.tinypic.com/xkps41.jpg
what we used to squish that spring
http://i41.tinypic.com/2dvrdq1.jpg
those being put on the spring
http://i39.tinypic.com/2lxi9uo.jpg
the new skinny bar and the shock assembly put back into place
http://i41.tinypic.com/25oyt5i.jpg
what it looks like from under the hood after new parts put in
http://i43.tinypic.com/n6qlqp.jpg
took a little while, most of it done by my dad who was helping me. i've now ordered my timing belt kit and water pump, so i will try to take some (hopefully better) pics of that when it goes down.
it does seem to make a bit less suspension noise but it's not completely gone. it does sound like the remaining noise comes more from the back though. in terms of handling, it feels more or less the same, there could be a very slight change though.
to be honest, it wasn't really worth the work. would have been better to just replace the entire shock/spring while i was at it, but that will have to wait for another time at this point.
Re: shock top plate/mount replacement thing
Re: shock top plate/mount replacement thing
Wow, that's messed up. I was able to view them a second ago now they aren't working. Will try to fix...,
edit: I tried using a different site, the pics should work now
Re: shock top plate/mount replacement thing
The skinny bar=sway bar link, and those things=spring compression tools. :D
Re: front strut mount replacement
Much better with pics. :)
So, did this fix the clunking noise you had?
Re: front strut mount replacement
I've seen a kit like that offered when I was getting my KYBs, but didn't know what I needed it for (my car only has under 30k on it), so I decided against it. Plus all the parts looked fine when I was replacing struts/shocks.
Re: front strut mount replacement
Was it just creaking, or were the front struts clunking over bumps?
This is like blast from the past: common problem on VW Rabbits was worn strut bearing plates clunking/rattling over bumps. I had to change a few.
Re: front strut mount replacement
the upper mounts on these are very identical to vr6 mk3 mounts..
floating front suspensions makes lots of noises when the upper mounts wear out..
Re: front strut mount replacement
Well, I got my front mount kit today and I installed it on one side. There is STILL A GAP (although less) when I lower the car... Not happy. I'm wondering if the mount kit is the problem or what.
Re: front strut mount replacement
there should be a slight gap. otherwise the upper cap will be metal on metal and making noise.
the rubber in the mount flexes with age and you hear either the upper cap or the spring cup hitting the strut tower,