Re: front strut mount replacement
In this case, the upper cap has rubber bonded bottom side. I would think that it is supposed tighten down and seat on the body like in the last pic of the first post.
Here is a pic that shows the rubber better. This is the old parts. The new parts leave maybe half the gap.
Re: front strut mount replacement
It'd be nice if someone else with the same car would sneak a peek at theirs and let you know.
Re: front strut mount replacement
what is that tightened onto? you can barely make out something in there that you are tightened down on to..
Re: front strut mount replacement
That is a nut that holds the bottom cap on.. The top cap seats on that nut once the top cap nut is tightened down. You can see it in this picture.
http://i39.tinypic.com/2lxi9uo.jpg
Re: front strut mount replacement
You got some rust going on there too.... salt on the roads sucks... :D (I'm not sure how it makes it's way under the hood though) ;)
Re: front strut mount replacement
try reversing your nuts.. :lol: try that in a google image search..
the one your using in the cup that goes on first is too tall. not sure if you have the correct ones or not, i am going from memory. but i dont recall the first nut sticking out about the rubber mount like that.
Re: front strut mount replacement
Its not that either. I used the thinner nut to hold on the bottom cup. It has a special step in it to seat properly on the bearing that goes up into the lower cup. The thicker nut is also very thick.
Do you agree that the upper cup should seat firmly against the shock tower though? I'm not familiar with this type of suspension. If its not tight, what stops it from slopping all around? I imagine thats where we get our noise from. It would also mess up the camber a bit too.
Re: front strut mount replacement
The rubber top of the strut mount acts as part of the suspension. If you leave the metal on metal it will eventually seize up and become a pain to remove next time. Also try the kyb strut mount the bearing that comes with it isn't plastic and looks like it will last forever.
Re: front strut mount replacement
yes on the aveo it does appear that the upper cup does "pinch" the tower. on vws though that is not the case.
the weight of the car and design hold the rubber in place..