PSA: check/replace your strut mounts

[BMWCurves]

Damn, makes you wonder about all the rubber bits in our cars that handle weight and compression. Thanks for the pics, Peter!

I didn't even look at my old strut mounts when I did my suspension refresh, but yeah, for me, the $70 price of admission to replace the 10 year old parts was an easy decision.

[slater]

Mounts:
31336752735 (x2)
Plates:
51717036781 (x2)

thanks vas! plates is a good mention, and a must-do.

Damn, makes you wonder about all the rubber bits in our cars that handle weight and compression. Thanks for the pics, Peter!

I didn't even look at my old strut mounts when I did my suspension refresh, but yeah, for me, the $70 price of admission to replace the 10 year old parts was an easy decision.

yep - still can't believe i overlooked them.

[QC_ZHP]

thanks fellas, good call on the plates vas.

edit: these are on sale at FCP Euro for $26.75ea

[Sockethead]

This is what I was saying in one of my posts too.... they seemed fine but when I got them out of the car, the bearings were shot. I didn't notice any height difference on mine but I wasn't looking for that. I can see in that pic that the mounting surface that goes against the tower is also distorted, showing the need for the reinforcement plates
I agree that these should just be replaced along with adding the reinforcement plates while doing the suspension. I got Bilsteins on sale at ECS for $59 for the pair... definitely cheap enough. Suspension is something that you really don't want to keep having to take apart so might as well do it all at once, eh?

BTW the H&R sport springs don't need a spring compressor either...

[slater]

This is what I was saying in one of my posts too.... they seemed fine but when I got them out of the car, the bearings were shot. I didn't notice any height difference on mine but I wasn't looking for that. I can see in that pic that the mounting surface that goes against the tower is also distorted, showing the need for the reinforcement plates

my bearings were OK in my old ones... but clearly they are collapsed. the distortion in the mounting surface is from punching the pins out. i ground them off on the new ones - way better.

[Vas]

I keep thinking if I should remove the pins from the mounts or just leave them in. Car is getting aligned in a week after the rtab.

[slater]

thanks fellas, good call on the plates vas.

edit: these are on sale at FCP Euro for $26.75ea

for the lemfoerders? i wouldn't bother ordering another brand.

I keep thinking if I should remove the pins from the mounts or just leave them in. Car is getting aligned in a week after the rtab.

depends - do you want the ability to run more negative camber up front? if so, remove. if not, leave in. i can't see any problems with removing them.

[QC_ZHP]

for the lemfoerders? i wouldn't bother ordering another brand.

yup, https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...nt-31336760943

[slater]

yup, https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...nt-31336760943

nice! that's a great price.

[QC_ZHP]

Need to figure out the strut bolt situation. Should I order the special socket from ECS for $15 or should I spend $50 on a harbor freight electric impact? The impact will probably be the better investment but I would rather not spend the money on a low quality one if I could just get the job done with a socket, plus I don't particularly want to tighten it with an impact either.

links
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES2652183/
http://www.harborfreight.com/power-t...nch-68099.html