Strut mount bushings

[bigjuice_7]

The rubber bushings on my front strut mounts are rotten and cracked and I think that they are making a squeaking noise when i turn. So, can i just replace the bushing, or will i have to buy the mount too?

 

[mike96]

If you are referring to the upper rubber bushings then yes you can, if you cant find a replacement set of rubber energy makes urethane replacements.

 

[josh408]

Yes you can but good luck finding a replacement bushing

 

[bigjuice_7]

yeah i found some by kyb on rock auto. Is it simple to change?

 

[MJBean420]

You might need strut compressors if you are on an OEM setup. With lowering springs, you might not need to compress them.

They really ain't a tradional strut mount from what I remember. Just some bushings? I want to say you can go to Advance or Oreillys and pick some up.

 

[jtmcinder]

You're correct about the need for a spring compressor with OE springs, but that's a very traditional way to connect a shock's shaft to the plate: a pair of rubber bushings, above and below the plate, with a metal tube around the shock's shaft.

To the OP: never seen a kit from KYB; maybe you mean that they fit the shaft on the OE KYB shocks. In any event, I'd pay the extra few bucks for the Moog bushings. Something like $15 a side, IIRC.

 

[mike96]

I'd pay the extra few bucks for the Moog bushings. Something like $15 a side, IIRC.

Wholly Moses.. where the heck are you buying bushings from? You can pick up a pair of energy urethanes for around $20 shipped and the kit will do both sides.
Energy Suspension 5.8103G Front Upper Shock Bushing Set
And they can be found cheaper.

 

[bigjuice_7]

that would be around the same price as the kyb rubber replacements. So I'll have to buy a spring compressor too, because I am on stock springs?

 

[jtmcinder]

Wholly Moses.. where the heck are you buying bushings from? You can pick up a pair of energy urethanes for around $20 shipped and the kit will do both sides.
Energy Suspension 5.8103G Front Upper Shock Bushing Set
And they can be found cheaper.

Yes, and then replace the shocks when the urethanes bend the shaft.

 

[jtmcinder]

So I'll have to buy a spring compressor too, because I am on stock springs?

Most auto-parts places will loan you a spring-compressor.

 

[bigjuice_7]

Yes, and then replace the shocks when the urethanes bend the shaft.

Should I just stick with rubber then?

 

[mike96]

Yes, and then replace the shocks when the urethanes bend the shaft.

How do urethane upper bushings cause the the shaft to bend???? I know there is a little bit of movement in the upper strut mount by design but it should be a very limited amount of movement that the urethane can compensate for.

 

[97gst_spyder]

I run the Prothane 'strut top' bushings with no issues. I did buy OEM spring insulators though.

No issues besides a harsher ride.

 

[DGajre777]

The "rubber mounts" that you are referring to, are most likely the "isolators", which go directly below the strut mount. All 4 on my Talon were rotted and I bought OEM ones from the dealer. The bushing/bumpstop can be OEM or Energy Suspension.

41137 in the pic above is the Rubber isolator (the round ring looking thing).

 

[jtmcinder]

How do urethane upper bushings cause the the shaft to bend???? I know there is a little bit of movement in the upper strut mount by design but it should be a very limited amount of movement that the urethane can compensate for.

That little bit of movement is a big deal. Maybe it will rarely go so far as to bend the shock's shaft, but it sure will cause stiction.

The reason for switching to anything stiffer than the OE bushings is to allow/force the shock to work for even the smallest movements. But it's small movements that suffer the most from stiction. For any given shock, springrate, tire, etc, whether urethanes are better or worse than OE rubber is an empirical question, but given that one of the added risks of urethanes is a damaged shock (either bending the shaft or scoring the interior), I, personally, would default to the safer option unless I was sure that the riskier option would net me some grip.

Note that the combination of an OE isolator and urethane bushings would be the riskiest.

In sort, to the OP: yes, I'd stay with rubber bushings.