Tom R.

how do you get to it, etc. wondering what the labor bill will be.

Car was making a slight groan when turning, shop says it is the upper strut bearing. what am i in for?

931guru

1) Remove strut.
2) Disassemble strut.
3) Reassemble strut with new bearing
4) Reinstall strut
5) Wheel alignment.

Shouldn't cost more than a grand.

CurtP

You don't even have to remove the strut assembly to replace it. WoW (weight on wheels), remove strut nut from under the hood. Raise car to remove spring tension, unbolt upper mount, replace, lower vehicle and reinstall nut. Those upper mounts are expensive new!

Jeremy Himsel

Pretty easy to do but I'm not sure you can just replace the bearing and you have to change the entire strut mount (which is a small fortune). You'll remove the strut assy, decompress the spring, zip off the nut and replace the mount. No more then an hour's labor + alignment if needed.

You could opt for aftermarket camber plates, or use the 86 mounts (which are 90% cheaper). When the increased the offset on the 87 cars they changed the strut mount to compensate for increased vibration however I've used the early mount on a late off-set car and did not notice the difference. I did however notice that the suspension was a bit more positive which I attributed to less rubber in the upper strut mount.

Tom R.

Thanks.

I saw paragon has the bearing for early offset (under 100) but the whole mount for late offset (450).

can i put an early offset bearing in a late offset mount?

Tom R.

jeremy,
were you suing the 86 mount on a M030 car? I can get a S2 mount with a good bearing, but the shop said the factory mount is different because i have M030.

The factory M030 mount is about a grand a side.

If i go with adjustable cam

Techno Duck

Get used late style mounts or put in the KLA mounts. Last i checked they were about $200 for the pair.

Replacement is pretty easy and does not require a wheel alignment if you leave the strut on the car.

Tom R.

jon,
the KLA mounts come with the bearing?

ignore that.

just checked paragon. 219.

called the shop, they cant figure how they would get the top off wthout compressing the spring, which means struts comeo out. mark the screws and hope alignment is still good. figured four hours.

so yes, about a grand for parts labor and alignment.

GTSilver944

Labor doesn't cost anything if we do it in your garage next friday...

Tom R.

are you up for it?

you going back to tenn soon?

SamGrant951

Id get KLA upper mounts or camber plates from Ground Control...from then on the spherical bearings are replaceable/cheap.

GTSilver944

Yeah. I'm definitely up for it. I go back to TN on the 6th.

Tom R.

seems unanimus here.

max, gotta weigh the cost of an alignment against the shop doing it and not having to align the car.
can you get the plate off without needing a spring compressor?

GTSilver944

K. I don't think a spring compressor would be necessary. Didn't need one when I swapped struts/springs.

nkgosselin

You do not need a spring compressor. Undo the top nut, jack up the car.

I just removed my old inserts, installed new camber plates, konis and a coil over kit without removing from the car.

Did it myself in about an hour a side working very, very slowly.