86 951 Driver

There have been quite a few posts about strut mount bushings in the past year. None of them have shown pictures. If you have an early car (83-86) it would be a good idea to replace these bushings when you have it all apart. Robstah on this forum decided to be a pioneer and test the VW Fox Strut mount bushing. It turned out the bushings fit. The other plus is cost. They only cost $19 a piece(I scored mine for $5 a piece).

I will post the pictures. There are a few things that need to be kept in mind when doing the swap. I document them in the pictures.
Part Number: Monroe 901941


Old Crusty Mount:




Press on the inner part of the strut mount to pop out the bushing(Press is not necessary):


New Bushing:


New vs. 27 Year old original:




Take out this sleeve from the original bushing. After removal clean it up and apply wheel bearing grease.


New bushing will not have a sleeve. I put some extra wheel bearing grease before inserting the sleeve:




After that has been completed the bushings are ready to be installed in the mount. Pictures coming soon.

Reimu

So how do you know when your bushings are bad?

pontifex4

Great post!

86 951 Driver

The bushings have a bearing in them. Sometimes it will become crunchy or you will have some popping noises coming from the front end. The bearings in these bushings were okay, but the bushings were squashed. If you have original struts mounts then I would replace the bushings next time you do the front struts.

snb13

FYI, RockAuto has a wholesalers close out of these strut mounts going right now. They're made by Monroe, but private label packaged. Selling price? $4.33 each. I just ordered 2 for less than $20 with shipping.

Gawernator

I recently changed my Koni inserts and the bushing/bearing were squared away...

Makes me wonder if I'm waiting for it to fail or if somebody replaced it once

86 951 Driver

Exactly the deal I got. Highly recommended.

86 951 Driver

Did you take the mounts apart? I wouldn't be surprised if you'd were still original. I would personally change them. I'll take a pic of my current strut mounts on the car. The are definitely perished.

Gawernator

I didn't take it fully apart. For that cheap?! Might as well just get that replacement...!

Just got two, shipping was $10 and more than the bushings (lol) but $18 is a good deal. Now I have even more reason to take the struts out again, besides putting on helper springs and new bump stops..

86 951 Driver

I can't wait to put them on now.

BlackOp

What would a shop charge to put a new one on my driver's side? I've had a knock on that side that's getting progressively worse. Most of my suspension components have been replaced.

Do you need an alignment if you have just the top mount done?

Thanks for the info on the Rock Auto close out..I just bought a pair!

Gawernator

No alignment needed, you aren't changing settings

arinbrown

Will the Fox mounts also work on the later mounts ('87-'88) ?

86 951 Driver

They will not. You could backdate to 86 style mounts, but that would be a downgrade IMO

arinbrown

Are there specific problems (camber adjustment, etc.) with running the early mounts in a late car?

I have an '88 NA that needs mounts - but I can't afford new late style mounts right now.