Also does that require an allignment?thx.

 

C2 or C4? The front strut mounts are different? On a C2 you can get the front strut mounts for about $65@ at Sunset, on a C4 they are about $150@, obviously about twice that undiscounted, and I see them on eBay all the time for 50%+ more than the full dealer price, so don't go that way :-)

If you mark the nuts/strut position carefully you probably won't need to do an alignment. On my C4 it take an hour or so per side as the ball joints have to be separated to get the struts out due to the drive shafts. On a C2 it should go a little faster. You need spring compressors to do the job. At a shop it is probably 1-2 hours per side.

 

I thought I read somewhere that the ball joints had to be seperated on the C2 also.

 

I think the strut will drop down enough to remove it from the wheel carrier on a C2. On the C4 the halfshaft hits before you can clear the fender with the top of the strut.

 

True. I've done it.

 

yes no problem to drop the strut on the C2.

one question... why do you think you need to replace the top mounts ? any symptoms

 

Clunk over uneven pavement drop

 

That's likely not the upper strut mounts. They creak if worn, not clunk. Clunk is usually inner tie rod ends or lower control arm, possibly ARB link.

 

+1 on that. Had creaking in the front end. Reaplaced my lower arms on both sides and solved it.

Cheers

 

I have a hard time to see this part wearing out indeed.

 

Anytime you replace suspension parts you probably need to budget an alignment.

 

For those of you who have a hard time seeing the upper strut mount wearing out tahe a look here: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...em-solved.html

And the noise this failed mount made was not a squeaking, it was a loud, sharp clack.

The rubber in the mounts gets old and fails just like other parts.

 

Nice pics, Doug, and not trying to sound like a know it all, but how did you miss that when you were looking for it at the time? Seems like when you had the suspension dropped , wouldn't it be pretty obvious? Or do the concave washers still sandwich the center bushing between the USM rubber? I replaced both mine (and with new bearings too and rubber spacer) when I installed my PSS9s this year. Figured it was the smart thing to do, rather than reuse 10 year old rubber, though they looked fine, when I took them apart. How many miles were on those USMs? Also, did you go with the x74 USMs instead of the stock ones? Though they are a bit more expensive than the standard USMs, it places the hole farther outboard, so you have more neutral camber adjustment, and the rubber is supposed to be stiffer as well. I put X73 on my C2. You are right, if the USM failed completely (I wouldn't call that "worn", just plain ol'broken), it would clunk like bitch. Before it broke and was worn or tearing, it would have creaked like a wooden ship. Or if the bearings were worn, same thing.

 

The concave washer hid the problem pretty well. You really could not see it until the strut was disassembled,Nat least until the top nut and washer were off which is the major part of the disassembly once the strut is out of the cat.

I used the stock mount, did not know there was a x74 mount. Do they make an x74 mount for a C4?. I guess I could have replaced the mounts when I put in mt PSS10's but it did not occur to me. I put in the PSS10's at about 55,000 mile and just turned 67,000 ( that is 17,000 miles since I fixed the intermix!!).