I've been told by a reputable Japanese car specialist that the funny suspension sound I've been hearing is a broken strut mount and I need to replace my front struts for about $600. I've never had a strut mount break on any of my lowered fwd japanese cars ever (I've had about 5 in the last 15 years). So I'm wondering what could have caused this and if replacing with aftermarker struts would be a better choice than OEM. It's my daily driver so I'm not looking for anything too crazy, just something to match the H&R sport springs I put on a few years back.

And if you can recommend a place to install such things in the Los Angeles/South Bay area that would be awesome.

Just found the list of shops in the regional forum, anyone know if www.unicimports.com does this kind of thing? (Their website is under construction and it's kinda late to call.)

Thanks guys!

 

exactly how is it broken?

 

Not sure, the guy that looked at the car tried to explain it to my wife and then to me on the phone. He just said the struts are worn out and are about to break off the mounts or are already broken and that's the banging around I'm hearing. Maybe that doesn't mean broken strut mounts? Sorry about the confusion.

 

Jack the car up and wiggle the struts......if they are broke, they should move. Honestly if they are broke, I'd be surprised if you weren't having weird camber issues, I'd think you'd notice way more then a sound.

 

I am betting on them needing to be tightened at most

 

Thanks for the tips, will jack up car when I get home and see if anything is rattling around. Cheers.

 

Got home, jacked up both sides and pulled on both springs, struts, even wheels, brakes everything that I could reach, nothing felt even a little loose. Checked the back too just to be sure. Drove around the block again and there was the sound, just a low-level bump bumpety bump, (not rhythmic so not wheels/brakes, right?) I'm gonna have to get to a shop this weekend and have someone explain this mystery! Thanks for the help chaps.

 

The only problem I've had with the front is when the upper strut nut comes loose. I corrected it by first tightening it real good then adding a second nut to keep thye first one from working loose.

 

It's most definitely the top nut. 17mm. If you do a spring install with hand tools, the nut loosens up after the springs settle.

Oh, and $600 for a set of struts? He's trying to hose you... actually, it sounds like he was trying to hose your wife.

Try tightening the top nut, I'm 99.9% sure that this will eliminate the noise.

 

+1 I added a spacer below the first nut as well, as I have a rear strut bar.

 

just repeating myself LOL

 

YES! Thank you great ones! Tightened both top nuts (only driver's side was loose and rattling) and no more noise! Thank you again. And if anyone wants the name of the self-described 'japanese specialist' jackass that tried to bilk me for $600 let me know.

Cheers all!!!

 

Glad that is all it was. We've all been there. Both times mine came loose I was more than 100 miles from home.

 

Yep we are happy for you.. I hat disreputable shops