The rubber is cracking around the upper strut mounts, quite considerably on the drivers side. In fact the nut cover is higher on this side than the other. How quickly do I need to replace these, and how do I go about doing it? The strut inserts are one year old (boge turbo gas), but for some reason the shop didn't see the need to replace the mounts at the time. Thanks for your help.

Tom

The cracked rubber is not that big of a deal, especially if the front tires are wearing evenly. The rubber is only holding the top of the strut insert (shock), not the spring. To replace the top sturt mounts, you'll need a spring compressor, tie rod end separator, and impact wrench (pneumatic or electric) to remove the top strut nut after the spring is compressed. You'll also need 8 hours of time on the first side and five hours on the second side. While you're at it, consider replacing the lower ball joints and control arm bushings at the same time. If you're not interested in doing the work yourself, go back to the shop that changed the strut inserts and show them the problem and ask them why they didn't change the top bearing supports at the same time (the labor cost would of been the same). Maybe they'll offer you a deal. jp

Hi Tom,
I have an 86 240 wagon. One strut mount was tearing on my car also--started about 5 months ago. i've since replaced the inserts & mounts.

sorry to say, you might need to replace the mounts (really a strut bearing) ASAP. yea, good idea to replace mounts at the same time.

get the mounts from fcp groton--the brand is skf which is OEM. i replaced struts & mounts together.

if you do them yourself, get the strut tool from ipd (<$20).

after you do them, try to align the strut tower's 3 bolts in the same location as before, or get an alignment afterwards.

finally, after several months installed, i started getting a small bulge in each strut tower. i was told that was normal.

regards,
byron golden
bc1_2002
86 245, original owner 240k+ mi