Gilby,

I think you can stop worrying about bulging strut mounts. I too was shocked to see how much my mounts bulged in the car compared to what a new one looks like in a photo-all by itself. I installed new Volvo mounts in mine and once you lower the the car down from the jack and the weight of the car contacts the ground and the struts compress, you will see the mounts bulge upwards in that hole slightly. I think its part of the design for them to flex/bulge upwards a bit.

You can jack the car up via the cross member and then slowly lower it down to the ground. When the weight of the car contacts the ground and everything starts to compress, look and listen to the strut mount area. Have a friend lower the car while you feel/look around the mount. Watch your toes and fingers! If you feel or hear clunkage, or the bearings look really rusted or dry, then maybe time to replace...

I think its entirely more likely that you have other issues with other components- ball joints or a bum front or rear bushing in one of your control arms. The rear bushing of the CArms go bad first, but its tough to tell until you remove that funny little cup mount with the three bolts and visually inspect them.

Good luck!
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89 245 'loaded' with a Great Pyrenees; 91 245 project