QA

How To Align Strut Mount

Do struts need an alignment?

Strut suspension usually has the shock absorber and the spring in one unit, with the top of the strut mounted very high in the car body and the bottom of the strut attached to the lower control arm. This lowers the vehicle center of gravity, which is a good thing. Replacing those struts requires no alignment.

Can you over tighten strut mounts?

Any nut or bolt which is over tightened is essentially over stretching the bolt, or in this case the strut tube. This can lead to premature failure of the strut and require early replacing. Over tightening also compresses the spring down further on the strut, causing preload to the spring.

Can I just replace strut mount?

In some cars, a strut bearing comes with a strut mount as one unit; in other cars, it can be replaced separately, although the labor is the same. Strut mounts are also replaced if they show excessive corrosion or if the visible rubber part looks ripped or badly worn.

How do I quiet noisy strut mounts?

Rubber Vibration Insulator The clunking noise you hear could be caused by the metal plates separating from the rubber. So the strut sounds like it is ‘bottoming out’ when one part hits the other. One of the best options to fix this problem is to pack Urethane Windshield Adhesive between the rubber and metal plates.

How do struts affect alignment?

increased stopping distance: bad struts can allow the vehicle to bounce around when braking, increasing the time it takes to stop. pulling and wandering: damaged or extremely worn struts can hurt the vehicle’s alignment. this results in steering pulling and wandering.

How tight should strut nuts?

You should leave them just about snug, if not just a little loose. If you tighten them before you put it on the ground, when you do get the car on the ground, there will be tension on the parts, which means it will wear quicker. So, leave them a little loose, then tighten once on the ground Jul 5, 2019.

What does a loose strut sound like?

Bad strut sounds are usually described as a hollow clunking or banging type of sound. You’ll typically hear the noise when the vehicle is traveling over irregularities in the road. It’s also possible to get a bad strut mount sound—an audible clunking or creaking when turning the steering wheel.

How do you tell if strut mount is bad?

Signs of a Bad Strut Mount Weird Noises. If you hear clunking or squeaking coming from the suspension system while driving, this could mean the mount has worn out. Uneven Tire Wear. Excessive Vibration. Steering Issues. Corrosion. Worn Rubber. Excessive Movement. Worn Struts.

How long do strut mounts last?

How Long Do Strut Mounts Last? A correctly installed strut should last at least ten years, depending on where you live. If you’re in a rural area and go off-roading often or live in a coastal area or where road salt is used in the winter, you’re dooming the mounts to a shorter lifespan.

Can you put a left strut on the right side?

Short answer: yes and no. OEM or original equiptment yes it does. Your break line will attach on the R or L side, but some manufacturers put bilateral brackets so is can go on either side.

Can you lubricate strut mounts?

yes you can lubricate the strut bearing from the top. you lift the little rubber gasket with a small thin screwdriver and you can fit the straw in there from an aerosol can of lithium grease, do it in three or four different places.

What causes struts to clunk?

There is most likely nothing wrong with the replacement shock or strut, but a metallic clunking noise typically indicates loose or worn mounting hardware. A loose mount can allow movement between the bolt and attaching parts, while a mount that is worn can cause the shock/strut to move up and down.

Why do you need a wheel alignment after replacing struts?

Effects. Camber, the vertical angle – inward or outward – of the tires, can be affected by installing new struts. If the alignment isn’t adjusted back to manufacturer specifications, the customer could end up with uneven tire wear. Toe and caster settings can also be affected.

How should new struts feel?

Simply walk to each corner of the vehicle and push down. Watch that corner as it rises back into place. If it springs back up right away and settles immediately, that strut is probably fine. But if it takes a long time to get back into place or if it bounces up and down before settling, you’ve probably got a problem.

Do you need alignment after replacing lower control arms?

An alignment after replacing the lower control arm is absolutely required. Because the likelihood of the new control arm, (plus the other parts that should be replaced during this procedure), of being the EXACT same dimensions are extremely unlikely.

What does a broken strut mount sound like?

The most common symptoms of a bad strut mount are squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel at low speeds or knocking, banging, clunking, or popping noises when hitting speed bumps or irregularities on the road.

How do you adjust Strange front struts?

The Strange single adjustable shocks control the extension (rebound) of the shock. Turning the knob clockwise will stiffen the adjustment and counter-clockwise will loosen the adjustment.