Top mount bearings

[webcomsystems]

Hi,

beginning to suspect that I need to renew my top mount bearings since I have an annoying knocking noise coming from the front of the car whenever I go over bumps in the road.

As anyone ever replaced top mount bearings? is it hard to do? should I replace the shock absorbers at the same time?

I have a reasonable tool set and average ability in car maintenance.

any info appreciated.
cheers

 

[psjunkie]

Search fitting coilovers faq

All the info is in there

Ben

 

[paul6316]

Not that hard to do. Just take your time. Check your ball joints and bushes beforehand and do those at the same time. Get alignment done afterwards.

 

[Slimy]

Do everything at the same time, it's the same effort to strip things down to get to the top mounts as it is to replace the suspension.

 

[webcomsystems]

thanks guys,

I assume I need spring compressors to do this?

strange thing is, I've had this knocking noise for the past 2 MOT's and nothing was mentioned.

 

[paul6316]

I used them yes

 

[Nautilus]

1. If there is knocking over bumps, it's due to movement of the strut in the strut tower. That is, the rubber top mount is guilty.

2. The top mount has to be changed, to a LCR top mount (higher durometer), even if the car is a LC or LFR.

3. The bearing can be reused, if opened and refilled with grease, but it's cheap enough to change it as well.

4. The strut can be removed together with spindle and brake rotor, to avoid the need to pull the shock absorber out of the spindle (very hard to do).

5. Once the strut has been refitted, you absolutely need to perform an alignment. Your previous alignment is screwed. Always.

~Nautilus

 

[webcomsystems]

nautilus,

thanks for the detailed response.

what is an LCR or LFR?

Cheers

 

[Nautilus]

LCR = Leon Cupra R

LC = Leon Cupra

LFR = Leon FR



~Nautilus

 

[Slimy]

Nautilus, I would really question your thinking on step 4. I agree that you 'could' remove the strut complete with hub and rotor, but separating the strut from the hub is so much easier than having to deal with the driveshaft.

It's not 'very hard to do' at all, undo one bolt, separate the clamp with one of several methods, and lift the strut out. Job done.

 

[cupra_r_ick]

sod taking the hub off, ive done some before by winding the spring down the shock, pulling shock down and replacing top mount that way. although not on a leon.
if i was to do it, and couldnt do that, id pull the strut out the hub

 

[Mark300zx]

You don't have to take the hub off, just use a spring compressor and wind the spring down.

One way to test if it is the top mounts is spray silicon grease onto them, if the noise reduces you then know it is them, might be arb bushes!