Top mount seized?

[Modelmakerman]

I havent driven my car for a couple of weeks and as I pulled out of the drive this morning there was a loud clunk from the driver side wheel arch as I turned the steering. I got a friend to turn the steering while I had a look and the spring is not turning with the suspension strut so Im assuming the top mount bearing is seized?

The spring only slips round the lower cup on full lock so I drove to work this morning in the hope it would free itself but it has not. there is also a rattle coming from the same area which was not there before and I cant work out what it could be as the spring doesnt seem to be broken and the drop links look ok?

I have some new top mounts ready to fit at home but Im not sure if I have the bearings or not, the rubber mount seems to have a metal part in the middle with a bearing race in it, is this the bearing or is it a separate part?

I was hoping to fit the new top mounts in a few months when I got some coilovers. I cant afford them right now so its going to be a real kick in the pants to have to strip it all down now to fix it then do it again in a couple of months to fit the coilovers! Is there anyway of freeing it up for the time being without taking it all apart? The car still drives fine other than the rattle and the noise when the spring slips on full lock (which I am avoiding doing as much as possible).

 

[Bondiblu]

The bearing and mount are 2 separate parts, and normally only the bearing needs changing. Recently changed mine when I fitted all new suspension. Besides trying to lubricate the bearing I can't see how you can do a temp fix. someone else may have a suggestion though.

 

[MATT RILEY]

spring is in the air!

 

[Modelmakerman]

spring is in the air!

Explain?

 

[Modelmakerman]

Just went out and jacked it up to get a better look........ its FUBAR!

The spring has snapped and the top mount bearing is completely destroyed, looks like Im going home on the back of an RAC truck tonight.

So it would seem its time to get the credit card out and get some coilovers, not really what i need 2 weeks before I go on holiday!

 

[MATT RILEY]

Coil spring broken, is that time of the year again. I'm on my 7th now! Got to love seat suspensio

 

[RUM4MO]

Coil spring broken, is that time of the year again. I'm on my 7th now! Got to love seat suspensio

Well, while this, it seems, can happen to any car "these days", I've said this before, but I'll repeat it again - with any car using this platform that originally was a Skoda at first launch, this is a Skoda supply chain problem - seems like these CZ people just can't made good springs. If you don't believe me maybe check exactly where a new spring for that car or a Polo 9N is sourced from (made in CZ). If I were you, I'd go along to your friendly ECP place and buy a pair of Lesjmor(spelling?) springs from them. That company is a spring making company - its what they do! As said already, typically the top mount will have survived but the bearing will have fallen apart as it needs the spring sitting on it to keep it in one piece, having said that, I did replace the top mounts while I had the car in bits. Don't be too surprised if the new top mount looks wrong when you pick them up as the old one will have a part of the bearing stuck to it (yes I was concerned as I walked away from the parts place - next time I was in, strangely a mechanic was arguing the toss over about the same thing with the parts guy, I left them to sort themselves out!).

 

[Guinness]

I wouldnt reuse the old top mount with the bearing parts (the bottom is a slightly different pattern) and therefore I would always replace them together. It will be apparant what I mean when you have to two together.

You are quite correct however that the bearing style has changed.

Do check the spring isnt broke or drop links before stripping to replace the top mount.

 

[Bondiblu]

I replaced both on my 130PD sport, but only changed the bearing on my facelift Cupra, which was like for like. When was the change implemented?

 

[RUM4MO]

Sorry, I left the bit out about always needing to replace the top bearing - it will have now lost some of its balls when the spring broke.

Guinness, interesting that you mention "bearing style changed" - what exactly is the change, I was only referring to the fact that the top of the bearing assembly will have become stuck to the lower surface of the top mount - so it needs "picking" off.

I've never seen a lower mounting at the front, its only the strut metal cup, is there though, a lower mounting on the rear springs that tends to dissolve so most folk don't know that it was ever there!

I think the OP knows now that a spring has broken, so I'd expect him to buy two new springs (and bearings) as well as any other incidentals.

My wife's car's spring broke right at mid height - not nice, car dropped almost on to the road - undrivable.