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Strut top mount how to check if failing

robgm

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I had my 180,00km 2004 VZ Acclaim serviced a year ago, and on the list of things that need to be done was 'strut top mounts worn'. Now i'm getting around to doing stuff, and DIY. I don't feel/hear any issue with the front suspension, no banging or issues with steering that i notice. I looked under the bonnet and the top mounts look okay. But i did notice a gap. Could that be how to tell they are failing, or is that gap normal? How to check they are failing/about to fail without taking too much apart? I attached photos of the left and right. This car has original parts, no suspension stuff replaced.
 

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mpower

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gaps are completely normal.

get someone to turn your wheels full lock back and forth while you watch.

just get a second opinion if you are concerned, but if they are indeed strut top mounts with 180,000 on them yeah they are probably due - and just about every other suspension component.
 

vywgn

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The amount of gap is normal when they have failed so yes they need changing
 

greenacc

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Replace the struts while you're at it, they will be absolutely toast as well.
KYB EXCEL-G is one good option.
 

_R_J_K_

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Without looking at them or your pics, at 180,000km and 16 years they will be cooked. You can probably keep using them if you don't see or feel issues, but if you take them out to check I guarantee that they will fall apart and the ball bearings inside will go everywhere.
 

robgm

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Thanks. So that gap is not normal... should be no gap there? (means the mount has failed and that is not visible since it's under the wheel arch).
Monroe are the OEM, but KYB are a bit more expensive. Is KYB better than OEM (i saw on their website their tech seems bit better)? This car has standard (FE1) suspension. I notice KYB make only 1 front strut for FE1 and FE2, but Monroe have different part numbers for FE2 and FE1 so it probably means there are tuned for FE1 or FE2.
 

greenacc

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Should be virtually no gap. Should definitely not be able to see through the gap to the other side.
Yes I say KYB are better. There are other brands too but the price goes up if you want really good ones.
 

robgm

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Cool....good to know and it's really easy check to see if failed! (hard to know about what looks normal as i don't have a spare commodore to compare to, hence why this forum is so useful).
I guess the cheapest is own brand (repco, etc), then Monroe, then KYB, then fancy stuff.... This is standard commodore i don't mind paying little bit more for better, so i might go with KYB seems the popular one here. I'm in the suburbs of Melbourne, on road.... so not going off onto dirt track.
 

Skylarking

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... hard to know about what looks normal as i don't have a spare commodore to compare to, hence why this forum is so useful...
Sure you do, just pretend you’re buying and go to a used car lot that has VZ (or even later as I think even the VF strut top bush is the same?) and you’ll be able to pop the bonnet and have look at a few ;)

Obviously you can’t take to it with a spanner unless the dealer allows you go for a long drive on your own :eek: though it’s not a good idea to do so :oops:
 
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