R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 Upper strut mount issue pics inside

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Old 11-08-2016, 05:05 AM
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Upper strut mount issue pics inside

So about two weeks ago I replaced the upper strut mounts on my r53 and today I heard the creaking noise from the passenger side so I poped the hood to see what was going on and noticed the passenger side strut mount was protruding up much more than the driver side, which looks completely fine. Anyone have an idea as to why? First pic driver side (normal) second pic passenger side (protruding)



 
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Old 11-08-2016, 06:40 AM
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Did you use a cheap mount or OE? Many of the cheap mounts fail about the same time you lower the car on the ground.
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 06:44 AM
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that was my first thought too, I want to say there's a thread somewhere with a guy using 3 or 4 different moog mounts that failed almost immediately. It also looks like your passenger side mount has alot more thread showing than the drivers side for the 3 nuts that hold the mount to the body. I kind of doubt that has anything to do with it, but it looks strange, could be indicative of a defective mount maybe?
 

Last edited by Racingguy04; 11-08-2016 at 06:53 AM.
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Old 11-08-2016, 06:53 AM
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I used kyb mounts
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:25 AM
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Hmm, I went and looked and Moog and Monroe are the more failure prone, I haven't seen anything one way or the other on KYB. I've only used oem or leomforder but haven't had issues with either. That's definitely not normal, and I think whoever you bought it from owes you a refund or exchange. Hard to get the labor back though, which is the crappy part.
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Racingguy04
Hmm, I went and looked and Moog and Monroe are the more failure prone, I haven't seen anything one way or the other on KYB. I've only used oem or leomforder but haven't had issues with either. That's definitely not normal, and I think whoever you bought it from owes you a refund or exchange. Hard to get the labor back though, which is the crappy part.
Yea I actually ordered them from tire rack and installed them myself. But it looks like I'll be giving their customer service center a call.
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:50 AM
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Years ago I overhauled the suspension on my Lexus RX300 and used KYB struts and mounts. Struts were fine; mounts were crap. And other RX owners have had the same experience.
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 11:28 AM
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KYB has been working well for me for the last 10k miles...

The nuts on the offending tophat are tightened down more, if you take a look. isn't that an indication of strut tower mushrooming?
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by sarom058
KYB has been working well for me for the last 10k miles...

The nuts on the offending tophat are tightened down more, if you take a look. isn't that an indication of strut tower mushrooming?

The studs on the strut mounts themselves were actually different lengths. The defective one actually has longer studs.
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 12:16 PM
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Mark me down as another failed KYB mount. The bearing in the mount broke loose and slammed up and down in its housing every time hit a bump, making a loud click. Driving over Broken pavement was terrible. I don't remember how long it took before this happened, couple thousand miles. Eventually I replaced with BMW Mini mounts.
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by 4parsons
Mark me down as another failed KYB mount. The bearing in the mount broke loose and slammed up and down in its housing every time hit a bump, making a loud click. Driving over Broken pavement was terrible. I don't remember how long it took before this happened, couple thousand miles. Eventually I replaced with BMW Mini mounts.

Yeah if I can't get this one replaced it looks like I will be going the oem route myself.
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 06:33 PM
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Also, I can't tell from the pics, but are your strut towers mushroomed? This is VERY common and puts weird stresses on the strut mounts. Several folks make aftermarket reinforcement plates. Search for strut tower mushroom, you will find it. In short, excluding the ribs that stick up, the flat surfaces of the tops of the towers should be FLAT. They often end up convex. That is the mushrooming.
 
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Old 11-08-2016, 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by GearheadS
Also, I can't tell from the pics, but are your strut towers mushroomed? This is VERY common and puts weird stresses on the strut mounts. Several folks make aftermarket reinforcement plates. Search for strut tower mushroom, you will find it. In short, excluding the ribs that stick up, the flat surfaces of the tops of the towers should be FLAT. They often end up convex. That is the mushrooming.
Yes I am aware of this problem. They did have some minor "mushrooming" but nothing to extreme compared to some of the pictures I have seen. I've looked into those reinforcement plates and will most likely be picking up a set.
 
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Old 11-10-2016, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by GearheadS
Also, I can't tell from the pics, but are your strut towers mushroomed? This is VERY common and puts weird stresses on the strut mounts. Several folks make aftermarket reinforcement plates. Search for strut tower mushroom, you will find it. In short, excluding the ribs that stick up, the flat surfaces of the tops of the towers should be FLAT. They often end up convex. That is the mushrooming.
Yes its here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...shrooming.html



https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...er-plates.html
 
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