My rubber strut mount has torn about 50% around on my right front 02 MCS built in June 02. There is no Mushrooming of the strut tower. I have ordered a new rubber mount. How difficult is it to replace? I'm not real mechanically inclined. Should any shop be able to do it? Will I need to get re-aligned afterward? Alignment is good now. After getting it fixed I'm going to install the strut mount reinforcements and a bar.

Also, If I Keep driving it like this and it tears completely what will happen?

thanks

 

Can anybody help with this question? I've got the same issues.. Torn strut mount making a rubbing noise when I turn. I'm wondering if it's something I can replace myself.

boater454 : Where did you order your rubber strut mount?

 

They commonly wear out. My first set lasted about 45,000. Better to replace them as a pair (guaranteed the second won't last much beyond 15,000 once the first has given up the ghost). Its a PITA, so for my $ better to let an independent service or dealer do it.

 

Just a note here, if you never want to worry about torn mounts or mushrooming again, get a set of camber plates. The labor for install would be the same as putting the stock part in.

 

Good advice. You should mention a reputable seller/link for camber plates.

 

Depends on what camber plates you get. A factory strut top mount just drops right on. I don't know about the fixed plates, but the adjustable ones are a good bit more work to have them set up properly and then you have to align the car with either the fixed or adjustable setup(remember changes in camber affect toe). Stock strut top mounts will not require an alignment when replaced.

 

I drove mine for about 4,000 miles on a 65-70% tear. I didn't drive it wildly or anything. During that time frame I found another one, and ordered it. I then had to wait (make an appointment) with my husband who is a mechanic. Once he got it in he did the oil change, and swapped out my weeping radiator overflow cannister at the same time. I was out and driving around 2 1/2 hours later. He said it was one of the easier cars he has had to work on. Good luck to you, better to get it fixed now, than risk what can happen down the road if you don't. Oh, and I didn't need an alignment or anything else related done to it. Drives down the road as straight as can be.

 

Thanks for the help. I ordered the new ones from drivewire.com. Much less than from MINI. I'm taking it in tomorrow for replacement.

 

Mine are from Ireland Engineering. They are the adjustable plates. I will point out though, that they can make some noise at times and stick on occation, causing a slight pull in the last direction you turned. However, if you spray them with a silicone lube every week or so, there are no such problems.

 

With broken mount bushings, I think you are more likely to get mushrooming if you hit a pothole. The rubber will not help absorb the shocks and it will go straight to the tower. Also keep in mind that when the rubber breaks, a lot of times the metal of the strut mount is deformed. It is practically thin metal on thin metal. Just be careful on rough roads until you replace them.

They are not that difficult to replace. You will just need something to compress the springs. Advanced auto parts or whatever auto parts chain is near you usually have really cheap tool rental for that. I paid $50 to use the spring compressor and then got my $50 back when I returned it. The Ireland Engineering fixed camber plates install just like the stock ones but are built much better. It will not effect tire wear noticeably. They actually evened my tire wear by taking some cornering wear off of the outside of the tire. It's not that hard to do, but you will need to get an alignment afterwards. It is definitely worth it!

 

I got it done today. Took local shop about 45 minutes to do. About $75 for parts and Labor. It was not torn all the way through just about 50% around the top of the rubber.

 

What exactly did your shop replace (parts)? Curious to know.

 

Just the actual strut mount.

 

How about noise and hardness from the road?
Is ride quality affected?

I have oem strut mounts with kw v2 which lasted many years to be honest. I changed to lemforder and the same day strut mount was totalled(mushrooming). I put again the old ones. Now im between bmw oem struts and ie adjustable but the car is kind of a daily also and im consider for the ride quality too...