Crappy quality strut mounts (Page 1/1)
Patrick JUN 27, 12:59 PM

I was working on my '94 Hyundai Elantra (cleaning carbon out of an EGR passage) and I suddenly realized that something else wasn't quite right.



I just put new strut mounts on a few months ago, and have probably driven less than a thousand miles since then. The other front strut mount is about to let go as well.

What a piss-poor design. How the hell is rubber supposed to support the entire weight of the front of the car in that manner?
tesmith66 JUN 27, 01:06 PM
Take 'em back
Patrick JUN 27, 01:16 PM

quote
Originally posted by tesmith66:

Take 'em back



Easier said than done. One of the pitfalls of buying merchandise through eBay.

I also had them sitting here for several months before I installed them. I suspect the warranty was no longer than a year, and that expired a month ago.
Fiero84Freak JUN 27, 07:06 PM
... shouldn't there, uhh, be a stud somewhere there? With a nut on the hat to hold everything in place? That's how most all MacPherson design struts are constructed.

I would be **very** careful when you go to remove those.
Patrick JUN 27, 07:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by Fiero84Freak:

... shouldn't there, uhh, be a stud somewhere there? With a nut on the hat to hold everything in place?



If the black dust/grease cap on top is removed, the end of the threaded stud from the strut is evident... with a nut on it. So the strut itself is fine, but there's nothing holding it down in place any longer. It's only the topside of the upper spring seat pushing against the top of the inside of the fender well that's preventing the whole shebang from coming up through the hood from the weight of the car.

IMO it appears to be a terrible design when the strut mount bearing can just push up through the rubber.




In this official Hyundai document, the strut mount is called a strut insulator.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-27-2014).]

jaskispyder JUL 01, 07:33 AM
OEM or unknown manufacturer?
tebailey JUL 01, 11:44 AM
Bet somewhere on them is "made in China"
Patrick JUL 01, 04:47 PM

quote
Originally posted by jaskispyder:

OEM or unknown manufacturer?



MAS Industries, whoever the heck they are. The company is actually registered in Quebec, but I suspect these are made offshore. Bought two of them through eBay from the States for $40 (including shipping to a US address just across the border).


quote
Originally posted by tebailey:

Bet somewhere on them is "made in China"



Oh probably, but how can you tell before you order them? Below is the listing from RockAuto for front strut mounts for a '94 Hyundai Elantra. Lots to choose from, but I wouldn't be surprised if all of them are made in China.



To give you guys in the States an example of the ridiculous prices we have to pay locally (in Canada), if you notice the price of the Monroe #901977 above, it's $28.60 in Canadian funds. The exact same part is listed here at Lordco (chain of auto parts stores in western Canada) for $60.85, and that's with a 30% "car club discount". And keep in mind a pair of these are required. Including 12% taxes, that's a $136.80 rip-off. Forget it.

Anyway, this time around I instead went to the auto wreckers (as I couldn't wait for an online order). Fortunately there happened to be a suitable donor car, and I spent an hour or so in the hot sun removing the front struts and taking them apart to get the mounts off. For the two of them, it cost me a total of $30 (including taxes). These can't be any worse than the new ones I bought last year... I hope!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 07-01-2014).]