Punched out a Frt Strut tower today...ctxt
06-25-03 | 12:22 PM
#1
Thread Starter
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,366
Likes: 380
From: Phoenix, AZ
Punched out a Frt Strut tower today...ctxt
Car: see signature line, below, plus recent work to install RB strut brace and MB272 wheels/Yoko tires, likely not a factor in this issue.
Over the past several weeks, I've been noticing a 'clunking' sound from the left front suspension. Not knowing where it was originating from, I inspected, then continued to drive the car in an attempt to help identify the problem. The clunking was dependent on vehicle speed, cornering, and not steering related. The sound only eminated when going over bumps, as smooth roads would not generate the noise until the car hit a bump or pothole. I figured it was strut ball joint and ordered up new lower control arms from Mazdatrix.
Had just turned a corner, and suddenly the driver's side hood popped up. Thinking that the hood latch just wasn't closed all the way from my last oil level check, I pulled over and saw that the hood was ONLY pushed up on the driver's side. Latch and passenger side were still down in the normal position. Open hood and there's the top of the shock strut rod protruding out of the strut top with a torn up rubber donut and all hardware fully intact - sticking up in the air about 3" above the strut tower bracket.
Immediately realized that the sound I heard was the strut tower allowing the spring perch to impact against the inside of the strut housing/body. This was gradually pounding away at the rubber donut that secures the top of the strut mount point, and it finally gave out. Once it gave out, the car squatted another 1/2" down, rubbing the tire in the fender lip of the well, and the strut rod (under gas pressure) forced it's way out the top.
Have a slight ding from the underside of the hood where the strut rod and upper attachment stuff punched the bottom of the hood, but can likely tap this when I get home and it's getting repainted soon, anyway.
Ordered new strut mounts from VB today (best price), and threw in new Tokico's while I have it all apart. Should be able to make repairs this weekend, but wanted to see if this is something that others have experienced.
Thanks, and here's to adding to the archive to help future searchers with front end clunking noises!
Over the past several weeks, I've been noticing a 'clunking' sound from the left front suspension. Not knowing where it was originating from, I inspected, then continued to drive the car in an attempt to help identify the problem. The clunking was dependent on vehicle speed, cornering, and not steering related. The sound only eminated when going over bumps, as smooth roads would not generate the noise until the car hit a bump or pothole. I figured it was strut ball joint and ordered up new lower control arms from Mazdatrix.
Had just turned a corner, and suddenly the driver's side hood popped up. Thinking that the hood latch just wasn't closed all the way from my last oil level check, I pulled over and saw that the hood was ONLY pushed up on the driver's side. Latch and passenger side were still down in the normal position. Open hood and there's the top of the shock strut rod protruding out of the strut top with a torn up rubber donut and all hardware fully intact - sticking up in the air about 3" above the strut tower bracket.
Immediately realized that the sound I heard was the strut tower allowing the spring perch to impact against the inside of the strut housing/body. This was gradually pounding away at the rubber donut that secures the top of the strut mount point, and it finally gave out. Once it gave out, the car squatted another 1/2" down, rubbing the tire in the fender lip of the well, and the strut rod (under gas pressure) forced it's way out the top.
Have a slight ding from the underside of the hood where the strut rod and upper attachment stuff punched the bottom of the hood, but can likely tap this when I get home and it's getting repainted soon, anyway.
Ordered new strut mounts from VB today (best price), and threw in new Tokico's while I have it all apart. Should be able to make repairs this weekend, but wanted to see if this is something that others have experienced.
Thanks, and here's to adding to the archive to help future searchers with front end clunking noises!
06-25-03 | 12:52 PM
#2
Heck Yes!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 0
From: Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Wow that stinks.
Good thing you are ok, that could have been disasterous.
Get that tire checked by a tire shop. If the side wall was impacted at all by the rubbing you should replace it. I used to work at a tire shop, and I know that a tire with a damaged side wall is big trouble. The Tire may look fine, but in reality its integrity is comprimised and with aggressive cornering and driving that tire has a much greater potiential to fail.
Best of luck
anthrax
Good thing you are ok, that could have been disasterous.
Get that tire checked by a tire shop. If the side wall was impacted at all by the rubbing you should replace it. I used to work at a tire shop, and I know that a tire with a damaged side wall is big trouble. The Tire may look fine, but in reality its integrity is comprimised and with aggressive cornering and driving that tire has a much greater potiential to fail.
Best of luck
anthrax
