Symptoms of worn topmounts??

[s2carlo]

I was wondering whether I have worn topmounts on my 1991 3B or not.
I would therefore like to know what the symptons would be so I cna compare with my situation.

How could I check / verify the fact?

thanks in advance
Carlo

[horvathg]

I am also interested in this so please someone say something.

[gavs20v]

When youve got the wheels on the ground and the bonnet open, pop the plastic dust covers off the strut tops. Get a mate to wiggle the steering wheel and see how much movemnt is in the mount itself, also how far the metal cap protrudes above the strut top is a good indication.
HTH
Nice one
Gav

[audiman]

how far does the metal cap protrude then on good mounts and on failed mounts.

Im sure the car tends to tramline badly too when the mounts are shot

[s2carlo]

how far does the metal cap protrude then on good mounts and on failed mounts.

Im sure the car tends to tramline badly too when the mounts are shot

Good question Audiman, was mine too.
What's to tramline???

Thanks

[audiman]

Try this, very good explanation

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...tramlining.jsp

[gavs20v]

Definitely agree with the tramlining,picks up all the various different cambers in the road, also just generally feels odd (lol, very technical). I always thought goosed top mounts sat at an awkward angle and poked out through the turret more,
Gav

[dan_b]

Thanks for this excellent question, I've been wondering the same. I'll check mine tonight - I'm getting tramlining now in my 3B, plus a few creaking noises so something's definitely worn, but good to know how to diagnose the parts.

[S2 Ant]

I actually bought some new ones for mine the other day from GSF.
Didnt get around to fitting them in the end as we ran out of time doing other bits but will do it later in the week or next week i think.

[s2carlo]

I actually bought some new ones for mine the other day from GSF.
Didnt get around to fitting them in the end as we ran out of time doing other bits but will do it later in the week or next week i think.

Can the topmount swap easily be done by myself or do I need special tooling??
Is there some workinstruction??
Maybe you coould make some pictures and description while swapping?

[S2 Ant]

Not the easiest of jobs, will need to remove the structs to do it, so need spring compressors etc..

Also unless you're very accurate at marking everything up you will need to have the alignment checked after also, to check camber settings.

[Greg_S]

Not the easiest of jobs, will need to remove the structs to do it, so need spring compressors etc..

Also unless you're very accurate at marking everything up you will need to have the alignment checked after also, to check camber settings.

You can change the top mounts without removing the struts.

If you use a set of spring compressors and then undo the top mounts you can undo the notched nut in the top mount and change them and bolt them back up. You need two people to do it though.

Also if you remove the strut you need to undo 2 x 8mm bolts holding brake pipe bracket on.

13mm bolt that holds the ARB drop link in, 17mm for the steering arm. Then two bolts holding the strut on are about 21mm and 22mm from memory. Doing it this way wont affect the alignment but its still worth getting it checked after.

Greg

[S2 Ant]

Ah excellent, thanks for that Greg, might have saved us more stress LOL
Those small brackets you speak of for the brake pipe we sheared off, crappy things LOL.

Still need to work out whats loose on mine for it to do what its doing.

When moving the steering wheel there is a knock when it turns and this happens in both directions on initial movement, sounds like somethin has too much play in it, but cant work out what.