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General Information => Upgrades (non engine related ) => Topic started by: 8v-of-fury on December 14, 2012, 11:45:21 pm

Title: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: 8v-of-fury on December 14, 2012, 11:45:21 pm
I have MAYBE 20k kms on my upper strut mounts.. and they are bot looking pretty damn bad. I ordered them last year at this time from Rock Auto, and have only had them on since last February. They were a Monroe brand and they were a good price, does Monroe do a lifetime deal on the mounts?! I recall them doing so which is why I bought them with my monroe sense tracs, also lifetime.

From the site I usually deal with; FEQ.. $14.60 a piece.. extra $8 for a three year warranty this time through the website. Autopartsway.ca.

(http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/W01331630436FEQ.JPG)

NOW YOU AMERICANS! HAVE ALL THE LUCK! Every time from now on that I read about how you cannot afford to do regular maintenance on your vehicle.. I will drive down there and *** slap you. ;) Rotors for $7.50, wheel cylinders for $3, full tie rod assemblies for $11 (inner and outer).. the boot kit for said tie rods? like $7.30. I have ordered from Rock Auto before, and because of all the price savings.. I saved $150 over buying in Canada.. INCLUDING SHIPPING FROM SEVERAL PLACES IN THE STATES, AND DUTIES TO GET IT ACROSS THE BORDER. I still saved over $150.. retarded.

Now where do you guys say would be best??
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: wolf_walker on December 15, 2012, 12:15:26 am
No Febi/Bilstein?  They are still, far as I can tell, German made.  I've run them for years and yet to have a strut out-last one.
One trick is to file the metal bushing down to take out most of the vertical play, but not so much that it binds up.  They drive a lot nicer that way.  And grease them before install. 
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: mystery3 on December 15, 2012, 12:47:52 am
Whatdya think about these?
http://www.usrallyteam.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_205_211&products_id=1154

I can't find any polyurethane mounts. I didn't look too hard but they must be available someplace?
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: 8v-of-fury on December 15, 2012, 02:10:38 am
No Febi/Bilstein?  They are still, far as I can tell, German made.  I've run them for years and yet to have a strut out-last one.

Have them on my brothers 84 right now, maybe an easy 55k kms on them.. Also starting to push out the top. Yes I ground down the metal bushing on all of them for perfect fitment. No vertical play.

Whatdya think about these?
http://www.usrallyteam.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_205_211&products_id=1154


Whoa. those are pretty damn COOL!. spendy though! lol


I am probably just gonna make a big Rock Auto order, and take the hit on shipping...
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: rs899 on December 15, 2012, 08:14:46 am
You guys up there have all the good cars (like TDs).  We have cheap prarts.  Nobody wins.
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: RabbitJockey on December 16, 2012, 01:22:23 pm
Check out old school vulcanwerks stuff too
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: ToddA1 on December 16, 2012, 08:36:36 pm
Check out old school vulcanwerks stuff too

Or look for a set of the rebuildable early style.  It's been learned that the Fox inserts fit them.

The later style has the entire front end suspended by rubber donuts. 

-Todd
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: srgtlord on December 19, 2012, 08:31:15 am
Good luck finding a set of early mounts...
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: ToddA1 on December 19, 2012, 09:14:44 am
They're scarce, but they're out there if you're willing to search.  I saw 2 sets advertised on Vortex within the last 2 weeks.  They usually are snatched up quickly, so you need to can't be snoozing.

I've sold at least 2 sets within the last year.

-Todd
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: wolf_walker on December 19, 2012, 11:54:41 am
55K is about right for mileage/life, especially with stiff struts and/or hard driving.
They out-last most of the front dampers the majority of people use. :)
The early style with poly inserts is the way to go if you want more/stiffer.
There is almost always a set to be had on Vortex.

The other thought I've had about them is building a bolt-on bridge across the top to restrain movement.
Likely tied into a cross brace bar for the towers, and made full round to re-enforce the strut tower top.

Not that they are Lincolns to start with but I think NVH will suffer.
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: ToddA1 on December 19, 2012, 01:24:33 pm
I've never personally done it, but I've seen people fill the lower cavity of the later style mounts with 3M Window Weld.  It's supposed to help stiffen them up.  Have a few mounts ready so you don't waste the partial tube.

-Todd
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: 8v-of-fury on December 19, 2012, 03:03:42 pm
I've tried filling the cavity before, doesn't do shiiiiii.

Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: wolf_walker on December 20, 2012, 03:57:09 pm
If it's any consolation, I've seen several 50K mile A4's that the stock strut mounts, and shocks, and bushings, were shot too.
So it ain't just us.
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: 8v-of-fury on December 20, 2012, 04:42:10 pm
That's true..

Sucks you can't get quality even if you spend the coin really. Still made with sub-par inferior rubber. In my eyes? A very stupid design in the first place ;).
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: wolf_walker on December 20, 2012, 11:10:46 pm
No argument here, on either point.

I just got a Cofle speedo cable today that is an obvious POS, lacks ANY markings on the cable itself
when I know damn well a few years ago they were rollmarked just like a Gemo or VDO or anything else.
One more company on my *** list.
The hold-down is cast wrong, and pot metal, and broke, and it's still making noise.
Lubed with graphite, forgot to lube tip at gauge and hopefully that will shut it up.
We will see if it leaks, I'll probably order another one of another brand anyway.

Sigh.   

Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: 8v-of-fury on December 20, 2012, 11:12:38 pm
mk1 cable? Link to supplier please? I need two lol.
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: mystery3 on December 21, 2012, 12:12:14 am
No argument here, on either point.

I just got a Cofle speedo cable today that is an obvious POS, lacks ANY markings on the cable itself
when I know damn well a few years ago they were rollmarked just like a Gemo or VDO or anything else.
One more company on my *** list.
The hold-down is cast wrong, and pot metal, and broke, and it's still making noise.
Lubed with graphite, forgot to lube tip at gauge and hopefully that will shut it up.
We will see if it leaks, I'll probably order another one of another brand anyway.

Sigh.

That's too bad, I've a couple of 3-4 year old Cofle cables, e-brake and speedo and they seem like good quality, Italian made FWIW.
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: wolf_walker on December 21, 2012, 12:18:30 pm
Two or three years ago I bought one that was a good cable.
This one isn't.

https://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=jsywgv3sogfsqm450gkj00as&partnumber=171957803D (https://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=jsywgv3sogfsqm450gkj00as&partnumber=171957803D)


They picture what I believe was the old/good cable.
The one I got yesterday was silver pot-metal instead of the gold tinted for the trans side, and the screw on
for the back of the speedo is metal and not plastic.  I'd ask them to eyeball it if one orders.

This is the one I got yesterday, compare it to the pic on AutohausAZ's site.

(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/1745/171957803d.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/171957803d.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: srgtlord on December 21, 2012, 01:09:03 pm
Almost as if you would be better off with used parts in some instances
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: wolf_walker on December 21, 2012, 02:48:59 pm
Very much so.  In fact I sell used Porsche parts for a living, ironically.
I don't have much of a selection of used rabbit stuff near by though right now.
Title: Re: Where to find quality mk1 upper strut mounts
Post by: wolf_walker on December 22, 2012, 02:48:55 am
I'll shut up about the speedo cable, but I also noticed tonight that the original VDO cable had a plastic square drive tip at the speedo, and this metal one is noisy even after greasing it, right where it enters the speedo.  Jerkoffs. :(