Are my topmounts broke?

[Midnight]

Will let the pictures explain.

I'm guessing that's not normal as the passenger side one seems flush against the turret.

 

[George182]

There is normally a gap mate

 

[Midnight]

There is normally a gap mate

Its around 10mm and the passenger side sits flush ( no gap ) so wasn't sure which was broke if any?

 

[George182]

Are the wheels straight?

 

[George182]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...-top-with-pictures&highlight=strut+top+normal

For example

 

[Midnight]

Yes I did read that thread, no this is when the wheels are straight, just concerned as surely that means there is 10mm shortfall somewhere in the suspension?

 

[Chip-mk1]

They just look like they arent done up TBH

There is a gap but it shouldnt be that much IME.

Do they make any noises when you turn the steering?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Yes I did read that thread, no this is when the wheels are straight, just concerned as surely that means there is 10mm shortfall somewhere in the suspension?

Those mounts are only there so when you go over a humpback bridge the shocks dont drop out, in theory you could remove them and your car would still drive exactly the same under normal circumstances (but DONT!)

 

[Midnight]

They just look like they arent done up TBH

There is a gap but it shouldnt be that much IME.

Do they make any noises when you turn the steering?

They've always made a 'knocking' noise from day one of me owning it. I just thought it was down to a) being pretty low b) having cheap coilovers fitted. Only noticed it today, wasn't like that last week.

 

[Chip-mk1]

They've always made a 'knocking' noise from day one of me owning it. I just thought it was down to a) being pretty low b) having cheap coilovers fitted. Only noticed it today, wasn't like that last week.

Well they are either loose (looks probable by the lack of thread showing out the top of them but TBH its been ages since Ive had standard mounts on any of our clios!) or the mount under the turret is FUBAR'ed and allowing the shock rod to come up too high.

 

[Chip-mk1]

In fact, if you look in that thread George182 linked to from here, you can see how much thread is poking through the top of the nut in the mount, so I am 99% sure yours are just very loose!

 

[Midnight]

Well they are either loose (looks probable by the lack of thread showing out the top of them but TBH its been ages since Ive had standard mounts on any of our clios!) or the mount under the turret is FUBAR'ed and allowing the shock rod to come up too high.

Thank you Chip, is there a way of narrowing it down without taking the suspension/coilover off?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Thank you Chip, is there a way of narrowing it down without taking the suspension/coilover off?

Yes, very easily, just try and tighten it, if you can, they are loose, if you cant then they arent.

 

[Midnight]

Yes, very easily, just try and tighten it, if you can, they are loose, if you cant then they arent.

Both the Alan key part and 'nut' extremely tight?

 

[George182]

Hold the allen key still and tighten the nut

 

[Chip-mk1]

Both the Alan key part and 'nut' extremely tight?

You need a swan neck spanner (24mm IIRC) and an allen key so you can spin the top mount without it spinning the shock rod.

Either that or just get a nut gun on it but dont let it spin and spin as it can damage the seals in the shocks.

 

[Midnight]

You need a swan neck spanner (24mm IIRC) and an allen key so you can spin the top mount without it spinning the shock rod.

Either that or just get a nut gun on it but dont let it spin and spin as it can damage the seals in the shocks.

21mm, struggling to get the spanner as don't have any 'sean' neck version however when the spanner is sitting on the nut they are extremely tight.

 

[NorthloopCup]

You'd be better off using a battery impact gun to tighten or loosen them. That's what I do as it makes life soooooo much easier.

 

[Chip-mk1]

You'd be better off using a battery impact gun to tighten or loosen them. That's what I do as it makes life soooooo much easier.

But as mentioned, dont keep going round and round for fun when they are right like a lot of people do!

 

[Midnight]

Yes they are tight.

That mean the 'underneath' is broke?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Looks that way, although I still dont see how they are right with so little thread sticking out the top, what shocks are they?

 

[Midnight]

Cheap coilovers, I believe K-tec supplied a fair few years ago. (Raceland springs to mind *pun intended)

 

[Chip-mk1]

Maybe they are different at the top of the shock to make it sit like this then.

 

[George182]

Just checked mine - there isn't much thread showing on mine, maybe it's just the very top part of the shock that's different?

 

[Midnight]

Thread has always been the same but mount was always flush if only 2-3mm off?

 

[George182]

My mounts are only 18 months (ish) old and they have similar clearance to yours by the looks of it? (more angled if anything)

 

[Chip-mk1]

Well if the mount now sits higher, and the thread has always been the same above it, then something on the mount under the strut top must be knackered

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

Something not fitted IMO
or incorrectly underneath

fuxked my top mounts off ages ago for solid top mounts

 

[Midnight]

Maybe have to hurry up on the new set of coilovers (damn).

 

[NorthloopCup]

You'll need to strip them down to see if you can see anything wrong really. That's the only way to know for sure.

 

[NorthloopCup]

But as mentioned, dont keep going round and round for fun when they are right like a lot of people do!

Agreed. There's a lot of rough arsed b******s out there that don't give a f**k unfortunately.