I fitted 2 new front strut top bearings recently for MOT. The old ones were completely gone & came out in bits. The steering was transformed from being very heavy to normal & the banging noises stopped.
MOT man wanted to turn me down, said the strut bearings were seized! I told him I'd fitted 2 new bearings & showed him the reciept from the motor factors. He put the car back up on the lift & showed me that indeed the top spring platform was not turning as the wheel turned. One side was not moving at all, the other was barely moving!
I said 'What more can I do, I've fitted new bearings'. A senior MOT inspector was called over, looked at it & suggested maybe I got faulty bearings. I said that the steering felt ok, a lot better than before, maybe the new bearings will free up. Senior guy told the other guy to do a test drive & check the steering was free & self centring ok. Car was ok on test drive so with a grudge he passed it.
But after a few days the steering started getting heavy again. I checked & the bearings were not moving at all. I took the struts out again & checked the bearings. They looked deformed, with the outer race twisted slightly. In case the bearings were faulty I bought 2 more & fitted those.
The car is no better - worse if anything. The steering will not self centre & is really heavy. The bearings were good oe quality German ones so I think the problem lies elsewhere. Is it possible that the rubber top mount the bearing sits into is deforming the bearings? Could the problem lie with the spring top plate where the inner race runs?
Please help as I've already spent £80 on 4 bearings & I'm still no further on.
Front Strut Bearings - help needed!
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Re: Front Strut Bearings - help needed!
it couid be the strut top mounts are fubard 
Re: Front Strut Bearings - help needed!
I called in with my local Peugeot independant garage, whom I've dealt with in the past & are willing to give advice. I told them my tale & the advice was to check the uj at the bottom of the steering column. They often seize up on 406's - they do at least one a month!
Took the lower steering shaft off at home & sure enough I could barely move the uj on one direction, even in a vice! As advised by the pug mechanic I kept spraying the joint with penetrating oil & worked the joint until it freed up. Then I oiled the joint with lubricating oil & refitted it.
The difference is amazing, I can now turn the steering with 1 finger, before that it took two arms & some sweat!
Top spring pan is turning freely as well so I guess the first set of bearings were faulty!
Took the lower steering shaft off at home & sure enough I could barely move the uj on one direction, even in a vice! As advised by the pug mechanic I kept spraying the joint with penetrating oil & worked the joint until it freed up. Then I oiled the joint with lubricating oil & refitted it.
The difference is amazing, I can now turn the steering with 1 finger, before that it took two arms & some sweat!
Top spring pan is turning freely as well so I guess the first set of bearings were faulty!