Strut Top Bearings

[steve_earwig]

And the tracking done.

Before I had the front springs & shocks on my D8 changed it was pulling to the right. I asked the guy to sort the tracking out but he said it wouldn't be so accurate, what with the left-hand tyre worn on the insidem and he suggested I bought some new tyres and then brought it back for it to be done. When I drove it out it felt fine, so I thought no more about it until there was a hint of a clonk and it's pulling to the right again. What the ...? Couldn't see anything loose so the wheels were swapped from my D9 and back for the tracking:

All lined up, more or less, then out for a drive. Now it's pulling to the left Then it's pulling to the right Seems the strut top bearings were a bit knackered but the guy decided to keep the costs down and just pack 'em with grease.

Symptoms: turn hard left, it pulls left. Turn hard right... you guessed it, it pulls right.

Cure: £27a side on Monday. Still, that's including my discount as a regular customer

[skylinemv]

When I did my springs on my D9 the top strut bearings disintegrated when the leg/ spring was removed so never seen this myself. However from the state of my old one I can see how they would be totally shot.

[steve_earwig]

Shot enough for ya?


£88 later and if I take my hands off the wheel it carries on in a straight line, who'd have thought it?

[teamster1975]

Holy sh1t!

[skylinemv]

Yep, mine were the same, ball bearings every where

[steve_earwig]

Apparently adding grease does the trick on VWs and Opals, so it was a fairly standard thing the mechanic tried. Unfortunatly it's a Pug so it didn't help. They reckon the rhs one would have lasted a bit longer, maybe a month...

[teamster1975]

I've been having a read up on this and it could be where the infamous clonking is coming from, especially as it's getting worse over time! I hadn't even considered the strut bearing!

[mjb]

ooo could be why mine pulls to the left... where are these strut bearings and how hard/easy are they to change in the road (I'm guessing not very?)

[steve_earwig]

They're sort of on the top of the struts... Haynes doesn't even mention it but in Service Pox it's between to top mounting bracket and the rest cup (sounds like a bra...) that sits on the top of the spring.

Possibly, possibly, Teamster posted a link for how to get the struts off, then it's a matter of compressing the spring, then undoing the top mounting.

Daft question but did you have your tracking done lately?

[mjb]

then it's a matter of compressing the spring

Sod that!

Daft question but did you have your tracking done lately?

I had it done about 9 months ago when I got the car because it seemed excessively toe-in (iirc). Turned out I was right by a fraction of a degree (small enough that Kwik-fit actually charged me half price because he barely adjusted it to put it true), and the adjustment fixed that, but it's never been quite 'right' and has always pulled to one side or another

[teamster1975]

then it's a matter of compressing the spring

Sod that!

Actually I might have a go, I've had the rear springs off before.

[steve_earwig]

... has always pulled to one side or another

Now that does sound like mine was. It was most noticable after having it on full lock.

Please be careful with those spring compressors!

[teamster1975]

Please be careful with those spring compressors!

Too right! I don't want to lose the top of any more digits!

[adam03031980]

Wonder if thats what is up with mine it pulls to the left and has a clonk when driving slowly over a bump however i havent had the tracking done in 2 and a half years

[teamster1975]

Wonder if thats what is up with mine it pulls to the left and has a clonk when driving slowly over a bump however i havent had the tracking done in 2 and a half years

It's possible, I've eliminated everything else on mine, I'm going to have a look today.