Which strut mounts to buy?
Which strut mounts to buy? I'm preparing to install new shocks here soon and I was thinking about putting in new strut mounts while I'm at it. Autozone has them listed at about 50$ while NAPA lists them for 131$ each 
. Does anyone know if there is a difference in quality to justify the price difference or should I just get the least expensive ones?
. Does anyone know if there is a difference in quality to justify the price difference or should I just get the least expensive ones? What you found (or the guy you talked to found for you) is the actual inner fender frame bracket that holds the strut mount in the car. Napa and the dealer sell them to replace rusted out or busted parts. There is a left and a right. What you need it the strut mount bearing itself that mounts the strut to those plates. I think those parts from Autozone are just that also, the bearing section. One part fits both sides. Autozones pictures are generic. Search Napa's site or call the store and ask for Napa Chassis Parts#(NCP) 2613197. The price is better than Autozones and the quality is always top.
Vernon
Vernon
I'm a little at a loss, here, as I don't know what "bearing" is being talked about.
I had a 1985 Firebird, a 3rd gen car, and they had a "strut" front end. The upper mount of that strut did indeed turn, as it took the place of an upper control arm/ball joint. The assembly that the upper stud of the strut mounted to, did have a bearing.
The 1996 Camaro I now have, a 4th gen car, doesn't have struts. It has an upper as well as lower control arm, each having a ball joint, which do the "turning". The shock assembly stays in place.
The last time I had my car apart was in 2001, when I installed new shocks. My memory might be a little fuzzy, but I don't remember any "bearings" in the upper shock mounts.
I can, however, see the confusion with all of the part listings as well as prices, for those mounts
I had a 1985 Firebird, a 3rd gen car, and they had a "strut" front end. The upper mount of that strut did indeed turn, as it took the place of an upper control arm/ball joint. The assembly that the upper stud of the strut mounted to, did have a bearing.
The 1996 Camaro I now have, a 4th gen car, doesn't have struts. It has an upper as well as lower control arm, each having a ball joint, which do the "turning". The shock assembly stays in place.
The last time I had my car apart was in 2001, when I installed new shocks. My memory might be a little fuzzy, but I don't remember any "bearings" in the upper shock mounts.
I can, however, see the confusion with all of the part listings as well as prices, for those mounts
The confusion comes from GM mounting a shock like a strut and the aftermarket refusing to name them "Shock Mounts". There is no bearing, the AZ pics are generic. It's really just an upper shock mounting bushing plate.
Vernon
Vernon
Last edited by Manic Mechanic; Aug 26, 2008 at 09:05 AM.
This is what I was talking about. Its the piece at the top of the strut that helps keep the spring in place.
http://www.ls1howto.com/howto/fbody/...s/IMAGE013.jpg
http://www.ls1howto.com/howto/fbody/...s/IMAGE014.jpg
Here is the part at autozone:
http://www.autozone.com/N,14601047//...eResultSet.htm
Here is the one at NAPA:
http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...ont+Suspension
So should I just get the least expensive one?
http://www.ls1howto.com/howto/fbody/...s/IMAGE013.jpg
http://www.ls1howto.com/howto/fbody/...s/IMAGE014.jpg
Here is the part at autozone:
http://www.autozone.com/N,14601047//...eResultSet.htm
Here is the one at NAPA:
http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...ont+Suspension
So should I just get the least expensive one?
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Their site shows several of them, ranging from $50- $130. They all look the same, so I'd go with the least expensive.
(truth be told, there are probably only one or two companies that make them, and everybody adds their own box, as well as markup.....)
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