Upper Strut Bearing question

[FunElan]

I bought upper strut bearings from BavAuto and put them in about a year ago. The top part of the rubber is already cracked. Is this normal??

TIA,

Matt

[Guest Anonymous]

I bought upper strut bearings from BavAuto and put them in about a year ago. The top part of the rubber is already cracked. Is this normal??

TIA,

Matt

Is there a lower strut bearing? Cracking is abnormal for a new rubber part. Nevertheless, many of those mounts were coated with a sealant to protect against ozone deterioration. Could it be that the protective coating is what's cracked? More often than not the cracks appearing on the mounts are obvious only when the mount is stressed as in already installed. If yours are cracked prior to installation are they used? Did you drop them on the freeway? lol

[kcdonahue]

Pics will help the diagnosis....

But I have witnessed some small cracks in the past.

The mounts usually have a coating of paint on them... As the paint gets older and the mounts do their job you will start to get small cracks around the top of the rubber portion of the mounts, just in the paint.

If yours is worse post some pics.

KC

[FunElan]

pictures!

[BLUNT]

those are shot

[FunElan]

should I complain to BavAuto? They're less than 2 years old.

[BLUNT]

should I complain to BavAuto? They're less than 2 years old.

i would ask what they do. also ask them if they are oe or indian made. a lot of the guibo's ,center bearings etc are made in india,.. im not saying bavauto sells them because i dont know. but a lot of world pac parts are cheaply made and some are exactly what you get at the dealer. you have to ask

[landon]

Check to see that you have the right part. I just finished my 2 year hassle with this same part - steering binding / popping, etc. Same cracks like your photo. Turned out to be the wrong part. I'm done with Bavauto as I've had other issues with them as well.

[Ray-2002tii]

Matt,

I agree, those are goners! When you get replacements, no matter where you get them, get the ones with the shorter mounting bolts. Yours were made to go through the cars with spacers under the fender . MOst have removed the spacers ( as your car shows you are not running the spacers). The ones with shorter studs mount the same, just don't have all that extra thread showing when installed. Mesa Performance in Costa Mesa carries them in stock if you have trouble finding them locally. Good luck with Bav Auto, they aren't very good with returns or exchanges.

[FunElan]

The strut bearings had a year warranty on them, which is unfortunately expired. I get the discounted price of 37.50 on new ones. Suggestions?

[FunElan]

How was it the wrong part? what was the right one?

[BLUNT]

did you find out who made them? id spring for a set of oe pieces. they are more loot but they will last

[landon]

Fun Elan,

I had a local shop install springs, shocks, mounts that I bought. I should have done the job myself. After they could not figure out what was binding in the steering i took it to another more reputable BMW shop and they found out that washers were installed improperly. Something still did not feel right and then cracks started appearing on the mount. Took it back to reputable BMW shop and instructed them to replace with BMW mounts. They said as soon as the others were out they could tell they were the wrong part. The first shop should have compared parts to begin with. After it was done the first time I was lost because I had never taken apart that assembly before. Anyway I talked recently to Carl Nelson and he mentioned he has seen a number of problems just like this with aftermarket mounts. Best bet is to go with BMW parts here.

[FunElan]

I just got a response from BavAuto and they say the upper strut bearings they have now are right off the shelf from Germany. Not sure what to think at the moment.

[Ray-2002tii]

Unless they are giving you them for free replacement, why would you even bother? I tell you, call Mesa Performance and make sure you ask for the ones with the short bolts. You can swing by and pick them up after Cars&Coffee Saturday.

www.mesaperformance.com