Front Strut Top Mounting

Had a bit of a disaster yesterday. While fitting a strut brace I managed to sheer off one of the top mount bolts.:angry2: I now have the replacement top mount but would appreciate some information on fitting. I have seen many write ups on removing the strut and re-building but was wondering if all that is really necessary just to change the top mount. Would it be possible to compress the spring, remove the top bolt and three mounting nuts and just lower the assembly in situ, then just swap the top plate and jack the assembly back into position? I am also wondering if the second cross shaped nut has to be taken off in order to remove the top plate? Thanks Steve

Hi, my memory's hazy on this but I *think* that in order to swap the top mount you won't need compressor springs at all. You can undo the three nuts where the strut brace attaches, undo the two big bolts holding the strut to the steering knuckle, and as long as the wheel is jacked up the strut assembly is already as long as it's going to get, so can just be withdrawn whole. If you haven't already, take a look at my HowTo: I reckon these images show the strut top mount upper would come off the strut top mount lower with the cross shaped nut still in place - which is enough to hold the spring. Do remove the main strut mounting nut (22mm ish). Don't remove the cross shaped nut... You see here the metal upper would have cleared the cross shaped nut if I'd chosen to remove the upper from the lower whilst the lower was still attached to the strut with the cross shaped nut. If in any doubt of course, put spring compressors on anyway - just enough to take up the slack in case of accident. But don't worry about compressing it fully, unless the rubber lower mount looks dangerously perished it's designed to hold the spring. HTH, Pete

Hi Pete Thanks for the reply and the very helpful pictures. Will have a go this weekend. Steve