Replacing Struts and Mounts, OEM mounts and KYB moutns different? Options

[jordisonjr]

I've been lowered on Tien S-tech springs for a while now and my stock struts finally crapped out on me.
SO I'm in the market for new struts and strut mounts.
I was doing some searching on what struts everyone was running and Im pretty sure Ill be getting the KYB GR-2 struts, but what about the mounts.

I found a couple comments in threads saying that the KYB strut moutns were different from the OEM mounts, and actually made the car sit a little bit higher with the KYB mounts compared to the OEM.
Can anyone confirm this?

Should I order OEM mounts, or should KYB moutns be sufficient with Tien S-techs and KYB GR-2s?

[jordisonjr]

i think thats my thread you read. Let me explain, if you have the OG mounts they are much shorter in the center where the strut bolt attaches to and looks wise less beefier. In the KYB mount, i measured the center height, its slighty taller between the strut and the top, but just a bit. The reason why i noticed it after i changed just the passenger side to KYB is because I had a little more room in the fender. to me it adds extra slight height buts its only noticeable by measurement and by measuring fender height. however it is unnoticeable to the human eye. however, if you are changing both they will at least be even on both sides. not by much. again, then I ordered new school OEM Mounts from Toyota and now they look exactly like KYB models so i assume that toyota has KYB doing their mounts or at least following that design and style because they look identical in looks and the center measurement. but no worries if you change both front its not much of a difference for you to notice. to answer your question about the warranty, I don't know of anyone that actually claims on parts such as mounts, if installed right and theres only one way, you won't have a problem and youll end up getting new ones in the long run again without using warranty. just remember to point the strut mount correctly by following the arrow. hope that helps.

Ohh okay, so they are large enough in size that if you had KYB on one side and OG mounts on the other it would make a difference, but if using KYB on both sides it will not make a difference? Makes sense.

Do you know how the strut mounts work? Cause when I had them off when I was lowering them they didn't appear to be worn out (assuming they should look like cracked worn out bushings) and yet they still clunk as if I have blown struts, and it was doing that before I lowered it. Is it the rubber that gets work out, or something else within the mount?

Also, how do you find these struts with those springs?

Just fine. My opinion regarding the springs is relative I guess, but I'm extremely happy with the setup for a DD. My OEM struts were blown for the most part, so I can't compare the two directly, but I'm sure there's not much of a comfort difference.

And how long have you had them?

Since February 13th, 2010.

So you've had them for over a year and theres been no signs of them wearing out quickly?
Thanks for the reply

[trdproven]

i think thats my thread you read. Let me explain, if you have the OG mounts they are much shorter in the center where the strut bolt attaches to and looks wise less beefier. In the KYB mount, i measured the center height, its slighty taller between the strut and the top, but just a bit. The reason why i noticed it after i changed just the passenger side to KYB is because I had a little more room in the fender. to me it adds extra slight height buts its only noticeable by measurement and by measuring fender height. however it is unnoticeable to the human eye. however, if you are changing both they will at least be even on both sides. not by much. again, then I ordered new school OEM Mounts from Toyota and now they look exactly like KYB models so i assume that toyota has KYB doing their mounts or at least following that design and style because they look identical in looks and the center measurement. but no worries if you change both front its not much of a difference for you to notice. to answer your question about the warranty, I don't know of anyone that actually claims on parts such as mounts, if installed right and theres only one way, you won't have a problem and youll end up getting new ones in the long run again without using warranty. just remember to point the strut mount correctly by following the arrow. hope that helps.

Ohh okay, so they are large enough in size that if you had KYB on one side and OG mounts on the other it would make a difference, but if using KYB on both sides it will not make a difference? Makes sense.

Do you know how the strut mounts work? Cause when I had them off when I was lowering them they didn't appear to be worn out (assuming they should look like cracked worn out bushings) and yet they still clunk as if I have blown struts, and it was doing that before I lowered it. Is it the rubber that gets work out, or something else within the mount?

I mean the strut mounts don't make a difference that much but its best to change both sides so that they are even. The kybs and new school Toyota mounts are beefier looking. strut mounts for the most part get worn in key part the one that looks like a semi square groove. the bearings can get worn but thats another issue. your clunk can be worn sway bar busshing, endlinks, or the busshing that goes on the stem of the shock.

This post has been edited by trdproven: May 6, 2011 - 10:06 PM