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?

[SwissFerdi]

I'm fairly positive they're different. However, I don't have them installed and I'm doing just fine.

[jordisonjr]

So which mounts do you have then? Just the OEM ones, with the GR-2 Struts and Eibach Sportlines?

[SwissFerdi]

Exactly.

[jordisonjr]

Is there a way to tell if the mounts need to be replaced or not?
Or is there any risk of damaging the struts if I were to replace them and not change the strut mounts?
Cause a while back it sounded as if my struts were blown(before I lowered my car) But I took it to a shop and they said that the struts were relatively new (I guess from the owner before me) and that it was probably just the mounts causing the sound.

Also, how do you find these struts with those springs? And how long have you had them?
I've heard that they are just OEM replacements but are warrantied to be lowered up to and inch and a half, so Im curious how they've handled your drop since the Tien S-techs are less than what you have.

This post has been edited by jordisonjr: May 6, 2011 - 5:50 PM

[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.

This post has been edited by trdproven: May 6, 2011 - 7:42 PM

[SwissFerdi]

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.

[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

[jordisonjr]

So do you think I should go ahead and change the strut mount even though I don't see any wear?
Or should I check out those other bushings first?

[trdproven]

the only thing I can tell you is it can clunk of the center bolt is loose. If I were you, Id check the strut first and see if they are even there, cus its not going to cost you. Mine wasn't there at all both sides.

[jordisonjr]

Sorry I'm not sure which center bolt you are talking about.
Do you mean the big top nut that holds the spring on the strut, that kinda pokes through the top mount of the strut?

Cause I'm positive I tightened all those nuts down properly, the nut in the middle as well as the 3 nuts that hold the whole strut/spring assembly to the actual car.

[trdproven]

sorry i forgot to mention, I meant check if the shock bushings are still there. just lift the boot up or they dust cover and you can easily check.

This post has been edited by trdproven: May 7, 2011 - 10:11 AM

[jordisonjr]

Alright Ill do that, Im' pretty sure they are blown though because I've been lowered on the stock ones for quite a while so they were due to blow haha

[jordisonjr]

I just wanted to confirm that this add: http://cgi.ebay.ca/KYB-4-GR2-COMPLETE-STRU...=item1c18909135, is what I need?

I don't want to have to rebuild anything, or deal with cartridges, just want to be able to put my springs and these and put them on the car.
Is this all I need for struts? I don't need to get anything else either than the mounts?

Would like to order these today, and just want to make sure they are the correct ones.
Thanks.

[trdproven]

From the pics, looks like a pair is an insert set and those are for the fronts but even at that, you can't rebuild them unless you have the non-sealed struts. IDK though on ebay I hate it when the pics don't match the description cus the description says complete. but then again their idea of complete just means it can be a set of 4 shocks and not a set of 4 complete assemblies. but according to kybs site, they are complete assemblies.

other than the mounts, you just need the strut bushings. Other things to check are your bearings, endlinks, sway bar bushings.

[SwissFerdi]

From the pics, looks like a pair is an insert set and those are for the fronts but even at that, you can't rebuild them unless you have the non-sealed struts. IDK though on ebay I hate it when the pics don't match the description cus the description says complete. but then again their idea of complete just means it can be a set of 4 shocks and not a set of 4 complete assemblies. but according to kybs site, they are complete assemblies.

Exactly. It's best to buy by part number, not by description...the full struts have differing parts numbers from the inserts.

[jordisonjr]

From the pics, looks like a pair is an insert set and those are for the fronts but even at that, you can't rebuild them unless you have the non-sealed struts. IDK though on ebay I hate it when the pics don't match the description cus the description says complete. but then again their idea of complete just means it can be a set of 4 shocks and not a set of 4 complete assemblies. but according to kybs site, they are complete assemblies.

other than the mounts, you just need the strut bushings. Other things to check are your bearings, endlinks, sway bar bushings.

Alright thanks a lot. Endlinks have been replaced recently, Which beaering are you talkinga bout, the one in the mount, or the actual wheel bearing?
And where are the strut bushings located? I don't remember seeing any extra bushings when I lowered my Celica.

[trdproven]

the one in the mount, the one in the wheel is pretty obvious by the sound. bushing just slide down the stem of the shock. just for illustration purposes the bushing is 48331B, looks just like that. this will def help you from bottoming out.



This post has been edited by trdproven: May 9, 2011 - 9:45 AM

[jordisonjr]

So I should replace that one as well?