If you’re dealing with a lousy strut mount, you’ll likely experience one or more of the following symptoms: difficulty steering, vibration, noise, poor handling, and a bouncy ride.
Having these issues fixed as soon as possible is essential to avoid further damage and keep your truck in good shape.
But to deal with them better, it’s important to know what they are and what might be causing them.
In this blog post, we’ll look at the most common symptoms of a bad strut mount so that you can be better prepared to deal with them.
Let’s get started…
What are Strut Mounts on a Truck?
In a car suspension system, the strut mounts connect the struts or shock absorbers and the vehicle’s body.
Sometimes also called bearing plates, these mounts contain a rubber bushing that helps to isolate noise and vibration from the road surface.
In addition, the strut mount may also provide support for other suspension components, such as coil springs or control arms.
Over time, strut mounts can wear out and need to be replaced.
Symptoms of a failing strut mount include unusual noises from the suspension, poor handling, and a bouncy ride.
Damaged strut mounts can also cause tire misalignment and accelerated tire wear.
As a result, it is vital to have suspension components inspected regularly to ensure that they are in good working order.
What are the Symptoms of a Bad Strut Mount?
Stiffening of the strut mount is generally caused by normal usage.
While driving down the street, a car’s struts and the mounts to which they are connected are subjected to near-constant movement.
Even when a vehicle is at rest, its weight is transferred directly to its struts and strut mountings.
Some of the most common symptoms of a bad or failing strut mount include the following:
1. Difficulty Steering
One of the most common symptoms of a bad strut mount is difficulty steering. If the strut mount is damaged, it can cause the steering to feel loose or sloppy.
The vehicle may also wander from side to side while driving, making it challenging to keep the vehicle in a straight line.
2. Vibration
Another common symptom of a bad strut mount is vibration coming from the suspension.
This can be caused by the mount becoming loose and allowing the strut to move around excessively. The vibration may be most noticeable when driving over bumps or rough roads.
In some cases, the vibration may be so severe that it can cause the steering wheel to shake.
3. Noise
Another common symptom of a bad strut mount is noise coming from the suspension.
This can be caused by the mount becoming loose and allowing the strut to move around excessively. The noise may be most noticeable when driving over bumps or rough roads.
In some cases, the noise may be so severe that it can be heard even when the vehicle is at rest.
4. Poor Handling
Another common symptom of a bad strut mount is poor handling or wandering steering.
This can be caused by the mount becoming loose and allowing the strut to move around excessively.
The result is that the vehicle may feel unstable or difficult to control.
5. Bouncy Ride
Another common symptom of a bad strut mount is a bouncy ride.
This can be caused by the mount becoming loose and allowing the strut to move around excessively.
The result is that the vehicle’s suspension will not be able to cushion bumps as effectively, leading to a rougher ride.
6. Rapid Tire Wear
Bad strut mounts can also cause accelerated tire wear. This is because the damaged mount can allow the strut to move around excessively, which can lead to misalignment of the suspension.
Misaligned suspension components can put extra stress on the tires, leading to uneven and rapid wear.
7. Reduced Fuel Efficiency
Another potential symptom of bad strut mounts is reduced fuel efficiency. This can be caused by the mount becoming loose and allowing the strut to move around excessively.
The result is that the vehicle will have to work harder to maintain stability, leading to increased fuel consumption.
8. “Clunking” In Front End
A “clunking” sound coming from the front end is another symptom of bad strut mounts. This can be caused by the mount becoming loose and allowing the strut to move around excessively.
The clunking noise may be most noticeable when driving over bumps or rough roads.
In some cases, the noise may be so severe that it can be heard even when the vehicle is at rest.
How to Fix a Bad Strut Mount?
Driving with a broken strut mount is dangerous and should be avoided whenever possible.
If a strut mount is diagnosed as bad or failing, it needs to be replaced.
During a suspension inspection, the mechanic will check the strut mounts for signs of wear or damage. They will also check for any looseness or play in the mounting.
In some cases, a visual inspection may be enough to diagnose a bad strut mount. In other cases, the mechanic may need to test-drive the vehicle to confirm the diagnosis.
Strut mounts are typically not serviceable and must be replaced as a unit. In most cases, the entire strut assembly will need to be replaced.
This can be a relatively expensive repair, but it is necessary to maintain the safety and performance of your vehicle.
If you suspect that your vehicle may have a bad strut mount, it’s important to have it inspected by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible.
Ignoring the problem can lead to accelerated tire wear, reduced fuel efficiency, and even poor handling or a bouncy ride.
What Happens if a Strut Mount Completely Fails?
If a strut mount completely fails, the strut will no longer be connected to the vehicle. This can cause all sorts of problems, including loss of control of the vehicle.
In extreme cases, a complete failure of a strut mount can even cause the strut to come through the hood or engine compartment of the vehicle.
This is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
How often you should replace your strut mounts will depend on several factors, including the quality of the mounts, the type of driving you do, and the roads you drive on.
In general, though, most experts recommend replacing strut mounts every 50,000 miles or so to avoid the problems.
What is the Average Cost of Strut Mount Replacement?
The cost of replacing a strut mount will vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle and the quality of the parts you use.
In general, though, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $200 per mount.
Higher-end vehicles will, of course, tend to be on the higher end of that range. And the average cost of such strut mount replacement can be between $400 and $600.
This price includes the cost of the parts and the labor to install them.
In some cases, it may be possible to replace just the mount, but in most cases, the entire strut assembly will need to be replaced.
This can be a relatively expensive repair, but it is necessary to maintain the safety and performance of your vehicle.
Can a Strut Mount Be Replaced Without Removing the Strut?
In most cases, no. The strut mount is usually connected to the top of the strut, so replacing it generally requires removing the strut.
There are a few exceptions, though. Some vehicles have struts that can be replaced from below.
Others have special tools that allow the strut mount to be replaced without removing the entire strut assembly.
Will You Need an Alignment After Replacement?
If you only replace the strut mount, then you will not necessarily need an alignment.
However, if you are also replacing the coil spring or doing any other work that involves disconnecting the suspension, then you will likely need an alignment afterward.
Final thoughts
A damaged or failing strut mount can cause a number of safety and drivability issues, so it is important to have the problem addressed right away.
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, be sure to take your car/truck in for repair.
Trust me – it’s worth it!