How do I know if top mounts gone?

[northloop]

There is a knock from the back of my old girl when going over bumps. That would generally lead me to think that I had a dodgey rear strut but it looks pretty clean with no signs of bleed or other wear.

Getting into the boot I can get the opposing strut to move when I wiggle the top by hand, the other side is rock solid with no movement.

Any thoughts, what's in there which can have gone? A bush, top mount or what?

Cheers in anticipation of your rapid replys

Gary

[thebigone]

Read the latest techno thread it covers tha very subject with pics

[northloop]

Just had a read and a look at mine ......... I cant hear any noises when i push down on the rear of the car, well nothing as described anyway. The top mounts also look to be in reasonable condition, not like those in the picture on the article. As a cheap part to change they might be worth doing anyway I guess.

Any other comments anyone?

Gary

[thebigone]

are your nuts tight

[northloop]

They sure are, it made the noises before I fitted the rear strut brace and obviously I checked how tight they were when I did that too.

[thebigone]

? how about no bumb stop???

[northloop]

The bump stops are in the boot but not fitted ..... what do they do?

[Avner]

If you want to make sure it is the top mounts without buying new ones you can remove the shock from the car and go for a short drive on a bumpy road. If there is no knocking, it was caused by the top mounts (or the shocks themselves).
If the top mounts need replacing I think the the ones from a cabariolet are stronger.
Knocking from the back can also be the trialing arm bushes or the rear subframe bushes.

[northloop]

thanks guys but what about the movement I can feel in the top of the strut if i wobble it in the boot. What does that point towards?

[Brianmoooore]

If you mean you can move the protruding top of the damper threaded end inside the boot, then your top mount has failed.
Unscew the 19mm bolt on the bottom of the damper and the two 13mm nuts in the boot and the damper complete with mount will drop out of the car. No need to even jack the car up on the RH side, although the exhaust may be just in the way on the left.
Replace them with E46 cab ones, 33 52 6 754 096, about Ԛ£12 each.

[northloop]

Thanks Brian, thats the answer I was looking for

[320Touring]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... hmount.htm

should point you in the right direction dude-its a fairly simple job