Shock mount question

[luke_dubs]

I believe my rear right shock mount is going bad, as I can hear it clunking over bumps in normal driving mode. I found the correct parts (without buying them); and in doing so, I decided that I'd just replace both of them. They're not that expensive, and failure sometimes comes in pairs (as I found out with both rear wheel bearings).

My question is this: Is it possible to take off the old mount and replace it with a new mount while still using the original shocks? As far as I can tell, they're both still working great. However I'm not sure how I could do it - I've read that there's a nut on top of each shock, holding the mount to it, and I don't want to take the whole shock off the car if it isn't necessary.

I'd prefer to do this job myself, if it's as simple as swapping out the mounts, since it'll save me the cost on labor at my local shop.

 

[bugspop1]

It is recommended that Shocks and Struts be replaced in pairs
(along with many other things on your car).

I've never Replaced the just the Shock or the Mount, but in this case they are sold
separately, so I'd assume that it can be done.
The Shocks are also sold with a Nut, I assume that's the Nut you're talking about.

What is it that's leading you to believe you need to replace the Mount?
If the Mount isn't broken and the Shocks aren't bouncing all over the place, I'd
look elsewhere.
Have you checked the Rear Spring Suspension Coil Insulator?

The Spring Suspension Coil Insulators are a big cause of Rear Clunking Noises.
The material they are made from starts Crumbling and Falling Apart over time.
Think I'd take a look at those first, plus they are a lot cheaper!

Below is a link for a video on replacing the:
Replacing Rear Shock and Spring Insulator

This past week, I was going to order 2 x New KYB Strut-Plus for the Front and 2 x
New KYB Shocks/Mounts for the Rear, along with New GM Rear Springs at RockAuto,
but they are again out of the KYB SR4477 Front Left Strut-Plus.
Seems like every time I have the money, they are out of that Left Front Strut.
Ive already purchased New Spring Insulators for the Rear and also have New Sway Links
for all 4 Corners.
Hope the Strut-Plus I need comes in soon, I'm running out of time to be sitting out in
my driveway!

 

[luke_dubs]

I believe the shock mounts in the back are bad because of a 'clunk' when I go over bumps in the normal drive mode. It was an issue with my brother's old G6 - that was never fixed - and it sounds exactly like that. However, they hardly ever make a noise in "Sport" mode, and make no noise at all when in "GS" mode.

It better not be the spring insulators, as those were already replaced this past summer, along with the springs and control arms in the back. I will add that the car doesn't bounce in a weird way or behave strangely under any circumstance, the shock mounts don't appear to have moved at all, and they don't look like anything is wrong with them.

I'm hoping the shocks aren't bad, but they behave like they always have. No excessive bouncing when either driving or when I'm checking them at home (by pushing down on the back end somewhere).

 

[bugspop1]

If they're bad, you should have a good amount of bouncing when you push down on the back end.
You might also see some leaking of fluids down the sides of the shock itself.

I would hope the Spring Insulators aren't bad if you just had them replaced.
Did you have this work done by someone you trust?
IMO, it wouldn't hurt to check their work, just take a look at those Spring Insulators
(you shouldn't need to remove them just to look at them).

 

[luke_dubs]

Hmm. There's hardly any bouncing when I push on the back end. I did notice that the one shock appears to have some sort of fluid leaking down the sides of the shock, but it appeared to be dry and I didn't investigate it any further than that. The sound just makes me think it has to be the mounts, but now I wonder if it's the shocks themselves.....since there's no clunking noise when in "GS" mode.



I'll have to get under the car and take a look. The shop that did the work has done great work on my cars in the past, as well as the vehicles owned by my parents. The last time I was under there, everything appeared to be fine.

 

[bugspop1]

It isn't all that hard to take the whole Shock out of the car to inspect it (including
the Mount).
I think the guy in the Video I left the Link for above, shows how to remove the Shock
w/Mount (it's only 2 Mount Bolts and 1 Bolt with a Nut at the bottom of the Shock)?
Here is that link again: Replacing Rear Shock and Spring Insulator
If you remove the Mount from the Shock there is one more nut and it's on the top.

Myself, I'm just gonna replace the Shocks w/Mounts, the Springs and the Spring Insulators
all at the same time (Sway Links too).
I'm sure the Shocks and Struts in my car have over 104,000 miles on them and I might
as well take care of them before I have problems.
But that's me!

 

[luke_dubs]

I'm half tempted to replace both rear shocks as well, but I don't know if I should, since they're both working as they're supposed to. That's why I'm considering only replacing the shock mounts.

Don't want to spend a lot of money when I don't need to, yanno?

 

[bugspop1]

I sure do!
I originally wanted to replace my Front Struts, Rear Shocks, Rear Springs, Spring Insulators
and Sway Links last Fall when I replaced all 4 Wheel Bearings, 4 Wheel Rotors and Pads, but
I ran short on cash and it didn't get done.
I wanted to do all this at the same time so I would only have to tear things apart once!

Then Trump taking office and all his Tariffs gave me a scare, so again I didn't do it.
Then a few unexpected expenses like a New Clothes Washer came into the picture.

I just paid my house off in September and I've been trying to buy these parts ever since.
Every time I'm ready to place the order, they are out of the SR4477 Left Strut-Plus for
the Front end.

I have found this Strut-Plus at a couple other places, but I'd like to get them all in one place.
I should just buy it, it's only $9 more for that strut (other places that have it are charging more).
I don't like that these places won't show me the Shipping costs until well into the purchase.
By then, they have my Name, Address, Phone Number, etc...
At RockAuto I can calculate shipping any time, that way I know the shipping cost up front.

 

[luke_dubs]

Of course it's out, now that you're able to buy them. That's classic. But hey, good on you for paying off your house! Must've taken a huge load off your shoulders once the money left your account.

Personally, I'd stick to the ethos of getting them all in one place. That way the parts are all correct; but if it's the correct part from a different place, and for cheaper, I feel like you should just get it that way. Especially considering how much of a pain it's been.

 

[bugspop1]

Well, that part from the other Vendor is now sold out too.
The price just keeps going up at the other vendors and their Reviews on Delivery
and Return policies aren't always that great.
That was one of the reasons I didn't jump on that part, I wasn't familiar with the
Vendor and the reviews were pretty iffy.

If I order the wrong part, IMO, Returns should be on me and not the vendor.
If the Vendor helps me in the ordering of the correct part, it should fall back on them!
If the vendor ships me the wrong part or it arrives damaged, it should be on them.
The Vendors should also answer their phones (a big complaint in the reviews I've read
for many of these vendors).
This just makes me very cautious when ordering from vendors I've never used before.

This happened a month or two ago where RockAuto ran out of the SR4477 Strut-Plus.
That time too, I was ready to place an order, but before I could place my order I have
to temporarily increase the limit on my card, I keep the limit pretty low.
Anyway, by the time the money was available, that part was sold out.
This time I never even got to increase the limit before they sold out!