paulmoore

Well, I am currently piecing together everything that I will need to completely redo the entire suspension and have come to a wall of sorts. My car has 110,000 miles on it and has been sitting for some time. I am pretty sure that the upper strut mounts are bad, but even if they aren't they are getting replaced just the same. So I did some looking and found 2 particular units at spohn's site. They offer a standard strut mount for $192 or the fabricated spherical upper bearing unit for $250. If you are unfamiliar with these parts, here is what they look like....

STANDARD MOUNT


FABRICATED SPHERICAL BEARING


Now let me start off by saying that I am a suspension *****, and I have no problems dishing out some serious cash for top of the line parts. I am unsure, however, if there is going to be any advantages or disadvantages to using the spherical in place of the standard. That is where you guys come in. If you have used these, tell me what you think about them. From what I understand, the factory or standard replacement mount has a bearing/bushing of some type that the strut physically bolts to, and that it is encased in rubber as to allow dampening when going over bumps and rough roads. Now does the spherical have any type of insulation-rubber or otherwise- to limit suspension vibrations into the chassis? I think that my main concern with using the spherical mount is that there will be excessive jarring on heavy bumps, and I don't want the mount to so so rigid that it will deform my upper strut area sheet metal of the body. that would not be good. Now don't get me wrong, I love a stiff suspension. I love having a tremendous amount of road feedback, because I think it makes you more in tune with the car and current driving conditions. The rest of the suspension will be top notch Spohn stuff, and geared towards aggressive handling/rough street driving. So can you guys help me out with this? All I'm asking for is some info, especially if you have these on your car currently, or know what the car feels/drives/handles like with them in. Thanks to anyone that helps me out on this.

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

General rule of thumb, When replacing, upgrade

I got the spherical ones, there is no rubber at all, but no change in the feel of bumps or potholes.

If you want the best get the spherical set.

Souseless

I do not have the Spohn units but I do have spherical bearings. No rubber but as mentioned no unpleasant issues while driving. The only drawback to using the spherical bearings that I know of is that the bearing will need to be replace after a few years of driving. That said I would recommend finding a set of offset spherical bearings. They will allow you to have more caster and camber on the car. The ones that I have are from Ground Control, they have great products but horrible service. I am not sure if there is another option or not.

paulmoore

Thanks for the replies. One quick question for you though. You said that it would be a good idea to replace the spherical bearing after a few years, why is that? Do the bearings take that bad of a beating? Also, when the bearings do go bad, is there any indication of it? Would there be any binding steering or hard to steer issues? Will they start making noise when going over bumps? I'm not worried about having to replace them really so I think that I will end up going with the spherical stuff. Thanks for your help!

steve's Z28

Hey, I am in same situation myself-debating whether to get the spherical bearing or the standard oem strut mount replacements. I was wondering how someone can replace the bearing, aren't the Spohn's welded in? If so, wouldn't the weld have to be broken, replace the bearing, and reweld again? I don't know, maybe I am not looking at this clearly. Can anybody shed some light on this matter?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I'm gratified to hear that as I too am interested in the spherical version. Here's what Spohn's site has to say about the bearing (and I saw no mention of a replacement):

"High quality QA1 chrome moly spherical bearing with a Teflon®/Kevlar® self lubricating race"

JamesC

xplane

If they are welded in i bet that its one of those things where the cost of the bearings is 90% of the cost of the whole unit so making them removable would be pointless.

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

They are DEF not welded in. They are pressed in. When you need a new one, you take off the mount and get it pressed out and get a new one pressed in. All done.

kaptinkafeen

iTrader: (2)

Just thought I would throw out another option for yah, http://www.hotpart.com/

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

Thats what I have.

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

yea, I was going to mention the hot part one, I just saw it recently.
Spherical bearing + lifetime guarantee AGAINST BEARING FAILURE. So they warantee a wear part, how cool is that?!?
Also cheaper.

I just had to post to tag on to this, I was going to look into this soon, and was curious if the spherical bearing would add to the "rattle your teeth out" feel of a too stiff front end. Don't have it yet, and don't want it REALLY BAD, but I don't mind the stiff feel. Thanks for the opinions fellas.
I think i'll be going with hotpart ones myself.

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

I'm not sure I understand why all you guys are all worried about rattles and ride harshness. It seems to me that the strut itself would prevent that in normal compression and expansion

Maybe I'm miss-understanding

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

thats pretty much true. If you have a good shock, this won't add and "rattliness" to your ride. I have them and they are fine. Relax, the part is good. Just get it and move on, haha.

paulmoore

Thanks to everyone to replied to this thread. just so you know, the Spohn spherical upper strut mounts have been ordeed and are onthier way to me as we speak

Dr G

Paul, I'm sure you'll like them. I've had them for around two years and noticed a big improvement.

Good luck.

LilJayV10

iTrader: (5)

I am glad i stumbled on this thread. I was wondering about getting these also. Doesn't spohn offer a set for lowered cars? that lets the shock extend fully? Thanks.

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

Same ones we are talking about here.

camarodarrell

The spohn mounts are 1 inch taller than stock.

Do not get the hotpart strut mounts if you are running bilstein struts, they won't work together. Hotpart's customer service is kind of shoddy too. I bought their strut mounts and tried them with my bilstein struts, they rubbed together excessively, so I let hotpart know about it to see if they had a solution. They then put on their website that the strut mounts don't work with bilsteins. They say I can return them for refund. After I return them, they won't even give me a full refund, only partial. Kind of shady business practice in my opinion.

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

A full refund for something that you used and found wouldn't work...

Why?

They are not a charity, they are a buisness that has to stay profitable. I have the mounts and am using AGX KYB shocks and they are fine. I also have the old style still that only has 2 screws on the bearing. I called and they said that they will upgrade mine to 4 screws at no cost to me! thats great customer service.

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

I don't see how that is "shady" at all

camarodarrell

I called them before I bought the strut mounts and asked if they work with bilstein struts. They said that they work. They obviously didn't ever test fit the two together. Besides, I didn't know I should have to pay for the privilege of being their R & D. Do you think I should? Also, they said they would give me a refund, not a partial refund.

What's your point?
I was informing people about BILSTEIN struts.

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

And I am informing people that they are not a "shotty" buisness...!!!


The point about they being profitable is that they are not going to be reusing the parts that you sent back, it cost them $ to make it, so to not totally loose all the $ that they spent in your ordeal, they give you a partial refund.

camarodarrell

Well, opinions are like *******s, everyones got one.

And, actually they are reselling the strut mounts I sent back, with a new powdercoat on them.

paulmoore

Well, as was stated earlier the Spohn units are 1 inch taller than stock. This allows for more strut travel, especially in a lowered vehicle. Imagine a vehicle with factory suspension at factory ride height. Now lower the vehicle 1 inch. In order to keep the strut from compressing due to the lowering, either the bottom of the strut mount(ie the steering knuckle) or the top of the strut mount would have to be adjusted by the amount of lowering to keep the strut travel the same. I would ASSUME, that this mount would be more beneficial if the vehicle was lowered no more than 1 inch from factory ride height. I may be wrong, but this is what seems logical to me anyway. For a car that is slammed on its nuts by say 2 inches or more, the strut would have to compress slightly to be at that ride height. That is why I chose to go with the Pro Kit instead of the sportlines, oh and not to forget that I have ong tubes as well!!

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

yeah, i tried long tubes and sportlines... I was so sure I would be able to pull it off. Then I lowered the car off the jackstands and as the cars weight sat down on the srpings, I kept asking myslef, "when is it going to stop moving down?!?!" It stoped about 2" from the pavment. haha. I then noticed that I should have listened to all the guys who said they had tried it and found it to be impossible. I then sold them and got some stock springs.

Long tubes sure are fun

camarodarrell

What kind of long tubes were you running?

dennisbernal91z

iTrader: (2)

I got hookers on her now. (2210s)

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

Hey, just wondering, did they tell you they were going to resell them after they re-powder coat them?

Also, just wondering what was the partial refund, did they charge you a restocking fee? Or did they subtract the cost of recoating them? Just tryn to get an idea.

Guest

Why should anyone have to pay for a part that doesnt fit properly? Especially after they said it would. Thats on their dime.

camarodarrell

Yes.

They said I didn't receive a full refund because they had to have the mounts powder coated so they could sell them.

camarodarrell

Also, after they gave me my partial refund, I emailed them and told them they need to give me the rest of my money and they don't even respond. Shady? Yes.

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

Still wondering? Stop being shady yourself and tell us all how much was the partial refund so we can judge if the company is being fair or shady.

camarodarrell

Don't be a ****ing *****, I didn't know you were asking for a dollar amount. Let me go look it up, it has been a while.

WckdDudeMan

I paid 90$ for a set of kyb upper strut mounts.... I couldnt see paying 250$ for it.

camarodarrell

I paid them $142.72 + $13.90 shipping = $156.62 total on Dec 13, 2005.

They gave the refund of $114.18 - $3.61 paypal fee = $110.57 total on Apr 13, 2006.

I paid shipping back to them. They kept $32.15 of my money. I'm not even including the shipping to me in that, which I should get back also. It also took them more than 3 months to give me a refund.

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

Wasn't rying to be a ****, but yeah I agree 3 months to get a refund is a little crazy. But a 20% restocking fee seems to be normal, maybe 15% would have been better. The web sight does say:

So if it was not in original condition I can understand the fee.
As far as shipping, thats never refunded ever by any company I've ever delt with. And it is clearly stated that shipping is not refunded.

I'd say you have a valid point with the 3 month time period for the refund. But you have to remember that aftermarket parts are designed to work with original equipment, unless stated that they are designed to be used with other parts. If you read these boards, you'll see alot of aftermarket parts aren't able to be used with each other. IE: Aftermarket exhausts with subframe connectors.

But if you are telling the truth that you specificly asked them that they are compatible with BILSTEIN struts. Then you do have a point. But somehow I have the feeling that you may not have asked. If you did, then I apologize to you for that assumption.

All in all, I don't feel the company was being shady at all. As a matter of fact, I'm about to order their new LCAs with the 3 Piece Poly-Ball Bushing on Chassis & Axle Side. That's why I was so interested in this thread. To make sure it was a reputable company before I ordered from them. And the fact that I have the spohn mounts on my car.

No hard feelings to ya buddy.

camarodarrell

And this is one of the reasons I don't like to post on this message board. I try to help people with information from my own experiences and my honesty is then questioned.

Yeah, I get on the internet to lie to a bunch of clowns that I will never meet in person. You have got to be kidding me! You know what they say about a_s-u-me.

And F___ YOU too

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

I just think that you are bashing a company that doesn't deserve it.

I wasn't being a smart***. I was tryn to calm it down a bit and point that out. But Looks like your one of those guys who likes to get on the internet and start cursing out people you have never met.

All I have to say is thank the man there is a "unsubcribe to this thread" option.

Hope not to run into you again on the forum.

LilJayV10

iTrader: (5)

How about we get back on topic with the mounts? How's that sound?

camarodarrell

The Spohn strut mounts are great. You will not regret spending the cash on them. They are well made and they are definately worth $60 more than the stock mounts.

I was having trouble with tire wear with the stock mounts. My suspension is pretty stiff and the rubber in the mount would deflect and cause my front tires to wear on the inside and outside. Put in the spohn mounts and now I get even tire wear.