strut mount/strut bearing

XJMA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 6:10 pm

I was talking to a mechanic friend and he told me that if I was going to put new struts and springs up front that I would probably need strut bearings too!!! I'm not that familiar with working on IFS, so I didn't even know this was something that was needed....doh!!

Is a strut mount the same thing as a strut bearings?? I'm looking up parts on rockauto.com and that's all I can find. I haven't heard any of you talk about the strut mount so I wasn't sure if it was something that needed to be replaced or not?? 125k on this KJ!! Thanx!

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 7:08 pm

and he is a mechanic? Or he is just playing with you, no strut bearings :lol:

cmohr · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 8:22 pm

Did he mean Bushes?????

Theres a big bushing, called the "Clevis Pivot Bush" located at the bottom of the clevis fork, that attaches the strut assembly to the Lower control arm..

XJMA · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 2:46 pm

yeah, a mechanic...he was just talking in general though, I don't know if he has replaced struts on a liberty but he said in general at the top of the strut there is a bearing type thing where the strut mounts.

Anyone got a picture of what the top of the strut mounts to on the KJ??

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 2:48 pm

Your top strut mount has 4 bolts which just go up through the body with 4 nuts on top basically, very simple

daspes · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 3:03 pm

Your mechanic is partially correct... A MacPherson strut–type front suspension uses an upper suspension strut bearing on top of each front suspension.

However the problem is that KJ's do not have struts! We have a spring over shock front suspension.

So your mechanic was going off his knowledge of strut suspensions and was correct, the wrong question was asked though.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 4:47 pm

daspes wrote:

Your mechanic is partially correct... A MacPherson strut–type front suspension uses an upper suspension strut bearing on top of each front suspension.

However the problem is that KJ's do not have struts! We have a spring over shock front suspension.

So your mechanic was going off his knowledge of strut suspensions and was correct, the wrong question was asked though.

X2............

The KJ uses coilovers in the front,no bearings at all.

XJMA · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 6:37 pm

daspes wrote:

Your mechanic is partially correct... A MacPherson strut–type front suspension uses an upper suspension strut bearing on top of each front suspension.

However the problem is that KJ's do not have struts! We have a spring over shock front suspension.

So your mechanic was going off his knowledge of strut suspensions and was correct, the wrong question was asked though.

Ahh...OK! I think it was my fault. I said that I wanted to have him throw a spring on a strut for me...and was talking to him about the struts and such. When I told him how much I was going to pay for the "struts" or coil overs or whatever they're called he said don't forget the bearing up top....I hadn't looked closely enough at the setup to know whether or not they've got it!

So what would the strut plate be for that is listed on rockauto.com???

That is good news that I don't need to buy another part!! Sorry for the confusion and thanx for the clarification!!

Also, how often does that bottom bushing need to be replaced?? I don't hear any noise up there....but it does have 125k...
Are you guys replacing that bushing when you install lifts?

Guest · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2009 1:15 am

XJMA wrote:

I was talking to a mechanic friend and he told me that if I was going to put new struts and springs up front that I would probably need strut bearings too!!!

Sounds like the kind of guy ThunderbirdJunkie wants to replace the timing belt in his RX7!

XJMA · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:02 pm

OK, sorry to bring an old post back, but I'm finally getting to replacing wifes suspension, about to buy some new spring and struts and got another question.

Searching napa, it lists a 'strut bearing plate' for each side: http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail ... 38+2038037

Duno if that link worked, but at napaonline.com it's PN: NCP 2613472

If you get the whole assembly, then that 114 part (with a bearing?) comes with. Thing is, I don't see why it needs one....doesn't the strut just stay still?? I'm getting confused here. Do people need to replace this part?? TIA

daspes · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:34 pm

1st.. KJ's don't use struts, a lot of confusion stems from them being mislabeled! they have a coilover shock in the front. If you look at the pic in the link, the upper shock plate has no bearing or a place for one either.

Now, to the point of your question. No that part isn't normally replaced unless it's damaged, and I think that would be hard to do in most circumstances, it's just not a wear Item. If you are upgrading the suspension (lift), then you can replace it with a new plate like the one from Rusty's for some additional height.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:09 pm

daspes wrote:

1st.. KJ's don't use struts, a lot of confusion stems from them being mislabeled! they have a coilover shock in the front. If you look at the pic in the link, the upper shock plate has no bearing or a place for one either.

Now, to the point of your question. No that part isn't normally replaced unless it's damaged, and I think that would be hard to do in most circumstances, it's just not a wear Item. If you are upgrading the suspension (lift), then you can replace it with a new plate like the one from Rusty's for some additional height.

But even then you are NOT replacing the stock plate you are installing a new flat plate "on top" of the original mounting plate, not replacing it.

XJMA · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:43 pm

OK, so that thing is just a stop for the spring. Thanx. Sorry about the strut...I guess I think of it that way, but I guessyou are right it's more of a coil-over...which is BA!!

I'm getting some newer coils and putting them on some new 'shocks' (which look like struts, but aren't, haha). I'm going to go monroe sensa trac for the price and quality, unless someone else can recommend something locally available that is better?? I'd go Bilsteins, but I don't have the budget for that. This is the Wife's DD with 140k+. It's in great shape, I take care of it. Not trying to lift it per-se, just give it maybe an inch if I can. I'm getting renegade springs with 30k on them, so I'm hoping for a much improved ride and maybe an inch of increased ride height. Don't need anything more than that. We plan to keep this thing for well over 200k, knock on wood!!

Oh, and thanx for the explanation, again. I was just looking at stuff, saw those "bearing plates" and got confused, again. It's strange they list them like that, and at 114 each, I was really confused. I'll just re-use the stock ones, thanx!!

Oh, any other parts that you would recommend replacing?? I'm going to be doing swaybar bushings, motor mounts, and then all four springs and all four shocks. She just got a fresh set of General Grabber AT2s this fall, and I generally keep up on other maintenance items as well, done brakes a bunch of times, oil a millino times, tranny fluid and filter a few times, etc...

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:47 pm

30K springs are already starting to sag really so while better than 140K springs not much if any lift like you want. If you could find newer CRD springs would be better.
Sensa Tracs are pretty much same as stock shocks, for the front there are still some Rancho RSX 17505s out there would be a whole lot better and most parts places can order Ranchos

XJMA · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:29 pm

30K you think coils will sag?? Eight way, they'll be MUCH better than the springs with 140K+ on them!! I'm not really looking for much lift, just to revitalize the suspension. The shocks are all stock, and just recently started being not so good. Probably weren't awesome for a while, but whatever, the wife drives it and likes it. I drive it sometimes and we have some newer KJs here at work and they ride the same. I've beaten on hers a little, but not that much.

I see that the ranchos are popular but I think I'm leaning towards sensa trac because they're cheap and ride well. This is for the wife. If I owned it, it would be getting a Dana 60 front axle!!!

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

cmohr wrote:

Theres a big bushing, called the "Clevis Pivot Bushing"

Anyone have any idea where one could buy one of these? Autozone and Napa don't list them, unless they are under a different name. Mine have seen better days.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:40 am

XJMA wrote:

30K you think coils will sag?? Eight way, they'll be MUCH better than the springs with 140K+ on them!! I'm not really looking for much lift, just to revitalize the suspension. The shocks are all stock, and just recently started being not so good. Probably weren't awesome for a while, but whatever, the wife drives it and likes it. I drive it sometimes and we have some newer KJs here at work and they ride the same. I've beaten on hers a little, but not that much.

I see that the ranchos are popular but I think I'm leaning towards sensa trac because they're cheap and ride well. This is for the wife. If I owned it, it would be getting a Dana 60 front axle!!!

If you're going with Sensa Trac may as well leave the old ones on, not much better for a heavier vehicle like the Liberty is. Revitalizing the suspension is good but not so with stock springs. I always try and have a better ride for my wife than mine.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:46 am

pretty sure marlin has those clevis bushings listed in the bushings on http://www.jeepinbyal.com

listed as a "Strut Fork Bushing" (one per strut)

it would be quite unlike marlin to have something listed that wasn't supposed to be there

i believe strut fork bushing actually means Clevis fork bushing

they're a little under 13 bucks, maybe tom or troy knows what that bushing actually is referring to, if any further doubt exists a simple email to marlin would probably get you an answer by tomorrow evening

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

Thanks Jarhead!

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:17 am

strut mount/strut bearing

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