Hello guys, its been a few years now with my Bilstein suspension and really happy with it!

I noticed a knocking noise at the front recently when i go over certain types of bumps, generally onto and off ramps.

I think the top mounts are gone, it has been about 40,000 miles since I replaced the suspension so the top mounts havent been replaced since then.

When I was getting the car serviced, they told me that there was some play when moving the wheels, they said to replace the front suspension? As far as I feel, the front suspension is fine and they are just trying to make money. They told me that it wouldn't be dangerous to keep on driving like that, that it would just be 'noisy' when going over hard bumps!

I feel it is the top mount, as it made the same noise in the past when they were worn out before changing them.

So my question is, is it bad to drive around with worn top mounts? As I plan on driving like this for another year or so before I go for my next service.
Other than that knocking noise on certain bumps, there are no weird noises and the suspension feels just fine.

I don't think top mounts are that expensive, are they. ?

The car will not be tracking straight, most of the time the tracking will be changing as you drive, makes it very lively at the front.

Its only a half hour job per side at most, just do them.

Then get the tracking checked.

D

When people say top mounts is it the steel part with the swivel assembly or the rubber part, just wondering. ?

John202020 said:

When people say top mounts is it the steel part with the swivel assembly or the rubber part, just wondering. ?

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rubber part from what i know

The Pretender said:

I don't think top mounts are that expensive, are they. ?

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no its like 50 EUR for the parts + the labor so 80 EUR overall I am guessing. I'll get onto it and some point.

John202020 said:

When people say top mounts is it the steel part with the swivel assembly or the rubber part, just wondering. ?

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Its the metal bit inside the rubber bit, which in turn is supported by the outer metal bit that fails.

D

ahmett said:

no its like 50 EUR for the parts + the labor so 80 EUR overall I am guessing. I'll get onto it and some point.

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Worn out top mounts have it's effect on the hole suspension layout.
Because something has to compensate for it, meaning other suspension parts get more to endure and will wear out quicker as wel.

The Pretender said:

Worn out top mounts have it's effect on the hole suspension layout.
Because something has to compensate for it, meaning other suspension parts get more to endure and will wear out quicker as wel.

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Ok i'll get it done in a year, in like 15,000 kms time! 2018 is a big year for the car, new tires, new brakes, new top mounts, new timing + aux belt! With the tracking as well you are talking about 150 EUR or so for everything.

ahmett said:

Ok i'll get it done in a year, in like 15,000 kms time! 2018 is a big year for the car, new tires, new brakes, new top mounts, new timing + aux belt! With the tracking as well you are talking about 150 EUR or so for everything.

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I would not drive that long with worn top mounts, but that's me.

The Pretender said:

I would not drive that long with worn top mounts, but that's me.

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I did like 25,000 kms with worn top mounts last time and all was well with the front suspension itself. In fact the rear shocks were the first to go.

It's not pretty if the mounts give up also it will cause added wear on the rest of the suspension which already has 40k on it. Aftermarket suspension can still wear out. As pointed out the suspension geometry will be changing as you drive and put all sorts of forces
Thought the other suspension components that they were never designed to resist.

Just because you did it last time doesn't mean it's safe and €150 doesn't seem like an awful lot especially if you wear out a new set of boots much quicker as a result of ignoring the fault

AndyRKett said:

It's not pretty if the mounts give up also it will cause added wear on the rest of the suspension which already has 40k on it. Aftermarket suspension can still wear out. As pointed out the suspension geometry will be changing as you drive and put all sorts of forces
Thought the other suspension components that they were never designed to resist.

Just because you did it last time doesn't mean it's safe and €150 doesn't seem like an awful lot especially if you wear out a new set of boots much quicker as a result of ignoring the fault

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My main concern is the garage is telling me to replace the whole front suspension, but from what I remember the B14 is sold only as a kit front and rear and not individually?
If it really is sold only as a kit, I might as well wear the whole suspension out 'properly' and just replace the lot.

The right front top mount is a proper mess I can hear it on the bounce!
Tires are so far fine, so is the tracking within limits (did an MOT a few months ago with no advisories.)
I just spent 200 EUR on the car so I will delay it for now, don't want to spend another 200 EUR right now.
Also I am fed up of the state of the roads here having to change my suspension so often.
Will keep you guys updated on how it goes!

The top mounts are not part of the B14 kit. They are a standard Fiat part.

D

My Twinair top mounts were not quiet from new! At 16000miles the specialist told me there was movement in the passenger side mount. He then orders a SKF branded mount where the bearing comes with built in movement (WTF)!
Made no difference to the noises, but he reckoned it was within tolerance.

Anyhow 6 months later, I had the whole front suspension rebuilt with new shocks, strut buffers and Fiat supplied top mounts with Rollax bearings (guess what no movement in these bearing units!).
With the Fiat mounts you can pop the Rollax bearings apart and add a load of extra grease!
For the first time in 3 years the front suspension is now generally quiet

p6baseunit said:

My Twinair top mounts were not quiet from new! At 16000miles the specialist told me there was movement in the passenger side mount. He then orders a SKF branded mount where the bearing comes with built in movement (WTF)!
Made no difference to the noises, but he reckoned it was within tolerance.

Anyhow 6 months later, I had the whole front suspension rebuilt with new shocks, strut buffers and Fiat supplied top mounts with Rollax bearings (guess what no movement in these bearing units!).
With the Fiat mounts you can pop the Rollax bearings apart and add a load of extra grease!
For the first time in 3 years the front suspension is now generally quiet

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Mind you I put some WD-40 on the mounts and they are a bit quieter now = )
The handling is still fine, just a bit of 'play' on the steering as you were, but within limits I would say. MOT last year was fine with the suspension, no advisories.
Front tire wear is normal, no issues there.
With the way the roads are here, Top Mounts will hardly ever last more than 2 years.

WD40 and rubber is not a good combo, you can expect them to get even noisier when the rubber disintegrates!

Mercky said:

WD40 and rubber is not a good combo

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On the 1.2 that I have, I spray silicon grease in there occasionally, on the basis that like water the silicon grease will work its way in there to the bearings....
I wouldn't continually put WD40 in there either, but its a big rubber donut and not going to perish anytime soon!

Mercky said:

WD40 and rubber is not a good combo, you can expect them to get even noisier when the rubber disintegrates!

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I'll keep that in mind = )

Silicon grease doesn't effect rubber, like oil based products