• Suspension
  • AW11 Front Suspension support assembly?
2013/06/19 18:00:36
worldwalker
Finally getting around to swapping my shocks over and noticed there is a bit of play in the bearing in Front shock support assembly (the upper mount). Is this small amount of play normal? I've got the standard AW11 clunk on my other car but I'm still yet to replace the shocks and bushings on that car so I'm not sure what's causing it at this stage. The car I'm currently replacing the shocks on didn't have any perceivable clunks but I haven't had a great opportunity to drive it since I got it started.
 
Any advice from people who've replaced them or haven't or have experienced the play without consequence would be great.
 
Nick.
2013/06/19 19:37:38
dennis the menace
Can you be a little more specific about the "play" ?  Is it between the shaft and the bearing, i.e. sloppy fit, or side to side (and front and back) play within the bearing.  Or even vertical movement within the bearing.
2013/06/19 19:54:41
wiso
most likely bearing play. i have driven a few with bearing play. its not a massive drama. you don't really notice sloppy steering or anything.

the clunk will quite likely be swaybar links are stuffed. had a few that have had this with the rest of the suspension very worn this was always most noticable. or i had a loose gland nut on a strut once it made a huge thud over speed bumps
2013/06/19 19:57:49
wiso
you can replace the bearings. a bloke on toymods put a thread up about strut bearing replacement. you need to drill out the spot welds on the retainer the get new bearing from a bearing supplier. then you can either reweld them or drill them through and bolt them.
2013/06/19 20:18:18
worldwalker
I should have been clearer with my description but I was referring to the vertical play of the bearing in the housing; Wiso hit the nail on the head. The swaybar links were pretty sloppy when I put the other car together along with a few other sloppy bushings, I wasn't fussed so long as it got through the pits. 
 
The bearing on this support is pretty stuffed, it moves vertically about 1-2mm has no seal and grinds a bit, if I can drill out the retainer and chuck a nice new bearing then get the retainer welded neatly that's probably the best solution. 
 
Thanks for the help!
2013/06/20 07:20:05
dennis the menace
Can I offer a alternative?  Instead of re-welding the retainer, drill and tap.  That way if the bearing needs replacing again you have a removable retainer . . .
 
Oh, and you were going to do both sides, weren't you.  If one bearing has shat itself then the other may not be too far behind.
2013/06/20 09:22:27
Mrskylighter
I replaced both front strut mounts recently with brand new toyota ones at $50 each plus new foam gasket thingies. Didn't get rid of the clunk though haha. Must be something else, probably ball joint.
My old mounts were toast though. Heaps of side to side and vertical movement in them.
2013/06/20 11:23:58
dennis the menace
Front end clunk - sway bar links, steering rack bushes, bottom ball joints.  All possible contenders.
 
And $50 each side, genuine parts.  Sounds like a bargain!
2013/06/20 12:53:40
worldwalker
Hey, don't hold out on us now! Where did you get them for $50 a side new? twosrus has them at $130ea + shipping and Toyota locally has them at $249!
 
The sway bars are all being replaced over the coming weeks and ball joints are all done, the LCA links and steering rack tie rod ends will need to be done shortly.
 
The car I'm doing at the moment has new rack ends, tie rod ends and bushings, ball joints, shocks, sway bar bushings and lower mount bushings so this bearing is the only part I hadn't factored for but have drilled it out and about to get the new bearing; also looking at a SS/toughened steel collar to tie the retainer on without movement (which is why the bearing was sloppy) with fancy lock bolts.
 
Nick
2013/06/20 12:57:14
Mrskylighter
They are from Amayama. hipped from UAE but half the price of the Japan stock. Just slightly longer shipping time.
Might be slightly higher now tho due to AUD dropping against the USD.
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