How To Quiet Noisy Strut Mounts (9 Easy Solutions)

Strut mounts are an important part of a vehicle’s suspension system, and they play a vital role in providing a smooth and comfortable ride.

The strut mount is the connection point between the strut and the vehicle body. It is responsible for absorbing impact from the road and keeping the strut stable.

If your strut mounts are making noise, it could be a sign that they need to be replaced. However, there are a few things you can do to quiet them down.

The first thing you can try is to simply tighten the nuts and bolts that hold the mount in place. This may be all that is needed to stop the noise. If this doesn’t work, then I would highly recommend the below methods.

What Is A Strut Mount, And What It Does?

A strut mount is an essential component of a vehicle’s suspension system, providing a connection point between the struts or shocks and the body of the car.

The mounts can be located at either the top or bottom of the struts and serve to dampen vibration and noise from the road, as well as providing support for the strut itself.  In some cases, the strut mount may also include a bearing, which helps keep the strut moving smoothly. 

In some cases, strut mounts may also contain bearings that allow for steering movement.

While most strut mounts are made from rubber, some aftermarket options may be made from polyurethane or other materials.

These alternative materials can offer increased durability and performance, but may also result in increased noise and vibration.

Over time, strut mounts can wear out, causing a variety of problems with the suspension.

When a strut mount wears out, it can cause a knocking noise when driving over bumps, as well as decreased handling and braking performance.

In extreme cases, a broken strut mount can cause the tire to come loose from the wheel, posing a serious safety hazard.

Signs of Failing Strut Mounts

Clunking sounds: If you hear clunking sounds coming from your suspension, it could be a sign that your strut mount is starting to fail. The clunking noise is usually caused by the metal-on-metal contact between the mount and the strut itself.

Vibrations: Another common symptom of a failing strut mount is increased vibration from the suspension. This can be felt through the steering wheel, seat, or floorboard.

Loose handling: A failing strut mount can also cause loose handling and increased body roll. This is due to the mount no longer being able to properly support the strut.

Premature tire wear: If you notice premature tire wear, it could be due to a failing strut mount. When the mount fails, it can cause the strut to misalign, which can lead to uneven tire wear.

Damaged suspension: A failing strut mount can also damage other suspension components, such as the shocks or springs. If you notice any damage to these components, it’s likely that the strut mount is the culprit.

How To Quiet Noisy Strut Mounts

1. Lubrication

Lubrication is the key to maintaining your car’s strut mounts. By keeping them lubricated, you can avoid many of the common problems that occur with them.

If your strut mounts become noisy, there are a few things you can do to quiet them down. First, check the level of lubrication and make sure they are properly greased. If they are not, you can try adding some grease yourself.

Here is a quick guide on how to lubricate your strut mounts:

• Start by taking off the wheel and setting it aside. You will then need to remove the brake caliper and hang it from the suspension so that it doesn’t put any pressure on the brake hose.
• Next, remove the dust cover from the top of the strut mount.
• Using a small brush, apply a light coat of lubricant to the top of the strut mount. Be sure to avoid getting any lubricant on the brake rotor.
• Reinstall the dust cover and brake caliper, then replace the wheel.
• Repeat this process for the other three strut mounts.
• Allow the lubricant to penetrate for several minutes before moving on to the next step.

2. Rubber Vibration Insulator

The rubber vibration insulator is used to isolate the vibrations and road noises. It consists of a layer of elastomeric material, typically rubber, that is bonded to a metal plate. The device is designed to provide a high degree of isolation while still being able to support the weight of the car or structure.

The rubber vibration insulator is an effective way to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the car to the floor or other surfaces.

If the metal plates start separating from this rubber part, you will hear some strut noise as the two metal parts grind against each other.

Use some acoustic windshield adhesive to bind these parts back together. Ensure that you have packed enough of the adhesive on all the cavities separating the rubber from the metal plates.

Once dry, the adhesive will create a hard rubbery cushion and rectify the noise. For best results, remove the strut first, so it is easier to access the strut mounts. This is the only way to can access the entire insulator circumference.

3. Tighten The Strut Mounting Nuts

If your car has adjustable strut mounts, you can try tightening the bolts to see if that quiets the noise. First, locate the bolts holding the mount to the frame of the car.

These are usually located at the top of the strut, near where it meets the vehicle body. Use a wrench or socket to tighten these bolts a little at a time, until they’re snug.

Don’t over-tighten them, or you could damage the threads.Another possibility is that the problem isn’t with the strut mounts themselves, but with the bolts that hold them in place.

If these are loose, they can allow the mount to move around, which will make noise. Again, use a wrench or socket to tighten the bolts until they’re snug.

4. Tighten The Shock Mounting Nut

While it’s hard for the shock mounting nut to come loose, there is no harm in checking whether it’s causing the noise.

A torque wrench such as TEKTON 1/2 Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench will do a good job of tightening this nut.

You may need two wrenches, one to hold the shaft as you tighten the nut.

5. Get A New Strut Mount

Once you ascertain that the noise is coming from the strut mount and the problem looks irreparable, you have no choice but to get a new unit.

In most cases, you’ll need to replace all four strut mounts at the same time. This is because they tend to wear out evenly and it’s best to keep them in pairs.

Replacing strut mounts is not a difficult task, but it is important to do it correctly. If you know your way around cars, replacing the strut mounts should take you anywhere between one and four hours.

Follow these steps to replace the strut mounts on your vehicle.

• Jack up the car and remove the wheels. This will give you access to the strut assembly.
• Using a wrench, loosen the bolts that hold the strut in place. You may need to use a socket set to remove the nuts completely.
• Carefully pull the strut out of the vehicle. Be careful not to damage any other suspension components as you remove it.
• Take the old strut mount off of the strut and compare it to the new one. Make sure they are identical in size and shape before proceeding.
• Place the new strut mount on the strut and start to thread the bolts in place. Tighten them down evenly until they are snug.
• Reinstall the strut assembly back into the vehicle and tighten all of the bolts.
• Put the wheels back on and lower the car down. Test drive it to see if the noise has been eliminated. If not, you may need to check other suspension components for wear or damage.

How Long Should Strut Mounts Last?

A high quality strut mount or aftermarket strut mount will last 7-10 years. However, if a car is often driven on rough roads or in poor weather conditions, the strut mounts may only last 3-5 years .

If you’re looking for a quality aftermarket strut mount, we recommend checking out our selection of KYB struts mounts.

KYB is a world-renowned suspension manufacturer, and their strut mounts are some of the best on the market.

Can You Drive With A Broken Strut Mount?

A broken strut mount can certainly cause some problems with your vehicle, and it is definitely something that you will want to get fixed as soon as possible.

However, in most cases, it is actually safe to drive with a broken strut mount.

Of course, you will want to avoid any potholes or other rough terrain so that you don’t put any unnecessary stress on the damaged mount.

And, you may notice that your ride is not as smooth as it normally is. But, all in all, driving with a broken strut mount is usually fine. Just keep an eye on it and get it repaired when you can.

On How To Quiet Noisy Strut Mounts

Now that you know how to quiet noisy strut mounts, you can get your car running as smoothly as you like.

The information above comes with both short-term and long-term solutions, so you will be spoilt for choice.

Just remember that short-term solutions do not fix the problem. You are better off replacing any worn-out part and repairing other associated ones.

Handling any car-related problem from the source will always save you a lot of money in the long run.

Strut mounts may not cost as much, but the parts that will be damaged with broken ones will add to quite an amount.