OEM BOSS Strut Mount Bearings

[BackInBlack]

I realize a lot of you guys don't run these, but I was hoping maybe someone could fill in some gaps for me. I'm replacing my shocks and struts and I got some new old stock BOSS OEM strut mounts to go along with the install (I think I have mounts from the old V6 on there currently). When I received the 2 strut mounts, one of them came in 2 halves with the still sealed plastic bearing housing visible in the middle of one half. The plastic tabs that hold the plastic bearing housing to the mount are broken. I wanted to compare it to the other one so I gently pulled the other one apart and on this one, the bearing housing split in two revealing the bearings inside. I did it gently and I don't think any bearings got out, but to be sure I counted 47 bearings in total in a yellow grease. I then opened the broken one and compared and it also had 47 bearings inside. The seller has additional NOS BOSS OEM strut mounts and they are providing me with a replacement for the one with the broken tabs -- although I think it probably doesn't matter since they'll be held together by bolts anyway...

So I reassembled the good one, making sure to keep as much grease inside the track as I could. Afterwards I noticed that a slight pressure to one side or the other can misalign the bearing housing and you can feel it move. When you hold it together and spin it, it feels OK. Did I reassemble it properly? Do I need to apply a lot of force to get these things to sit together properly? Or is this just the way they are until the bolts hold everything in place? Basically my concern is did I ruin it by opening it?

It seems like it is common for a lot of people doing strut replacements to have these things pop open. I would imagine that I can just put them back together and everything would be fine as long as all of the bearings are in there and everything is properly greased... Should I add more grease while I'm here? I would guess that it's this stuff:

https://lmr.com/item/XG1E1/motorcraft-premium-long-life-grease-xg-1-e1

I know there are better options for strut mounts but for now my plan is to restore this car to OEMish condition before I start in on the mods. Want to see how it handles in top form first and then I'll start changing stuff. My car is basically a salvage restoration project at the moment. Getting pretty close to like new condition.

 

[BackInBlack]

Beginning to be able to answer some of this. It appears that it is normal for there to be some play in the assembly. It does hold together loosely. Will double-check this against the replacement I receive before I take that one apart. Wil also count the bearings in the replacement. With a 3rd unit I'll have spare bearings if I need them...

Haven't decided yet if I'll regrease or add grease to the thing. Have decided that if I do I'll use Lucas Red N' Tacky. That seems to be the most recommended...

 

[byronj]

If you're just street driving the car, as long as all of the bearing are there and its put together you will be fine. Don't be like me and lose four bearings then find them 6 month later right in front of you. DOH!

 

[BackInBlack]

@byronj What's your opinion on re-greasing? Although I'm not looking forward to it, I think it will likely only help. The grease in these NOS (and probably on the original ones too) looks slightly dry and miscolored (brownish yellow) although I'm sure they'd last for a long time if I used them as-is.

Right now I'm leaning toward taking them all apart, clearing out the old grease not with cleaner b/c I don't want to add in any unexpected chemical interactions, but just with a shop towel. Then I'll use something like a popsicle stick to liberally fill in both the upper and lower tracks with Lucas Red N' Tacky. I'll use tweezers to replace the bearings and take the best looking components from each piece to reassemble... Planning on doing it inside of a box so if I drop a bearing it'll hopefully stay inside the box! But I will have spare bearings if I lose one. Once I get the 3rd strut mount I'll be able to confirm that 47 is the magic number of bearings...

Did you take yours all apart to put the bearings back in? That would be frustrating!

 

[byronj]

@byronj What's your opinion on re-greasing? Although I'm not looking forward to it, I think it will likely only help. The grease in these NOS (and probably on the original ones too) looks slightly dry and miscolored (brownish yellow) although I'm sure they'd last for a long time if I used them as-is.

Right now I'm leaning toward taking them all apart, clearing out the old grease not with cleaner b/c I don't want to add in any unexpected chemical interactions, but just with a shop towel. Then I'll use something like a popsicle stick to liberally fill in both the upper and lower tracks with Lucas Red N' Tacky. I'll use tweezers to replace the bearings and take the best looking components from each piece to reassemble... Planning on doing it inside of a box so if I drop a bearing it'll hopefully stay inside the box! But I will have spare bearings if I lose one. Once I get the 3rd strut mount I'll be able to confirm that 47 is the magic number of bearings...

Did you take yours all apart to put the bearings back in? That would be frustrating!

Well, mine fell apart and one I had all the bearings. I just wiped the old grease out and put some new stuff in there. The other one I had to replace. You seem to be on the right track and worst case scenario you just buy replacements if needed.

 

[BackInBlack]

Finally got my replacement strut mount. These things have been sitting in storage for 12 years. I think a lot of the ones left may have been returned. I got another one with a broken bearing housing. Requested a 2nd replacement and it's on the way! ... so I'll have quite a few parts for these things. Anyway, I took the replacement apart and can now confirm that 47 is the magic number of bearings in the 3 that I've received. So it seems pretty safe to say that's the number at this point. Just wanted to post for future reference.

If anyone cares -- counting them is annoying. I found the best way to count them is to use 2 toothpicks. I stick one toothpick between two bearings somewhere and then I use the other one to slide a single bearing (like an abacus) as I count. That way I can't lose my place.

I used the parts that I have to assemble a best of 3 from the mounts using the one non-broken housing. I put the bearings aside in one half of the track and cleaned out the other side with a shop towel. I cleaned half of the bearing housing using a shop towel, used the wood side of a wooden q-tip to place Lucas Red 'N Tacky in the clean side of the bearing housing (not sure if it's necessary but the original one had grease in the housing where the track sat), dipped the clean side of the track in Lucas Red 'N Tacky and placed the re-greased track back into the re-greased side of the housing. My guess is you can't really use too much grease for this. Then I cleaned each bearing in a shop towel one by one and placed each one into the re-greased side of the track. I cleaned the other side of the track, dipped it in grease and reassembled the strut mount. After it was assembled I wiped off grease that spilled out. Seems good. Hopefully the 2nd replacement mount isn't damaged!

 

[BackInBlack]

Received 2nd replacement strut mount and it was good. I disassembled and re-greased it the same as the other one (47 bearings inside). The rubber on the strut mounts was looking pretty aged so I rubbed in some of the leather care stuff I used to use to detail my old V6's leather seats. It seems to have helped a bit. Dropped everything off at the shop for install this morning. Had a bit of trouble as I purchased new rubber isolator sleeves for the front springs from a Ford dealership. They were bagged and boxed so I didn't open them. Apparently the rubber was old and rotten and the sleeves disintegrated as soon as they tried to install them. Mechanic couldn't find anything to replace them with so they used electrical tape for the time being. I ordered Eibach polyurethane spring isolators that I'll put on later. Rear installation went without any problems. Passenger side toe was pretty far negative so they installed a camber bolt on that side. The mechanic made a point to describe this to me.

Mechanic says the old shocks were pretty bad. I knew the bushings were rotten but off the car I could see that the shocks were very slow to rebound. Struts were the same but not quite as bad. Hate to say goodbye to an irreplaceable OEM BOSS part, but with the new Yellows on the car the ride is much smoother and firmness seems about the same. I had the old shocks and struts set on the 3 setting. They were a little bouncey on 2.

Mechanic said the new (old stock) strut mounts I provided looked pretty good and he could tell I worked on them. The old strut mounts were crustier than I thought they'd be. Gravelly sound and feel when turning the bearing. Rubber bushing was flattened down pretty good too. But with all of the spare strut mount parts I have now, I'll be able to assemble 2 more good ones out of the parts I have left!

This has gotten rid of my suspension clunks by about 90%. The other 10% I probably just have to live with. Looking forward to tomorrow's drive.

BTW, previously the bottom of the car's front splitter was sitting about 4.5 inches off the ground. Had to be pretty careful not to scrape it. Just measured and now it's a full 6 inches off the ground! (275/40R18 tires and stock BOSS springs) Wow! This is about where the V6 sat too. I guess it's b/c these struts are really designed for a GT, eh? Hopefully it'll settle in some.

 

[BackInBlack]

Took some time and played with the leftovers last night. Struts were in much worse shape than the shocks. Mechanic must have been thrown off by the rebound setting. I set them all to 1 and the struts were by far the weakest and slowest. The shocks don't seem all that bad but the rubber bushings are shot so -- that's that.

The new Konis are much firmer and smoother than the old Tokico's. Feeling pretty confident in my decision now. I haven't changed the rebound setting yet but they feel great. Front still sitting a little higher. I'll measure again after I get the replacement spring isolators and put them on. The yellow color of the Konis does stand out a bit on the car. Restoration almost finished!