Strut Mounts and Top Mounts

Shop strut mounts, strut bearings and upper mounts, from OE-style KYB, ACDelco and Sachs parts to Whiteline camber and caster mounts and APEXi pillowball mounts. Most OE-style mounts cost $83 to $138, and performance pillowball and camber mounts run $264 to $599. Replacing struts too? Read shocks vs struts first.

What a strut mount does

A strut mount bolts the top of a MacPherson strut to the body. It carries the weight of that corner, isolates road noise and vibration, and on most front struts it holds a bearing that lets the strut turn when you steer. Because the mount sits in the alignment geometry, a worn one can affect camber, steering feel and tire wear. Rear struts usually have a mount without a steering bearing.

If you are not sure whether your car has struts or separate shocks and springs, read shocks vs struts.

Signs of a bad strut mount or bearing

  • Clunks or knocks over bumps, or popping and squeaking when you turn at low speed.
  • Stiff, notchy or binding steering, or a wheel that does not return to center well.
  • Extra vibration through the steering or body.
  • An alignment that will not hold, and uneven tire wear.
  • Cracked rubber, rubber separating from the metal, or rust on the mount.

Some of these noises also come from end links, ball joints or wheel bearings. Rule those out with bad ball joint symptoms and wheel bearing noise.

How to choose a strut mount

Pick by what the car is for:

  • Daily driver with stock struts. Buy an OE-style rubber mount. It keeps factory ride quality and noise levels. KYB, ACDelco and Sachs fit here.
  • Lowered car on springs, or a car with alignment trouble. A camber or caster correcting mount can bring the alignment back into spec. Whiteline makes these for a few cars.
  • Track car or coilovers. A pillowball mount replaces rubber with a spherical bearing. Steering is sharper, but more noise and vibration reach the cabin. Many coilover kits already include their own top mounts.

Then match the year, model, front or rear, and side. Some mounts are sold each and some as a pair, so check the listing.

Strut mount types compared

TypeBrands on our storeProductsPrice rangeBest for
OE-style mount and mount plateKYB25$83 to $138Stock replacement with new struts
OE-style mountACDelco9$92 to $328GM, Buick and Cadillac
Strut bearingSachs1$89Stock replacement
Standard and bushing mountsWhiteline7$75 to $235Firmer street mounts
Camber and caster mountsWhiteline3$264 to $385Alignment correction
Strut mount upgradeFord Performance2$164 to $1652005-2016 Mustang
Pillowball upper mountsAPEXi13$299 to $599JDM street and track cars
Coilover top mounts and partsGodspeed, BLOX, Megan Racing9$11 to $100Rebuilding coilovers you already own

Fitment by car and truck

Many of our performance mounts list fitment in the title. Here are the main ones:

VehicleMountPrice
Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, Toyota 86APEXi N1 pillowball upper mount$399
Nissan 350Z, 370Z, GT-RAPEXi pillowball upper mounts$399
Nissan 240SX S13APEXi pillowball upper mounts$359 to $499
Ford Mustang 2005-2016Ford Performance front strut mount upgrade, pair$164 to $165
Toyota Tacoma 2005-2023, Lexus GXWhiteline front strut mount bushing kit$99
VW Golf R 2015-2019, Audi A3 2015-2016Whiteline camber and caster strut mount$341
Hyundai Elantra 2017-2020, Veloster 2019Whiteline caster and camber strut mount$385
Pontiac GTO and G8Whiteline standard strut mount$126 to $224

For full setups, browse GR86, BRZ and FR-S suspension, 350Z and G35 suspension, Mustang suspension, Tacoma and 4Runner suspension and Golf R suspension.

Replace mounts with your struts

The mount itself is cheap, but getting to it is most of the labor because the strut has to come out and the spring has to be compressed. That is why Delphi and RepairPal both recommend replacing the mounts or bearings when you replace the struts, and doing both sides of the axle together so ride height and steering stay even. If you are buying complete strut assemblies, many already include a new mount.

What else you'll need

  • A spring compressor if you are rebuilding a bare strut. See spring compressors.
  • Struts or shocks if the old ones are leaking or worn. See KYB shocks and struts.
  • Camber plates for coilover cars that need more adjustment than a fixed mount gives. See camber plates.
  • An alignment after any mount change, since the top of the strut sets camber and caster.

Install notes and costs

Swapping a mount on a strut that is already out of the car is a short job once the spring is safely compressed. Removing and refitting the strut is the bigger task. Spring tension can cause serious injury, so if you do not own a proper compressor, have a shop do it. Torque the top nuts and the strut shaft nut to the factory specification.

On our store, OE-style mounts cost $75 to $138 for most cars, Whiteline camber and caster mounts run $264 to $385, and APEXi pillowball mounts run $299 to $599. Add labor and an alignment if a shop installs them.

Popular picks

Related guides

Sources

Strut Mounts and Top Mounts FAQ

What are the symptoms of a bad strut mount?
Common signs are clunking over bumps, popping or squeaking when you turn at low speed, stiff or notchy steering, extra vibration, and uneven tire wear. Cracked or separated rubber on the mount is a clear visual sign.
Should I replace strut mounts when I replace struts?
Usually, yes. The strut has to come out and the spring has to be compressed to reach the mount, so replacing the mount at the same time saves paying for that labor twice.
What is the difference between a strut mount and a strut bearing?
The mount bolts the strut to the body and isolates noise and vibration. The bearing, often built into front mounts, lets the strut rotate when you steer.
Do I need an alignment after replacing strut mounts?
Yes. The top of the strut sets camber and caster, so get an alignment after replacing mounts or struts.
How much do strut mounts cost?
On our store, most OE-style mounts from KYB cost $83 to $138. Whiteline camber and caster mounts run $264 to $385, and APEXi pillowball mounts run $299 to $599.
Are pillowball mounts good for a daily driver?
They sharpen steering feel, but they pass more noise and vibration into the cabin than rubber mounts. Most daily drivers are happier with an OE-style or firmer rubber mount.
Should I replace strut mounts in pairs?
Yes. Mounts on the same axle wear at a similar rate, and replacing both keeps ride height and steering feel even from side to side.