Whoever was wondering if the uppper strut bearings can cause clunking noises other than when turning the steering wheel, yes indeed they can! Check out the blown apppart bearing on the right, it was a surprise, because the one on the left is the siezed/clunking one. Turned out the one on the right had be causing a nasty clunking noise whenever starting from a stop, or when lugging the engine (which I don't do on purpose) but I thought my clunch was going, or perhaps motor mounts... nope, something relatively easy to replace: (click to enlarge most of the photos) (EDIT: turns out the clunk was from the strut itself, the new mounts made the clunk go away for a few weeks but it came back. changed the strut a few months later.)
I was delighted to find all the rusted parts because I had ordered all new parts:
The tough part was the spring compressors... On the drivers side I tried to capture four and five coils, and do the "jack up lower control arm, tighen spring compressors by hand" thing. My fingers hurt by the time I was done. And I also scratched up the inside of the tower pretty bad, covered it up with a little spray on rubberized undercoating.
So on the passenger side I captured only four and four coils and left room to get the 19mm wrench up there. I think I am going to feel it in my shoulders tommorow.
I might try a different set of spring compressors that will mount with the bolt heads on the bottom next time, these were too long to mount that way... I might have been able to mount the spring compressors the proper way if I removed a sway bar end link bolt but they were not budging and I did not want a broken end link bolt so I pressed on thru with what space I had. That reminds me, anyone trying this, make sure to jack up
both sides of the car, otherwise the swaybar will prevent the side you are working on from drooping completely.
Anyway, the payoff is great, $100 in parts and the car no longer makes any clunking noises, and sits about 20mm higher in front. Also saved $200 in shop labour charges according to my last bill. Also the satisfaction of knowing the job was done right will all new parts, I think last couple of times I had it in for the classic wheel bearing clunk they only replaced the bearings and nothing else.
I wonder if I need new struts, they are supposed to be gas presurized right? The drivers side could be compressed easily and would not return to full extension unless pulled out manually, then it would stay there on its own. The passenger side would not stay up past three inches from full extension. Both sides pass the bounce test, barely, the passenger side being slightly worse than the drivers... if it gets worse, I think I could handle doing the struts.
