Repeated Strut Bearing Failure after lowering springs

[What2JZ]

Hi yall,

Its been a little while since my last post here but Im stumped a tiny bit. This is by no means a supra hate post, or me dissing swift springs. So I recently lowered my car on swift springs, and have gone through 2 strut bearings on my front left side with in 1 week of each other. My car has just over 7k miles at this point. I can not understand why I am going through so many bearings. Has anyone else had this issue? Now the bearings are not insanely expensive but close to $100 a pop is adding up and its pain in the a** to constantly have to replace. Note: I have not had proper alignment since I bought the car, perhaps thats a factor. Thanks to anyone who can help. Pic of car lowered for giggles, so close yet so far.

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[Mk5phtm]

I had the same issue. Really weird because I mainly hear of it happening with swift springs. But I ended up just getting Vorshlag camber plates instead

 

[What2JZ]

I had the same issue. Really weird because I mainly hear of it happening with swift springs. But I ended up just getting Vorshlag camber plates instead

Thanks for the reply. Nice ride too.

Admittedly ive never heard of anyone have this issue, so hearing from someone else about swift springs is a bit disconcerting. I see those plates are a pretty penny at $685. Is there a more affordable solution other than just returning the springs?

 

[a90aloy]

Hi yall,

Its been a little while since my last post here but Im stumped a tiny bit. This is by no means a supra hate post, or me dissing swift springs. So I recently lowered my car on swift springs, and have gone through 2 strut bearings on my front left side with in 1 week of each other. My car has just over 7k miles at this point. I can not understand why I am going through so many bearings. Has anyone else had this issue? Now the bearings are not insanely expensive but close to $100 a pop is adding up and its pain in the a** to constantly have to replace. Note: I have not had proper alignment since I bought the car, perhaps thats a factor. Thanks to anyone who can help. Pic of car lowered for giggles, so close yet so far.

How do you know the bearing has gone out? Does it make a constant sound or feel different? If only one side is giving you problems maybe it's that side of the spring.

 

[ShakaDaKine]

I don't have any experience with our strut mounts, but are you able to inspect the bearings, to make sure they are all in place and have plenty of grease, prior to install? I remember replacing the strut mounts on my Holden and on my first attempt, the race came apart and half of the bearings scattered across the floor. It didn't matter to me, for the upper strut mount was a known weak point in the front suspension and I replaced the rubber bushings with poly units...big improvement. However, I made sure the bearings were all intact, prior to installing the new units.

 

[MisterSkiz]

Mine came apart when putting on the Swift springs - I lubed them up with grease and put everything back. After buttoning the car up - I put the car on the ground and moved wheels to and from full lock - the passenger side make a creak/crack noise and it was because the bearing assembly was not seated correctly - I had to pull it all apart and reseat it again and no issues so far. I only have about 1200 miles on my car though - about 500 with the springs.

Not sure why it looks like someone shot a load in my plastic inner fenders....

 

[Mk5phtm]

I also tried the regreasing before and it worked for a few days but then they would just separate again causing the creaking sound mentioned. Even just lifting up the car, the bearings would separate and it just got progressively worse. The Vorshlag camber plates are expensive but the actual bearing on it doesn’t separate whereas other options like Verus reuse the oem bearing but not the strut mount

 

[What2JZ]

How do you know the bearing has gone out? Does it make a constant sound or feel different? If only one side is giving you problems maybe it's that side of the spring.

Well, I took it apart and put it together multiple times now, so yes it blew the bearing inside of the top hat assembly unfortunately. I thought it was a nut or something that wasnt torqued down, I took the wheel off to see the white rubber insulator seal on the bearing completely exposed with the spring still under compression.

 

[What2JZ]

I don't have any experience with our strut mounts, but are you able to inspect the bearings, to make sure they are all in place and have plenty of grease, prior to install? I remember replacing the strut mounts on my Holden and on my first attempt, the race came apart and half of the bearings scattered across the floor. It didn't matter to me, for the upper strut mount was a known weak point in the front suspension and I replaced the rubber bushings with poly units...big improvement. However, I made sure the bearings were all intact, prior to installing the new units.

Well, with our strut mounts, its an actual assembly not separate parts (thanks bmw). So you cant just swap the bearing, you have to replace the entire mount with the bearing (what engineer thought this was a good idea, who knows). You cant really grease the bearing unless you break it.

 

[a90aloy]

I also tried the regreasing before and it worked for a few days but then they would just separate again causing the creaking sound mentioned. Even just lifting up the car, the bearings would separate and it just got progressively worse. The Vorshlag camber plates are expensive but the actual bearing on it doesn’t separate whereas other options like Verus reuse the oem bearing but not the strut mount

My swift springs don't make any noise but if they do I might get the vorhlag camber plates. I was thinking of getting coilovers if there is noise. But the concern I have with coilovers is that it can be noisy and I've heard that getting the strut out can be a major pain.

 

[What2JZ]

Mine came apart when putting on the Swift springs - I lubed them up with grease and put everything back. After buttoning the car up - I put the car on the ground and moved wheels to and from full lock - the passenger side make a creak/crack noise and it was because the bearing assembly was not seated correctly - I had to pull it all apart and reseat it again and no issues so far. I only have about 1200 miles on my car though - about 500 with the springs.

Not sure why it looks like someone shot a load in my plastic inner fenders....

So that is what i did for the last 2 bearings, however this is definitely not a permanent solution as for sure the bearings will wear faster since the have been exposed possibly to grit in the air/hands/ whatever. And if you are missing a few ball bearings, that for sure, will crap out soon. This seems to be a swift spring issue, might as well return to stock for now and get rsr super downs or eibachs. Ridiculous this is a thing.

 

[What2JZ]

I also tried the regreasing before and it worked for a few days but then they would just separate again causing the creaking sound mentioned. Even just lifting up the car, the bearings would separate and it just got progressively worse. The Vorshlag camber plates are expensive but the actual bearing on it doesn’t separate whereas other options like Verus reuse the oem bearing but not the strut mount

How are they able to use the oem bearing if its an assembly? At any rate, for the price of those mounts might as well just spring for some bc racing coils I figure at least.

 

[What2JZ]

My swift springs don't make any noise but if they do I might get the vorhlag camber plates. I was thinking of getting coilovers if there is noise. But the concern I have with coilovers is that it can be noisy and I've heard that getting the strut out can be a major pain.

getting the strut out isnt bad at all, compared to having to constantly replace these damn bearings honestly.

 

[a90aloy]

Well, I took it apart and put it together multiple times now, so yes it blew the bearing inside of the top hat assembly unfortunately. I thought it was a nut or something that wasnt torqued down, I took the wheel off to see the white rubber insulator seal on the bearing completely exposed with the spring still under compression.

When I installed my springs the bearings separated and fell on the ground. I had bought new top hats and installed it rather than reusing the old ones. When I installed my lip and had my car on jack stands I noticed that the white rubber insulator seal was exposed. I think it is because the swift springs are shorter in length than the oem springs. I've only put about 400 miles and so far so good.

 

[What2JZ]

When I installed my springs the bearings separated and fell on the ground. I had bought new top hats and installed it rather than reusing the old ones. When I installed my lip and had my car on jack stands I noticed that the white rubber insulator seal was exposed. I think it is because the swift springs are shorter in length than the oem springs. I've only put about 400 miles and so far so good.

Yup, exact same deal for me, however that should not be happening. You should not be able to see the white insulator pretty much at all unless you looking at it from a specific angle.

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