Strut Mounts with Fitting Position Front Axle, Rear Axle for HOLDEN COMMODORE VT Sedan and Wagon

Nolathane strut mounts restore the connection between the top of the strut and the VT Sedan and Wagon COMMODORE body. When factory rubber strut mount pads and shock absorber pin bushes harden, crack or squash flat, the strut starts moving in its mount, bringing creaks over speed humps, clunks over bumps and vague steering. Replacing them returns the strut to its correct position and gives a new strut the solid foundation it needs.

The range includes strut mount bushing kits designed to work with the original strut top, and complete strut mount kits that add a new strut top for mounts that are too worn or corroded to reuse. They?re a practical repair and upgrade for hard-working utes, 4WDs and 4x4 wagons with strut-type independent front suspension (IFS), as well as passenger vehicles.

The Role of a Strut Mount on the VT Sedan and Wagon COMMODORE

A strut mount, also called a strut top mount or upper strut mount, is the connection point between the strut assembly and the vehicle body. It does several jobs at once:

• Holds the upper end of the strut in the correct position, which forms part of the suspension geometry
• Isolates the cabin from road noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)
• Carries the load of the coil spring and part of the vehicle?s weight
• Lets the damper rod move and articulate without metal-to-metal contact

On many front suspensions the strut also turns with the steering. Some designs use a strut mount bearing for this, while others rely on the strut rotating within the mount?s bushes and pads. Either way, the condition of the mount directly affects steering feel.

Inside a Strut Mount Kit

A typical upper strut mount assembly uses several isolating parts. Upper and lower strut mount pads sit either side of the strut top plate or body tower and absorb vertical loads. Shock absorber pin bushes centre the damper rod in its hole so it can?t knock sideways. A top spring pad, used on some vehicles, sits between the coil spring and the strut top to stop metal-on-metal contact and spring noise.

Nolathane strut mount bushing kits replace these wear items while keeping the original strut top. Complete strut mount kits include a new strut top along with the pads and pin bushes. Each listing shows what?s included and whether a top spring pad is supplied.

Why Strut Mounts Fail

Strut mounts work under constant load, absorbing every bump while supporting the spring. Over time:

• Rubber hardens and cracks from heat cycling and age
• Pads compress and take a set, letting the strut move in the mount
• Oil, road grime and moisture break down rubber and corrode metal strut tops
• Heavy loads, towing and corrugated roads accelerate wear
• Lifted vehicles with longer or stiffer struts place more load on the mount

Hard-working and lifted commercial vehicles and 4x4s often wear out strut mounts and shock absorber bushings well before passenger cars do.

Symptoms of a Bad VT Sedan and Wagon COMMODORE Strut Mount

• Creaking or groaning from the front over speed humps and driveways
• Clunking or knocking over bumps, potholes or when turning
• A strut that can be seen moving in its mount when the vehicle is rocked
• Vague or wandering steering, or a steering wheel that feels notchy
• Increased vibration and road noise in the cabin
• Uneven tyre wear or an alignment that won?t hold
• Cracked, split or flattened rubber visible at the top of the strut tower

Noise from the top of the strut over small bumps is the classic sign. If a strut is replaced and the noise remains, the mount is usually the cause.

Safety and Performance Risks

A worn strut mount isn?t just noisy. Movement at the top of the strut changes camber and caster, so the wheel?s position shifts under braking and cornering. That makes steering less precise, increases stopping instability and wears tyres faster. A badly worn mount also lets the strut work against its travel limits, shortening the life of the strut itself. In extreme cases, a collapsed or corroded mount can allow the strut to separate from the body, so a failed mount should be replaced promptly.

VT Sedan and Wagon COMMODORE Strut Mount Replacement Cost

Strut mount replacement cost depends mostly on labour rather than parts. To replace a mount, the strut assembly must be removed and the coil spring compressed to separate the strut from its top mount. That?s the same work needed to replace the strut, which is why replacing strut mounts and struts together is the most economical approach.

The main factors are whether the strut is already coming out for other work, how difficult the vehicle is to dismantle, whether one or both sides are done, whether the strut top itself needs replacing, and the wheel alignment that follows. Replacing mount bushes and pads while keeping a sound strut top keeps parts cost down. If the top is corroded or damaged, a complete kit saves a second teardown later.

VT Sedan and Wagon COMMODORE Strut Mount Replacement Tips

• Replace strut mounts whenever you replace struts, and always do both sides of the axle
• Use a proper coil spring compressor in good condition. A compressed spring stores a lot of energy, so professional fitting is recommended if you?re not experienced
• Check the strut top for corrosion, cracks or an elongated rod hole before deciding between a bush kit and a complete kit
• Fit the pin bushes and pads in the orientation shown in the vehicle manufacturer?s instructions
• Tighten the damper rod nut to specification, and tighten fasteners at ride height where the manufacturer requires it
• Have a wheel alignment (tracking) carried out after refitting the struts

Vehicle Compatibility

Most modern passenger cars, SUVs and many independent front suspension (IFS) utes and 4WDs use struts and strut mounts at the front, and some use them at the rear too. Vehicles with a solid front axle use separate shock absorbers and coil springs, so they use shock bushes rather than strut mounts. To check, look under the bonnet at the top of each front suspension tower: a strut mount is the rubber-isolated plate bolted to the tower with the damper rod passing through its centre. Front and rear mounts are different parts, and each listing confirms the vehicles and positions it suits.

Polyurethane Strut Mount Pads and Bushes

Polyurethane holds its shape under load where rubber compresses and tears, keeping the strut located more precisely. Nolathane has been making polyurethane suspension bushings since 1974, originally developed to replace brass bushes in hillclimb competition. Made in a range of durometers (hardness grades) for each position, the signature red bushings offer outstanding abrasion resistance, high load-bearing capability and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering, which suits utes and 4x4s that tow, tour and work hard.

The honest trade-off is that a firmer mount can pass a little more road feel into the cabin than soft factory rubber. Most owners notice it as sharper, more connected steering rather than harshness. If ride height has changed, check the mount suits the strut length and that any changes meet vehicle standards where the vehicle is registered, as rules vary between Australian states and in the UK and Europe, including MOT or periodic inspections.

Lifetime Warranty

Nolathane strut mount kits are backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship, for the original vehicle they?re fitted to.

Shop Strut Mounts for Your VT Sedan and Wagon COMMODORE

Find the strut mount kit for your VT Sedan and Wagon COMMODORE, then order online with fast shipping or have it fitted by a Nolathane reseller. Our fitment guarantee means you get the right kit first time, 60-day returns give you time if a part isn?t right, and our local support team can help whether you?re repairing a noisy front end, replacing struts or upgrading for improved handling and performance.