Hi Guys looking for some advise on strut tops.
Just did mine on my KL Verada (cost about $260 pair) orig Mitsi parts.
Now the more attractive halfs TJ needs them done.(dammed clunking)
Checked with the usual sources and in Australia there dosnt seem to be any aftermarket types available.
Plenty available on US websites for about $140 a pair approx landed (approx)
Has anyone brought any in any from overseas or know of any local aftermarket product they can reccomend?

I thought K-Mac made some and some other brands are available locally.

Have you tried searching with this site and/or google?

http://www.k-mac.com/pages/newprods/mitsubishi/mitsubishi.htm
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-74764.html

Cheers!

Oggy thanks for the reply
Yeah had tried the trusty Google search thats how I found the US ones
KYB (SM5295) and Monroe (905942) make em but not available locally again many other available overseas
AMC search mentioned replacement for problems or performance but nothing of what may have been tried.
Kmac are even more expensive and for upgrading
This is more of a cost exercise at the moment as things are kinda tight.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/mmp/mitsubishi~diamante~strut_mount~parts.html
http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,carcode,1417182,parttype,7600,d,2003_MITSUBISHI_ DIAMANTE_3.5L_3497cc_215_cubic_inch_V6_FI_P_6G74_S OHC_Strut_Mount.html

So... whats the point of going aftermarket strut tops beside having to replace the originals?

Does it yield better handling? Is it stronger? I know you can adjust them or whatever but what else

Sometimes aftermarket is cheaper.
eg: I broke a driveshaft once, replacement of 1 shaft from the vehicle manufacturer was something like $300 (years ago). A pair of custom HD drive shafts were $320 so I bought what I trusted to be higher quality at nearly half the price.

And sometimes aftermarket performs better - eg: adjustable strut tops let you change camber and sometimes castor, or for some people a different rubber compound (nolathane?) will be better, etc.

But if yours are fine and you don't need to alter camber & caster regularly, then I don't think there's any difference.

So that's what causes that funny vibration sound in my TE when you drive over rough patches of road. Strut tops, hmm.

So that's what causes that funny vibration sound in my TE when you drive over rough patches of road. Strut tops, hmm.

Could be strut tops, or as i had happen once, Totally dead shock absorber.

The old sigma had ordinary roller bearings in the strut tops. A bit difficult to remove, but they were replaceable. Maybe this can be done on a Magna? I will find out soon as mine (TS V6 240,000 km) clunk chronically.

For me at the moment its cost cutting sometimes aftermarket can be better as development goes in after the product has been launched and common issues can be ironed out.
There's a tread somewhere on the front end clunk with pics of the strut tops they were really knackered
I thought because this seems to be a pretty common fault others may have investigated the performance of aftermarket stuff.

Wait just found the thread
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64315&page=4&highlight=noise

Just as a side note recently my KL developed had a different noise than the strut tops turns out that the rubber on my stabiliser bar link pin had torn and the grease inside had leaked out over time causing a slight annoying tap tap.
Engine mounts cause this clunk also top Drivers side is common.