Alright, I need help. Three times, now, I've had a Bilstein front strut punch through and obliterate the OEM strut bearing, allowing the strut to stick up and bounce around in the tower.

Am I the only person having this problem? My struts are calibrated within spec, and my OEM reuse components have been installed correctly each time. Tried reinforcing the bearing with a washer this time - nope. The bilstein struts use internal bumpstops, right? Almost seems like mine don't.

I'm not sure if I want to replace the whole suspension (recommendations?) and top mounts, or what I should do at this point.

 

you need to verify you have all the parts, and correctly installed.

Grab a diagram from one of the many online dealerships and compare.

I havent heard of this happening to anyone

 

Believe me, I'm open to the fact that it could be user error; but I have referenced the Bilstein and OEM diagrams with each installation/reinstallation, so if I'm missing something, I don't know how.

It was almost exactly a year to the day that I installed the coilovers that the driver's side bearing imploded (at that point, like 60K mi on the OEM components). I replaced the destroyed one and the passenger-side one, which was intact (better safe than sorry, I thought.) A year after that, the passenger side bearing imploded, and I replaced it with the original bearing, in a pinch. That was a month ago, now, and that original bearing has now failed.

It's not a huge deal to grab a replacement from the dealer, but if it's going to happen again, I want a more permanent solution.

 

you could try the aftermarket offerings like Cusco pillowmounts.

They should allow a bit of adjustment and a bit stiffer for a bit more use out of those coilovers.

do you have camber strut bolts? camber will put mroe stress on that top pillow bushing.
I wonder if a front strut bar would help at all.

 

I was wondering if the pillowmounts would be of any help...

Hopefully some of the Bilstein owners will chime in.

 

Any update OP?
Did you try the pillow mounts?

 

I have yet to hear of this happening to any of the Fits I play with out on circuit and definitely hasn't happened to mine, thankfully.

I recently purchased the Cusco upper mounts, have yet to install them. Hopefully soon.

 

I just replaced the bearing with another new, OEM one; no pillow mounts or other changes for the time being. I'd like to run a different suspension one day, and would hopefully upgrade the mounts then.

 

Good luck with this set.