Steering feeling a little strange, clonking when turning from lock to lock in multi storey car parks. Most likeley your top mounts are toast.

I changed mine a few weeks ago and as i was clearing the garage today i though i would dissassemble one befroe it went into the bin.

Here are a few pics .






Here is the bearing race, notice the little lines and then the clean bit?


The brown lines are grooves in the bearing race surface and account for the notchiness in the steering action.

Car drives so well now, just a wheel bearing now rto change

If you're changing the shocks do you NEED to change the top mount or is it a case of seeing what they're like when the shocks come off?

You don't have to, but just take a look at them. They may just require cleaning an re-packing with grease.

Beware when you open them as the ball bearings scatter like cockcroaches