Parts for your 1998 Ford Falcon-Strut mounts

1998 Ford Falcon strut-mounts — are they used on this model?

Short answer: no. For the 1998 Ford Falcon — which spans the late EL (to about August ’98) and the early AU (from September ’98) — there isn’t a MacPherson strut front end, so “strut-mounts” aren’t a service item on these cars. Technical literature backs this up: the Ford AU Falcon Workshop Manual (Suspension 204-01) describes a short/long-arm (SLA) double-wishbone front suspension with a coil spring and shock absorber assembly mounted to the body via an upper insulator. Gregory’s Service and Repair Manual for EF–EL Falcons likewise details upper and lower control arms with ball joints, separate shock/spring mounting and an upper insulator, not a strut top bearing. Ford’s Master Parts Catalogue lists shock absorber upper insulators and seats, but no MacPherson-style strut mounts for 1998 Falcons.

What does that mean in plain terms? A MacPherson strut uses a strut top mount (with a bearing) as the steering pivot. The 1998 Falcon steers on its upper and lower ball joints, while the shock absorber doesn’t rotate with the steering. So there’s no strut-top bearing to creak or bind, and no “strut-mount” to replace in the MacPherson sense.

If someone’s chasing front-end clunks or vague handling on a 1998 Falcon, the usual suspects are different bits:

• Front shock absorber upper insulators and spring seats
• Control arm bushes (upper and lower) and ball joints
• Stabiliser bar (sway bar) link bushes and D-bushes
• Bump stops and dust boots on the shocks

Good servicing practice for these Falcons is to inspect the above during routine maintenance, especially if there are knocks over speed humps, floaty ride, or uneven tyre wear. If replacing the front shock and spring assembly, use proper spring compressors and torque everything with the suspension at ride height to avoid preloading the bushes. Parts listings sometimes call the shock’s upper insulator a “strut top” out of habit, for accuracy, order by VIN and confirm whether the car is an EL or early AU, as hardware and bush dimensions can differ between series.

Rear ends on 1998 Falcons are also non-strut: sedans run a live axle with coils and separate shocks, and utes have leaf springs with separate shocks — again, no strut mounts involved.

Popular questions about 1998 Ford Falcon strut-mounts

Does a 1998 Ford Falcon have strut mounts?
Not in the MacPherson-strut sense. Both late EL and early AU models use double-wishbone front suspension, so there’s no strut-top bearing. The service parts you’ll be looking for are shock absorber upper insulators, control arm bushes, ball joints and sway bar hardware.

What should be replaced to fix a “strut-mount” noise on a 1998 Falcon?
Because there’s no strut mount, look at the front shock upper insulator, the shocks themselves, upper/lower control arm bushes and ball joints, plus sway bar links and D-bushes. These are common sources of clunks and creaks on this platform.

Why do parts sites list “strut mounts” for a 1998 Falcon?
Many catalogues use “strut mount” as a catch-all for any shock top insulator. On a 1998 Falcon that item is an upper shock insulator/spring seat rather than a rotating strut-top bearing. Always match by VIN and series (EL vs AU) to get the correct insulator and hardware.