Aluminum is a marvelous metal for all kinds of parts. Just look at many of our OE FIX designs, which feature aluminum as an upgraded material. But sometimes, it’s just the wrong choice for the job. Case in point: the aluminum rear upper shock mounts used in lots of Ford, Mazda, Lincoln, and Volvo vehicles are in high demand. They are supposed to strengthen the chassis and provide mount points for the shocks, but the material choice has created piles of shattered mounts.

What do these vehicles all have in common? They’re built on Ford’s global C platform, which includes (you guessed it this bolt-in shock mount design. This platform underpins some very common models, like Ford’s Escape and Focus, as well as Mazda’s 3 and CX-5.

Regardless of the badge on the hood, the C platform’s design means the shock mounts take a beating from the vehicle’s rear suspension, and corrosion from road spray further weakens the OE shock mounts’ integrity. Eventually, the aluminum mount cracks. And when the resulting clunking sound from the rear sends the vehicle in for service, it’s a double whammy for the customer: the broken part is only available as part of the expensive rear shock assembly, and that replacement shock mount is bound to fail in the exact same way.

Corroded OE shock mount

Corroded OE shock mount.

Dorman’s OE FIX upper shock mount features multiple upgrades for an affordable fix that lasts. First, we’ve swapped the delicate aluminum construction for sturdy steel to better withstand the punishing forces of the rear suspension. As for the corrosion, Dorman applies a rust preventative coating that wasn’t present on the original parts. And since the vehicle’s original shock mount fasteners are probably as tired as the old shock mounts themselves, we even include new fasteners for a complete repair. Your customer will be thrilled to save the expense of an entire shock assembly, and because these parts can be a bit tricky to access in the vehicle, you’ll be just as happy to only do the job once with parts built to last.

Suspension Shock Mount

924-412HP

924-412HP: Ford 2019-12, Lincoln 2019-15, Mazda 2017-04, Volvo 2013-04

sm65669pr

SM65669PR: Mazda 3 2018-14, Mazda CX-5 2016-13

Our OE FIX mounts are worth installing any time you’ve got a C platform car’s rear suspension out, but for certain customers, these pieces are absolute must-haves. Lots of Ford Focus and Mazda3 owners install stiffer, lower rear suspension components in their cars for a sportier ride. These changes could increase the chances of breaking a shock mount, so pair a set of OE FIX mounts with those fancy new shocks for an enviable upgrade. Sometimes, the best parts are the ones you’ll never touch, or even think about, again.