yup,used the shields as well.also were new,still very shiny and bright.so, in combo with the shields what should be the expected life span of one of these things.All three have separated the bolt and plate it is attached to from the rubber shock itself.seems to me that they should last a bit longer than a month,right.The ones that I was replacing looked original(probably not,but they looked quite old) and were not completely separated but I changed them anyway.

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1984 300D turbo 155k

www.interactivepainmanagement.com

Replaced mine about a year ago and they're still fine.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I don't know why they failed, is it possible you over-tighted them enough to twist the rubber off the baseplate when you installed them? I think I bought mine at the dealer (quicker) but I don't remember their markings. Use the heat shields, I don't understand the "trapping water" concern, they do have little drains and I've never found one full of water.

doesnt seem likely,but the nuts are small so it is possible that I overtightened them.Just seems that even overtightening would not kill them due to the fact that when snug they are using the rubber as it is meant.as an isolater.There is a plate that snugs to the bottom so they cannot be pulled out by the nut.maybe I just got faulty ones.guess I will replace again and then take now broken ones to drill press and see what I can do to fix and prevent from happening again.

Am thinking maybe hole through bolt-rubber-bolt,then threading small cable or wire through and tacking in place somehow.

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1984 300D turbo 155k

www.interactivepainmanagement.com