[wolfey2k]

yeah, you'll usually get the mechanic bullrah run around from those guys. their worst enemy is me in that I know cars inside and out, being an x dealer and private garage wrencher myself, retired now.
I know a strut thunk when I hear one.
You wouldn't be wrong in repacing them. Ford's stock strut bearings are throw aways! they are junk that will wear out and thunk louder and louder as time goes on. That's why they don't readily thunk when you first drive one that has almost 0 miles on it.
when strut assem's are replaced, Ford recomends repalcing the bearings too because they can't take the punishment of being pulled and put back on. how about that for whimpy?
cheapo plastic bearing housings to boot!
Ford should be ashamed of themselves putting chinky crap in an American iconn like that but hey, they've been doing that to those rice burner lookin 90's stangs for years ;-D.