Strut Bearing Plates, Wear? Options

[mr_dude]

So I put on Eibachs and KYBs two weeks ago. Now I have this grinding sound coming from my front right whenever I hit uneven pavement. I tugged on the springs and they have some give to them. Reached inside and tugged the strut rod and it has some give.
They're in there as tight as they're supposed to be... could one of the bearing plates on top of the strut rod be worn?

[94GT]

I would lift it up and make sure you've got all the mount bolts under the hood torqued right. You would probably notice it if there was something wrong with the mount or bearing when you took it apart. Are you sure you put everything back in on that side?

[mr_dude]

Hah, yeah, I put everything back in and I torqued everything to spec.
I had time this weekend to pull the strut/spring out on each side. Pushing each of them felt the same both up and down and sideways.
A friend of mine said perhaps the strut mount is slightly worn so the threads in the insert cartridge don't perfectly flush with them - thus the cartridge is moving inside the mount. ...???