For those short on time my question is this: Is there a way to confirm/test a strut mount is bad without pulling the entire thing out?

For those with a bit of time, read on…

First I should say that I have a bit of skepticism that my strut mount is even bad. I went to have my alignment done a few weeks back at the local firestone tire. After they had it for a bit, they told me that they couldn't align the tires because the belt was separated from the tire. Fair enough. They were near the end of the tread anyway, so I sprung for 2 new front tires. I picked it up, and about a mile from the shop I get on a straight-away and realize the steering is mis-aligned in the opposite direction it was when I dropped it off. I called and let them know that I'd be coming back the following week and they said no problem.

I took it back today, and after they have the car on the lift for a while they call me up to the counter and tell me that the actual reason why they couldn't align the steering was because I have a bad strut mount. Which is where I get skeptical, because I replaced them, along with the struts, ball joints, and tie-rod ends with genuine Volvo purple parts not more than 8 months/5,000 miles ago. When I told the guy as much he looked like he'd been busted. So again, I'm skeptical. But, the shop came highly recommended and I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt. But you know the old saying: trust, but verify. So how do I verify that the genuine Volvo rubber I put in there has failed so soon without taking the whole thing out? Would I be better to take it to another tire shop, pony up for another alignment and see if they say the same thing? I have to say, I'm not thrilled about having to take out the struts again, so I might be persuaded to do that depending on alternative.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for the advice!