Shock and Strut Replacement -- Cheap, OEM, or Upgrade?

158 messages, Last post on Nov 04, 2009 at 7:41 AM

You are in the Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright

What is this discussion about? Performance Mods, Suspension

This forum is to discuss shock/strut problems and how to best deal with what is becoming a rather expensive replacement item on cars approaching 60K-80K miles. Are products sold by chain stores just too cheesy to give decent performance? Is it worth upgrading shocks and struts if you are a more or less docile driver? Is OEM a rip-off for what you get?

Let's hear your ideas and experiences.

Outline

Messages Page 2 of 16: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; ...; 16; Prev; Next; Last

#11 of 158 Re: Sure.... [bottgers] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Nov 26, 2005 (8:37 am)
Replying to: bottgers (Nov 25, 2005 8:11 pm) Um....what about this? Shock and Strut Replacement: Cheap, OEM, or Upgrade?
#12 of 158 Sounds good to me.... by bottgers Nov 27, 2005 (8:58 am)
....make it happen. Thanks.
#13 of 158 Cost ideas? by roseb Dec 01, 2005 (3:00 pm)
Hello, I recently took my 1993 Volvo 850, into my regular (and to my knowledge trustworthy) shop for an oil change and inspection. I was told that I need strut mount, struts, and rear shocks replaced. Their extimated cost for this was $1,500. Does anyone know if this is within the normal cost range? I'm planning on calling another mechanic and asking for a second estimate, just to make sure. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 02, 2005 9:34 am) 431dan (Mar 09, 2006 2:04 pm)
#14 of 158 Re: Cost ideas? [roseb] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Dec 02, 2005 (9:34 am)
Replying to: roseb (Dec 01, 2005 3:00 pm) How many miles on this car?
#15 of 158 Strut Info - 93 Grand Am by mike120 Jan 04, 2006 (7:38 am)
I have a 93 Grand Am with 120k, Looking to get a couple of more months of daily highway driving ( apx 4k) before I purchase something newer. Local shop told me front struts need to be replaced but "SHOULD" get me the next few months without breaking. Any advice, I obviously want to be safe, feel a bit of a scare tactic from the shop, but don't want to spend $600 for a car that is worth $1,500. THANKS
#16 of 158 Re: Shocking [bottgers] by kjdfl Jan 11, 2006 (6:55 am)
Replying to: bottgers (Nov 21, 2005 5:29 am) I see that you had to replace the struts on your Corolla. I think I am about to have to go through this process also. A few months back I started hearing a noise, like something is in my trunk. While having my brakes worked on the guy said it was probably a bad strut. I have also had a problem with my car shaking. The steering wheel vibrates and it is worse at high speeds. I have all new tires, balanced, alignment, new rims- so I am pretty sure that it is not the wheels or tires. Can anyone verify if this could be from the shocks/struts? How do I know if I need the front or back replaced? Any feedback is appreciated. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 11, 2006 11:06 am)
#17 of 158 Re: Shocking [kjdfl] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Jan 11, 2006 (11:06 am)
Replying to: kjdfl (Jan 11, 2006 6:55 am) If you have more than 80K miles on the original struts, you need them anyway, ....but no, front wheel shimmy would not normally be associated with bad struts...it's probably still a wheel balance issue although sometimes a bad CV joint can cause this very thing.
#18 of 158 Do I really need my struts replaced? by mmmcgal Jan 24, 2006 (12:17 pm)
Hi everyone - I'm hoping to get some honest advise regarding strut replacement...I recently bought a 95 Ford Escort wagon with about 80,000 miles on it - when I went in for an oil change, the mechanic suggested that I have the struts replaced. I asked him if it was absolutely necessary that I have this done (since it is an expensive job and I have the whole "single-mother-limited-budget" thing going on....), and he said that eventually I would want to have them replaced because it would cause excessive wear and tear on the vehicle, and the ride would be less comfortable - but that as long as the car was handling ok and not making loud noises when I went over bumps that it was not something I had to have done immediately. I recently had another oil change with a different mechanic, and during the "complimentary safety inspection" this guy also said my struts needed replacing, and continued on to give me this "life-or-death" scenerio in which there was a danger of some spring or coil associated with my strut coming undone and popping the wheel right off my car - and how that could cause a fatal accident if I happened to be on the highway when it happened....! My car has not been handling any differently since I talked with the 1st mechanic....so my question is this...I understand that I will eventually need to have my struts replaced, but is it really as serious as the 2nd guy is making it out to be, or is he just trying to get me to spend my money now, when in reality it could wait for a little while longer?? Thanks for the advice! Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 24, 2006 12:28 pm) shipo (Feb 07, 2006 9:01 am) smegmurf (Jan 22, 2007 9:58 am) Mr_Shiftright (Jan 22, 2007 10:51 am) and 2 more... annie_h (Feb 16, 2007 1:38 pm) flyinv57 (May 31, 2007 6:51 am) emsears (Apr 27, 2006 8:14 am) sbrewitt (Aug 18, 2006 3:47 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Aug 18, 2006 3:53 pm) zoomrx3 (Jun 06, 2009 9:30 pm)
#19 of 158 Re: Do I really need my struts replaced? [mmmcgal] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Jan 24, 2006 (12:28 pm)
Replying to: mmmcgal (Jan 24, 2006 12:17 pm) no noise + no unusual tire wear + no squirrely handling = no problem
#20 of 158 Re: Do I really need my struts replaced? [mmmcgal] by shipo Feb 07, 2006 (9:01 am)
Replying to: mmmcgal (Jan 24, 2006 12:17 pm) My normal litmus test regarding struts is "If the car don't bounce on down the road and if they ain't a leakin' oil, leave'm alone." Regarding the shop that gave you the life and death scenario, not only would I run from that shop as fast as I could, I'd even consider reporting them to the BBB or some other such consumer protection group. Best Regards, Shipo Replies to this message: smegmurf (Jan 22, 2007 9:58 am) Mr_Shiftright (Jan 22, 2007 10:51 am) smegmurf (Jan 22, 2007 11:33 am) and 1 more... annie_h (Feb 16, 2007 1:38 pm) flyinv57 (May 31, 2007 6:51 am)