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 9 of 17: 1; ...; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; ...; 17; Prev; Next; Last

#77 of 158 Re: All four struts frozen (mechanic caused?) [kiawah] by burdawg Sep 19, 2007 (5:45 am)
Replying to: kiawah (Sep 18, 2007 7:58 pm) I don't think I've ever heard of anything like this happening. I've seen broken springs, shock mounts, any kind of suspension parts, and who knows what else, but for this to happen on all four corners at the same time is quite unusual. It must have been bouncing down the street like a lowrider, or there's something else fishy going on..... Replies to this message: kiawah (Sep 19, 2007 6:26 am)
#78 of 158 Re: All four struts frozen (mechanic caused?) [burdawg] by kiawah Sep 19, 2007 (6:26 am)
Replying to: burdawg (Sep 19, 2007 5:45 am) I agree, seems way too weird. I'm coming back to the theory of a teenager running it in the Baja......or they have one tremendous set of speed bumps at the homestead. I just can't imagine all of those coincidentally going bad at the similar timeframe, and not recognizing any problem along the way. Edit....I wonder if someone had previously replaced the original mfg struts, with an incorrectly sized strut that wasn't the right length, and because not the right length they went bad.
#79 of 158 another thought by wpatters Sep 19, 2007 (6:37 am)
I just wonder if the lift dropped suddenly and jammed the shock/struts? That would be like the whole car being throw out a window. That could cause all four since it would be perfectly parallel to the ground and bamm! The whole car hitting the ground could have done the damage and he certainly would not have told you. Replies to this message: burdawg (Sep 19, 2007 7:19 am)
#80 of 158 Re: another thought [wpatters] by burdawg Sep 19, 2007 (7:19 am)
Replying to: wpatters (Sep 19, 2007 6:37 am) I don't know, but the impression I got was that the struts were jammed in their fully extended position, which would be opposite, wouldn't it?
#81 of 158 Looking for local shop to compress springs by smitty303 Nov 05, 2007 (11:47 pm)
I live in the Denver area and was wondering if anyone could suggest a good shop to bring my front strut assemblies to for spring compression and strut replacement. I'm not brave enough to fool with a spring compressor myself, so I'd like to find a shop/store that I can just bring the strut assembly to and have them remove the old struts and replace them with new ones I purchased. Thanks.
#82 of 158 struts/bushings,etc. by olddog7 Nov 07, 2007 (9:39 am)
My son has a 1998 Sebring convertible, with 115k miles. Yesterday(well with him it could be considerably longer)he heard squeaking on the passenger front side. He showed me how when he pushed down on that side, it made loud squeaking. What do you suppose is the problem? I called PEP boys and was told it could be one of these things: struts, replacement $58 each side/ $150 labor for both, lower idler arm $20 parts/ $170 labor, upper arm $30 parts/ $179 labor(not sure if that includes one or both sides) or possible the bushings need to be lubricated(cost unknown. I'm asking for opinions on this, price wise etc. Also an alignment would need to be done, cost: $69.99. Thanks for the advise. Replies to this message: kiawah (Nov 07, 2007 9:51 am) olddog7 (Nov 07, 2007 11:19 am)
#83 of 158 Re: struts/bushings,etc. [olddog7] by kiawah Nov 07, 2007 (9:51 am)
Replying to: olddog7 (Nov 07, 2007 9:39 am) On the phone diagnosis appears corrects for the symptoms you list. Seems reasonable pricing if you aren't going to do it yourself. Replies to this message: olddog7 (Nov 07, 2007 11:19 am)
#84 of 158 Re: struts/bushings,etc. [kiawah] by olddog7 Nov 07, 2007 (11:19 am)
Replying to: kiawah (Nov 07, 2007 9:51 am) Well I'm going to have him go to my brother-in-law. He's a mechanic, but doesn't own his own shop(shop he is in is very expensive and specializes in foreign cars). If he can fix it, well that would be perfect, if not I'm sure he can give me an honest diagnosis. There is no way I'm doing anything myself!
#85 of 158 Do I need springs for the rear suspension? - '02 Subaru Impreza WRX by kevin111 Jan 02, 2008 (11:49 pm)
The driver-side rear of my '02 Subaru Impreza WRX with 108,000 miles bottoms out over bumps when I load in 3 other people. The suspension seems a little weak, and the left wheel sticks out slightly more than the right wheel on the rear. I am guessing that I need two new Struts and an Alignment, but wanted to check. One mechanic stated that I needed new springs, while a 2nd stated that I probably did not. The 2nd also stated I could get spacers for the springs if I was really worried about it. What should I do? Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 03, 2008 9:42 am) Mr_Shiftright (Jan 03, 2008 9:43 am) paisan (Jan 03, 2008 12:04 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Jan 03, 2008 12:44 pm) and 1 more... okko1 (Jan 04, 2008 3:43 pm)
#86 of 158 Re: Do I need springs for the rear suspension? - '02 Subaru Impreza WRX [ke by Mr_Shiftright HOST Jan 03, 2008 (9:42 am)
Replying to: kevin111 (Jan 02, 2008 11:49 pm) I think you just blew out a strut. I'd replace both rear strut inserts and not worry about the springs for now. I suppose once the rear struts are disassembled you could inspect and compare the two springs and see if there is a marked difference in height. Alignment sounds like a good idea. The WRX is not all that great a handling car to begin with, so any real alignment issues is probably going to aggravate that.