struts need replacing?
#1
I am 2Furious
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NJ / Philly
Posts: 846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
struts need replacing?
How do I know if my struts are bad? I went to costco to get my tires balanced and stuff, 'cause the car was rattling around 80MPH and they said the struts were bad. Well, car's not rattling anymore after they balanced the tires. So how do I know if the struts need to be replaced?
#3
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
some basic guideline for strut replacement:
1. If the insides of both front or rear tires are worn with a cupping pattern on the inside struts need replacing.
2. if the car bounces even once after hitting a bump or object (the struts should just allow it to compress with no extra bumps up and down).
3. leakage of any sort
4. clunks, or other abnormal sounds
5. they are factory OEM struts with more than 60K miles on them.
any one of the above items would suggest that you need to replace the struts.
1. If the insides of both front or rear tires are worn with a cupping pattern on the inside struts need replacing.
2. if the car bounces even once after hitting a bump or object (the struts should just allow it to compress with no extra bumps up and down).
3. leakage of any sort
4. clunks, or other abnormal sounds
5. they are factory OEM struts with more than 60K miles on them.
any one of the above items would suggest that you need to replace the struts.
#4
I am 2Furious
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NJ / Philly
Posts: 846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Icemark
some basic guideline for strut replacement:
5. they are factory OEM struts with more than 60K miles on them.
any one of the above items would suggest that you need to replace the struts.
5. they are factory OEM struts with more than 60K miles on them.
any one of the above items would suggest that you need to replace the struts.
Also, my steering doesn't seem to be totally linear, like the turning increases the further I turn my wheel. Would this have to do with struts? Or is it just how non-power steering works (all other cars I've driven have power sterring).
#5
Resident Know-it-All
iTrader: (3)
2 tests.
1) jump on the front and rear bumpers...bounce hard and then jump off.
if it bounces more than once, struts are bad
2) stand next to the car and push down hard on the bumper. if the sides dont come up almost exactly even, struts are bad.
(do that one on a level surface)
pat
1) jump on the front and rear bumpers...bounce hard and then jump off.
if it bounces more than once, struts are bad
2) stand next to the car and push down hard on the bumper. if the sides dont come up almost exactly even, struts are bad.
(do that one on a level surface)
pat
#6
I am 2Furious
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NJ / Philly
Posts: 846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by patman
2 tests.
1) jump on the front and rear bumpers...bounce hard and then jump off.
if it bounces more than once, struts are bad
2) stand next to the car and push down hard on the bumper. if the sides dont come up almost exactly even, struts are bad.
(do that one on a level surface)
pat
1) jump on the front and rear bumpers...bounce hard and then jump off.
if it bounces more than once, struts are bad
2) stand next to the car and push down hard on the bumper. if the sides dont come up almost exactly even, struts are bad.
(do that one on a level surface)
pat
Trending Topics
#8
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
Originally Posted by patman
2 tests.
1) jump on the front and rear bumpers...bounce hard and then jump off.
if it bounces more than once, struts are bad
2) stand next to the car and push down hard on the bumper. if the sides dont come up almost exactly even, struts are bad.
(do that one on a level surface)
pat
1) jump on the front and rear bumpers...bounce hard and then jump off.
if it bounces more than once, struts are bad
2) stand next to the car and push down hard on the bumper. if the sides dont come up almost exactly even, struts are bad.
(do that one on a level surface)
pat
#10
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
Originally Posted by drcoopster
Regarding mileage, I have 18 years and 120k miles on OEM struts in the front and they're fine (easily verified by the other 4 tests).
I can tell the difference between a set of KYBs at 50 miles and at 20k miles.
#13
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
How often do coilovers need to be replaced or rebuilt?... or whatever you do to fix coilovers...
Considering they cost twice as much as a normal suspension I was just curious
Considering they cost twice as much as a normal suspension I was just curious
#14
Resident Know-it-All
iTrader: (3)
Shouldn't bounce at all. Should just return
yeah, thats what i meant by once.
never buy oem replacement struts. you can get much better quality units for somewhat less from the performance aftermarket crowd. kyb and tokico make cheap ones that are pretty good, and can usually be found on ebay.
pat
yeah, thats what i meant by once.
never buy oem replacement struts. you can get much better quality units for somewhat less from the performance aftermarket crowd. kyb and tokico make cheap ones that are pretty good, and can usually be found on ebay.
pat
#15
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (1)
Wanted to state that mileage is not always a guarantee that components need replacement. My '89TII I purchased new, still has the original suspension 176,000 miles. You can't budge the car if you push on the corners. The car just doesn't move but maybe an 1/8th inch. Maybe a gorilla might have a better chance of moving the car up and down. No leakage from any unit.
It's not unrealistic for units to last a long time without leaking or deteriorating.
First, have a look. The strut/shock should be dry. Look for oil leaks from the strut or shock. Then as above, push on each corner to check for rebound. It should spring back smoothly and not bounce. While driving if you notice an unusual lean or sway in turns, bounching when going across rough roads, sure sign that struts/shocks could need replacement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not unrealistic for units to last a long time without leaking or deteriorating.
First, have a look. The strut/shock should be dry. Look for oil leaks from the strut or shock. Then as above, push on each corner to check for rebound. It should spring back smoothly and not bounce. While driving if you notice an unusual lean or sway in turns, bounching when going across rough roads, sure sign that struts/shocks could need replacement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ZaqAtaq
New Member RX-7 Technical
2
09-05-15 08:57 PM
Nosferatu
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
7
09-05-15 02:13 PM