STRUT ULTIMATUM!! Toyota? Big O? Me?? You???

[redgtxdi]

Anybody wanna come over & do struts??

Anyway.........long story short.........


I just don't wanna get all into doin' struts this weekend. I could do the Quik Strut thing, but I don't know what other things might await me under there & I'm just not in the mood.

Sooooooooo......

I had the Big O Tires who handles our work trucks quote me.....(I've gotten to know the owners there & they're cool with us).....and they said around $700. Not more, but can't say how much less (if any) just to be safe.

OR........I know that my local Toyota Dealer has a sign that says "Lifetime Guarantee" if you have them do your struts.

Quik Strut = approx $800 plus my time, sweat, blood, cursing, throwing tools, etc.

Big O = $700 (He also was optimistic about not needing end links, sway bushings, etc., but I explained that folks here at TN are pretty adamant about replacing those too....??????)

Toyota = ??? (Anybody care to guess before I post back w/ THEIR total??

TIA

[bigbird]

no toyota. ull spend about 50(100 at the most) bucks if u do it urself, ive done it twice. really man, i would just suck it up and try it out, its not all that hard just time cunsuming. i did mine with common tools, a haynes manual and a spring compressor. the first time i didnt even have a manual and it took me 6 hours to do the whole car.

[nodrogkam]

if you do get the monroe quick strut, let us know how that works out. Im considering that for future spring changes, as it is easier because there is no need for a spring compressor for install and removal of the quickstrut.

[redgtxdi]

Curious as to why you say "no toyota"???


I suppose I *could* do it myself, but I just can't imagine how long it might take me & I'm just not in the mood. I drug my @$$ on the brakes last weekend just 'cuz I'm not as enthusiastic about gettin' crazy under the car anymore......(or at least not nearly as much as I was in my 20's...LOL).

The *only* thing I *might* do myself would be the Quik Strut thing, but that's $800 before I spend 1 minute of my time or energy and doesn't include any end links, sway bushings, or anything else I might find in there.


Sorry I still don't have Toyota's quote, I'll call right now........

[bigbird]

most dealerships will charge an arm and a leg for the work. im bettin it will be the most expensive option. it was when i was weighing the same decision. that being said, i would trust a dealership on the work more than a regular shop. the quick strut doesnt sound like an option i would take in this case. sounds like u want to just take it somewhere and let them do it no hassle(understandable).

[redgtxdi]

Welp..........just got back from Toyota & here's what we're lookin' at...........


Front struts = $157ea x 2 = $314.00

Rear struts = $199ea x 2 = $400.00

LABOR ----------> $282/axle = $564.00 (YIKES!!!!)

Sooooo.........we have $1278 + tax and then you have to include alignment ($89.95) = $1368 + tax!


Needless to say I will ***NOT*** be letting the dealer do this one. I think I'm gonna let the folks at Big O go for it 'cuz they know me & will be honest with me.

[glenos]

I've just done my rears; struts, sway bar bushes, trailling arm bushes. Took me about 4 hours.

I used a socket set, a hammer and a 5mm allen key, I have the car on stands and used the jack to support the hub as necessary.

Be warned, some of the bolts are bloody tight! so if you done have a decent socket set with a long handle you will be stuffed.

Parts cost:
AU$125 each for struts and strut mates for Gabriel Ultra, Monroe are AU$160+$48 for strut mates
AU$130 for bushes (poly urethane) including the front sway bar bushes
I had a quote for over $1100 to do this work

I am always amazed at how much cheaper parts are in the US, just like fuel (gas) we pay $1.25 per litre (half of that is taxes!)

[redgtxdi]

Ya, I'll have to make sure that Big O is ready to do other stuff if necessary.

They didn't feel that end links & extra bushings were necessary.

Curious............did you change your bushings out 'cuz they *were* bad or just because you were already in there??


Of course, I also thought of option #4...............don't do anything & just drive it 'til the wheels fall off!

[glenos]

I was told that they were stuffed, I have my doubts, the trailling arm bushes were tight as, the sway bars bushes were suspect (visible wear) these are cheap $45 for both front and rear, the trailling arm bushes were $85.

I only changed the body end of the trailling arms, the wheel end was too hard to get at and my manual says to not change them.

I didn't do the links, eventhough I was told they were bad, the car rides nice and stiff now and no knocking sounds. The links are about $110 per set .

The quote I got was from pedders (www.pedders.com.au) and I think they were trying to give me some bull