Which is the freakin STRUT?

[numberforty1]

Hi- 98 Camry CE 6 Cyl 3.0L

So I'm totally new to all suspension related issues, but I want to learn. I just had the front end aligned and the guy told me my struts and tires are shot (the struts from having +50K miles and the tires from absorbing all the shock that the struts were no longer absorbing). The tread on the tires is fine, but he said the belts inside were all beat up. Or something. Does that seem to make sense?

Anyway, looking at struts online I see all kinds of different things - just struts, strut assemblies, strut mounts - and I don't know which ones I need. Anyone have a link to what I should be looking for? Do new struts have new shocks inside of them? Are the struts only on the front end or the back as well?

I know, I'm clueless. But I'm a good do-it-yourselfer with other things so I thought its about time the ol' Hornet got the same treatment.

thanks for your help

[chronoti]

[QUOTE=numberforty1;2940730] The tread on the tires is fine, but he said the belts inside were all beat up. Or something. Does that seem to make sense?/QUOTE]

no, sounds like crap to me, only thing the shocks are going to do is cause uneven ware patterns on the tires.



here a diagram of the front



back



and the google search link where i found the images there seems to be a nice write up on how to do this job. also not lited there is a lower spring insulator

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...=&aqi=&start=0

but shock struts bascialy the same thing just the coil sits around the strut while shocks have the coil or leaf spring to the side.


what your going to replace? just the strut, and what they labeled as the dust shield (we call it a berring common to go bad and make knocking noises) on the front, and just the strut in the back. maybe the strut boot (dust boot whatever) if they look dry rotted. some may say new spring sine those are 11 years old your choice.

[ShawnM]

When in doubt take it to another shop and get a second opinion.

[eddie926]

+1 for a second opinion from a REPUTABLE shop.

Also, do a simple test yourself. On each corner of the car, push down hard and let it go quick, i.e. trying to "bounce" that corner. If it feels firm and comes back up and stops quick, your struts are probably not shot. If if bounces several times as if though it's just sitting on a spring with no strut, then your struts might be shot.

Your struts shouldn't be shot after 50k miles though unless you've been off-roading, and the story about your tread being fine but your "belts inside being all beat up" sounds pretty suspicious.

Be wary if he tells you next that he needs to top off the Halogen fluid in your headlights

[JCamry94]

You can go to a bumpy road, if you hear and FEEL "clunking" all over the place as if there is NO absorbancy of the shock to your car then the struts are probably blown. Locate which side(s) is doing it an replace.

+2 'When in doubt take it to another shop and get a second opinion."

[flyeri]

Locate which side(s) is doing it an replace.

It is not generally good practice to replace one side or just one strut unless they are relatively new and one becomes damaged or is defective. Just fronts or rears is ok but if they are all shot you should change the all together.

[JCamry94]

Originally Posted by flyeri

It is not generally good practice to replace one side or just one strut unless they are relatively new and one becomes damaged or is defective. Just fronts or rears is ok but if they are all shot you should change the all together.

Sorry meant front or rear instead of "side."

[whip_cracker]

Struts and shocks - pretty much the same thing. Camrys use the "MacPherson" style suspension, being that the strut houses the spring as well.

I'm getting all 4 corners replaced within the next week or so... purely coz mine are 14 years old and need replacing LOL! Should make one hell of a difference.

[JohnGD]

Take a look at this:
http://www.monroe.com/support/tec_struts.asp

The easiest way may be to use something like the Quick Strut:
http://www.monroe.com/products/quickstrut.asp

However, you may only need the strut and maybe the strut mounts, which often go bad in that generation and cause clunking noises.

I personally prefer the Gabriel Ultra strut at Autozone for typical driving (buy 3 get 1 free offer).

Originally Posted by numberforty1

Hi- 98 Camry CE 6 Cyl 3.0L

So I'm totally new to all suspension related issues, but I want to learn. I just had the front end aligned and the guy told me my struts and tires are shot (the struts from having +50K miles and the tires from absorbing all the shock that the struts were no longer absorbing). The tread on the tires is fine, but he said the belts inside were all beat up. Or something. Does that seem to make sense?

Anyway, looking at struts online I see all kinds of different things - just struts, strut assemblies, strut mounts - and I don't know which ones I need. Anyone have a link to what I should be looking for? Do new struts have new shocks inside of them? Are the struts only on the front end or the back as well?

I know, I'm clueless. But I'm a good do-it-yourselfer with other things so I thought its about time the ol' Hornet got the same treatment.

thanks for your help

[numberforty1]

Thank everyone for the help. I have a much better idea now of what I am looking at. My garage quoted me $450 for parts alone to replace the front struts and strut mounts. Does that seem high? I know he wants to replace the spring coil and everything...I'm wondering how necessary it is to replace the spring since that seems to double the price. I'm looking at RockAuto and wondering...

Should I get this for $180 each? - http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1124767

Or just get this for only $80 each? - http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=502184

And the bearing plate on the first item is the same thing as a strut mount, right?
Again thanks so much.

[carsrus]

Originally Posted by numberforty1

Thank everyone for the help. I have a much better idea now of what I am looking at. My garage quoted me $450 for parts alone to replace the front struts and strut mounts. Does that seem high? I know he wants to replace the spring coil and everything...I'm wondering how necessary it is to replace the spring since that seems to double the price. I'm looking at RockAuto and wondering...

Should I get this for $180 each? - http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1124767

Or just get this for only $80 each? - http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=502184

And the bearing plate on the first item is the same thing as a strut mount, right?
Again thanks so much.

How many miles do you have on the car? The springs in general dont wear out, but the strut mounts can go bad.

[Mike Gerber]

I am a fan of the Monroe Quick Sturts (the ones in the first link), since you are replacing everything including the springs and strut mounts and all the rubber pieces. That said, I have to ask the same question as carsrus, how many miles do you have on the car?

Mike

[numberforty1]

Originally Posted by carsrus

How many miles do you have on the car? The springs in general dont wear out, but the strut mounts can go bad.

She's got about 185K on her, but I don't know if the struts have been replaced once before or not. So should springs be replaced after 180K?

What do you guys think about this Gabriel Ultra strut from Autozone? Its only $63 and someone recommended it to me. If I just replace this part instead of the whole assembly I'll save $330!!

[abew330]

i installed Gabriel on mine.. they were ok.. once i changed out the struts i compared the oem with Gabriel and didnt see much difference

[numberforty1]

K...so anyone on whether to change the spring coil or not?

thanks