Matt

I have 115K on my SC1, I don't know if they are stock struts or not. I want to get Spring 2.0" lowering springs, but don't want to buy struts if not needed. I heard of tests where if you go over a speed bump and hear a pssh sound and press the car down and if it stays they are bad. I tried both tests and they were fine according to that. I still rides good and all. So do I need new struts or can I still use the ones I have?

Yobos4vr

the method i've used is push down on a corner of your car. if it comes back and stays it's good if it bounces up and down it's shot. also look at the strut see if you see leaking. alot of times a strut will go bad little by little and you'll never feel it until it's completly shot.

__________________
"life is like therapy, it's expensive and there's no guarantees"-Garth Brooks

mrsaturn

With 115K miles it is likely that the struts are shot. You will know when you remove the springs (although that's a little on the late side)......push in on the rod and if it stays down it's bad.

Personally, I would replace the struts when you install the springs.....when in doubt, replace it.

Ssicarman

Struts can be very hard to figure for being worn. Worn out it's easy, they will bottom out make noises and just generally nmake it known. Not as good as they should is harder to tell because the standard shock absorber tests don't seem to work on struts. Basicly if you feel that they don't seem to be doing the job or you think that the handling is off then they are likely not up to par. If you're going to do springs then this is really the ideal time to do them, every thing is apart. You won't have to cough up cash for an alignment again at a later date. From what people have said on the boards you shoulf be able to do a bit of looking and find a gtood set for very cheap.

Matt

What's average price to get springs and struts installed, plus an allignment.

mrsaturn

I don't know exact prices, but you should be able to get the springs installed at no additional charge if you are also replacing the struts. They have to disassemble the strut assembly anyways, so the spring must be removed when replacing the struts......there really is no additional labor to reassemble the new strut assmebly with the new springs.

Obvioulsy I would ask the shop before they do the work, but there is no reason for them to charge you anything extra to install those springs (if they do, go somewhere else).

adam92sl

Well my car has about 160k and hasn't fallen apart. Then again I don't ride it hard. Biggest reason I haven't replaced the struts is the price tag of 475 to 700. It makes it by far worth breaking an arm to do yourself.

mrsaturn

Changing struts is well within the scope of the backyard mechanic.....just get the right tools. You can get a spring compressor at Auto Zone for free and as long as you have basic hand tools and some mechanical ability, you can do all 4 in a few hours. All you would need to farm out is a good alignment afterwards.

I would never pay $400-$700 for struts! Yeouch!

Anyways, the rule of thumb is 50-75K miles is about all the life you'll get out of shocks/struts. If your car has more than this and the struts have never been changed I would look into doing it. It's more of a preventative maintenance kind of thing.


The main argument in this thread is, why go through the hassles of installing new lowered springs and not replace the struts as well? It just makes no sense to me. I have a set of lowered springs waiting to be installed myself, but I'm waiting until I have the $$ for new struts. It's just not worth doing the same job twice (at lesast to me....YMMV).