When did you replace your struts? Options

[pflau]

Some guy at Mavis said to me my Celica's struts needed to be replaced. He said that though my car had relatively low mileage (75K) it was 11 years old and is due for the struts to be replaced. I kept doing that lean on fender, bounce the car up and down, and see if it stops after one bounce test, and I just couldn't see how the struts needed replacement. My car doesn't lean during corner, doesn't nose dive when stops, doesn't float like a boat when going over bumps. So how long did your struts last??

This post has been edited by pflau: Feb 28, 2011 - 4:06 PM

[azian_advanced]

i can never trust the bounce test.. i prefer pulling out the struts to check if they're still good or not.

[block]

Replaced mines at 198k. Yours sound like they're fine.

[xrav22]

Replaced mines at 198k. Yours sound like they're fine.

The bounce test was designed for shocks not struts. It never works because the spring is under too much pressure. My struts were bad and I noticed by driving on the freeway and if your car bounces or vibrates over bumps(405 freeway a good test) or you bottom out then replace. After I replaced no more bouncing.

[block]

Well yeah, I replaced my whole suspension because it was too bouncy. 198k is an awfully long period of time to replace any suspension components.

[cyberblader1130]

Replaced mine at 105k just because i was lowering on Tiens and didn't trust my stock ones. They were still good, i just didn't want to use them.

[HectortheRican]

I replaced mine at about 99k. They were bouncy and noisy and annoying.

[808celica]

3months ago, 3months before that, then another 3, then 6 before that one..........

[delusionz]

I had leaking shocks from 160,000 Kms (100,000 miles)

Handling-wise the car still held the road very good, but was a bit loose compared to before.

The advice i got was to wait until it got worse as the leak was ever so slight i managed to hold out until 180,000kms for a set of coilovers at which stage the old struts were broken in a couple places

[pflau]

The bounce test was designed for shocks not struts. It never works because the spring is under too much pressure. My struts were bad and I noticed by driving on the freeway and if your car bounces or vibrates over bumps(405 freeway a good test) or you bottom out then replace. After I replaced no more bouncing.

I am not sure what you mean by bottom out.. 3 of my 4 rims are bent at the lip, is it an indication? I don't really trust Mavis because I heard they like to upsell you stuff.

[RavenAegis45]

Well I replaced my struts when I noticed an Unusual liquid covering my rear suspension, Thought it might have been brake fluid but after getting under my car I seen the liquid wasn't even touching my caliper and it was dripping from the suspension, I had also noticed an Unusual squeak when driving over bumps and such, It was only one that was leaking but i replaced them all around with KYB's

[zfjohnson07]

so when you hit a tiny bump and your cd skips you need new struts lmao

[block]

or that your cd player is tooooooo old and need an upgrade

[zfjohnson07]

Well its prob struts when I go over rail road tracks it hits
hard

[xrav22]

Well its prob struts when I go over rail road tracks it hits
hard

Now that I lowered the front I have to be carefull because it does bottom out again on big dips, but not on the freeway.

[eboz74]

i change mine once the ride gets way to bumpy when you get some make sure you get a lifetime warrenty....speaking of which has anyone ever used gibson struts? they're on sale at autozone

[blu94gt]

I usually just replace when they have a little extra bounce, or if they're leaking. But I definitely wouldn't let them pass the 100k mark.

In auto-tech school we were taught that most struts' life begins to end around 50k miles. I've found it tends to vary from car to car. I've seen cars with less than 10k with leaking struts, and seen cars with over 100k that handle very well.

[Mycurse180]

My suspension makes a loud banging noise as I go over bumps, it appears to be coming from the back. The guy I bought it from said it needs strut top rubber bushing or something like that.

Any input?

[SwissFerdi]

When I decided that my need to lower was OVER 9000!!!!!!!!!! so I replaced my ~80k mile OEM stuffs with Sportline springs and KYB GR-2 struts.

[zfjohnson07]

well i replaced my struts today, still riding hard on the passenger side, and when i slow down and press the brakes i can feel it jerk a lil. but when going fast it doesnt, i think i'll take it to a mechanic unless you got any ideas peeps

also before i changed it noticed the passenger side looks like it sits lower, so i was like oh yeah needs to be changed, when i changed it, it still sat low... alignment?? idk

This post has been edited by zfjohnson07: Mar 22, 2011 - 7:32 PM