A complete strut assembly is a combination of two main parts: a spring and a shock absorber. (Sometimes the term strut refers to the shock absorber portion only, but other times the term is used to denote the entire assembly including the spring).
What is included in a strut assembly?
A strut assembly consists of two primary elements: the coil spring, which supports the height, weight and stability of the vehicle; and the shock absorber, which swallows bumps and dampens vibrations caused by irregularities on the roadway.
How much does it cost to replace a strut assembly?
An individual strut assembly costs approximately $150 to $350, while the labor cost is $100 to $300 for a pair.
What are signs of a bad strut assembly?
Here are some common signs to watch for if you suspect your strut assembly may be failing .
Related Question what is a strut assembly
Do car's have both shocks and struts?
Every wheel on your vehicle has either a shock or a strut – never both, never neither. However, you may have struts on your front wheels and shocks on your rear wheels.
How long does it take to replace a strut assembly?
It takes about 2 to 3 hours to replace struts. The time to get the struts replaced depends on the skill level of who is replacing them and how rusted the bolts and joints are. When you have worn-out struts, you have to replace them because they can cause more damage.
When should you replace struts on a car?
Cars need regular replacement of shocks or struts every 50,000 miles or so, depending on your car's make and model. Have your mechanic make a routine check of the shocks or struts every 50,000 miles, or however often your operating manual recommends it.
How much do new struts cost?
On average, expect to pay somewhere between $450 and $900 to replace a pair of struts. An individual strut assembly will cost about $150 to $300 so you're looking at around $300 to $600 for parts alone. Labor alone will set you back about $150 to $300 for the pair.
How do I know if my struts need to be replaced?
What damage can bad struts cause?
When your shocks and struts are worn, your car will take longer to stop than it would without worn components. Your anti-lock braking system could also be affected and work less efficiently. The risk increases even more on rough or bumpy roads because of the increased up and down movement of the wheels.
Will bad struts wear tires?
Uneven tire wear - When your vehicle's shocks and struts are worn out, the car can bounce, causing a reduction in road holding force. This bouncing can also cause accelerated tire wear including cupping or scalloping of the tires (when pieces of rubber are gouged out of the tire).
Can I replace struts myself?
Strut Replacement
Replacing struts used to be a dangerous job for a DIYer. But these days you can buy a complete strut assembly that eliminates the strut/spring/mount disassembly process. These assemblies allow you to replace both of your front struts yourself in less than two hours.
Are struts better than shocks?
Well, shock absorbers usually give you better handling, while struts give you a lower initial cost for the vehicle. If it continues to oscillate, the shock or strut on that corner of the vehicle is bad, and you always replace them in pairs, two fronts or two rears.
How do I know if my car has shocks or struts?
Rather than looking for coil springs on these parts to tell them apart, look at the bottom portion of the absorber. If it is held in place by only one bolt, you'll know you have shocks and not struts. You'll also know you have a shock if your vehicle has an upper control arm.
How do I know if I need shocks or struts?
Other signs of car shocks and struts in bad condition are unusual noises over bumps, excessive body lean or sway in turns, or that the front end of the vehicle dives sharply in hard braking. If the vehicle continues to bounce after you let go, your shocks need replacing.
Why does my front end clunk?
If a ball joint is beginning to fail, you may notice a clunking noise coming from the front wheels. When a tie rod end is worn or loose, they may produce a clunking noise. Worn tie rod ends may also cause more play in the steering wheel, making turning more vague.
What causes a clunking noise when going over bumps?
If you hear those annoying clunking noises when going over bumps, it means that something is wrong with the suspension system. These are the areas to check the next time you hear these sounds on the road. Worn or Damaged Struts. When struts are damaged, the strut shocks fail to perform as they should.
Why does my car make a sound when I go over a bump?
If the sway bar breaks or is damaged it may produce a clunking or knocking sound, especially when going over bumps. Your vehicle may also had more difficulty handling when the sway bar is damaged. The bushings are designed to dampen any noise that might be created when your vehicle goes over a bump.
Do bad struts make noise when turning?
The most common symptoms of a bad strut mount are squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel at low speeds or knocking, banging, clunking, or popping noises when hitting speed bumps or irregularities on the road. Your mechanic may also recommend replacing the struts at the same time.
Will bad struts cause steering wheel to shake?
Can a bad strut cause a vibration? No. Worn out shocks/struts will not cause a vibration, they will cause the car to “float” because they are no longer damping the low-frequency oscillations of the coil springs. The entire car will be more “bouncy”, but they will not cause a vibration in the steering.
Will new struts raise the front end?
Also false. Shocks/struts don't do anything to change ride height unless they have adjustable perches. All they do is dampen the amount of jounce and rebound caused by the springs when going over bumps.