I paid $65 at the dealer. they looked over the car and said that both rear struts are bad and some other things. the struts are $360.00(not installed) is that a good price? anybody know of a cheaper place to get them. or a better strut?


let me know
thanks


marcus

Get some Monroe Sens-a-Trac's. I paid around $400 for parts and labor on all 4 corners.

i got KYB GR2 rear struts from tirerack for $40 or $50 something and i think they are great.  rear struts aren't too difficult to replace (much easier for me now that i have rear coilovers).  i've never done the front struts but they are just a cartridge that comes right out of the top of the strut.  
joshua

redturbo90 Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2002 8:05 pm    Post subject:  

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Get some Monroe Sens-a-Trac's. I paid around $400 for parts and labor on all 4 corners

Red where did you get that done.. every here wants like 700... to do all four... Just wondering...thanks.. KCP

I got them done at a place called Monro's. It is pronounced exactly like Monroe. I had already bought all 4 basic Monroe struts and was going to have them put them on. They quoted me a lower price on the Sens-a-Trac's for buying them there. So I took the other ones back to Advance Auto Parts.

It takes a special tool to do the front cartridges!!! I got one from the Checker Auto Parts tool loaner program. It takes about 2 hours to do both sides with the proper tool. The rears are pretty easy too, but you will need a 1/2" drive breaker bar with a cheater bar on it for the lower strut bolts. I think it is like a 30mm bolt isn't it?? I think I paid $60/ea for the fronts and $80/ea for the rears and they were KYB GR2.  8)

Quote from: TGPilotIt takes a special tool to do the front cartridges!!!

yeah you Jack the car up so the spring is streched and then you pull up on the boot and use a "BIG" pair of channel locks to get that nut.


thats what you do if you cant get a tool.

Installed  Gabriels on my STE improved ride quality greatly.  $400 installed.  However now I need to replace all susension bushings :oops:

Thomas

What are you talking about Jeorge? There is a special tool that you need to unscrew the cartridge retaining cap on the front struts. Channel locks won't do a thing for him. In the kit is an allen or torques head wrench and a special socket to get the large shaft nut loose. If it is rusted...soak it in penetrating fluid and it will come free.

Marcus look up on google.com or something for a parts break-down of a W-body front strut. It requires a centering collar to be put in place and then you unscrew the cartridge retaining cap. You do not jack the car up at all to do this cartridge replacement. The stock cartridge is sitting in oil in the stock strut housing. When you pull the stock cartridge you should syphon the old fluid out before you put in the replacment sealed strut cartridges. W-body front struts are nothing like the standard Mac-Pherson strut replacements!.... 8)

Ah shit....this is how you do it... Remove the top plate nuts and remove the top plate. With the special tool remove the large center nut from the top of the strut shaft. Dig out the centering rubber and the bump stop from the strut shaft. There will be a rod that is threaded that you put on the top of the strut shaft where the large top nut was. You will need to use this as leverage to center the strut shaft in the shock tower. Once you have it centered there is a collar you slid down into the strut tower that will then hold everything center in the strut tower. Then with another tool in the special tool kit you will then unscrew the cartridge retaining collar and pull the strut cartridge out. There is about 500cc worth of fluid in there that you should syphon out before you put the sealed cartridge back in. Reverse this procedure to put everything back in. I may have missed a step or two, but the special tool kit should have directions in it...that is how I learned to do it. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO THIS WITHOUT THE SPECIAL TOOL!!!!! It sounds harder than it is. It took me two hours to do both sides with the proper tools in the kit! If I remember correctly it was called a "W-body strut replacement kit" at Checker Auto Parts.  8)

for the Nut at the Top, THats Easy I have a box end that Fits Right in there. its bent alittle odd I guess. always had it so never thought of it as a "Special" tool

I guess I didnt even think of the top because I never had a Problem with that. because I had that Boxend.

and I dont have the Tool to get the Ring nut from below so I used the Chanel locks, yeah I had to Siphon too.

and it only took us 2.5 hours to change 8 struts when we got going.

4 front and 4 rear we did 2 cars.

we are what you would call a "back woods" type machanic.....and no I dont date my family members!

when you have 2 people and a good set of tools doesnt take long.
{not always the Right tools but good ones.}


Im still looking into getting a set of Strut tools because I need to do the STE next Spring when it comes out from being Parked for the winter.

BTY I got new rear plates for $24 Shipped to me from Ebay brand new GM ones. this will make it alot nicer for the REAR because I didnt spend $65 each for them LOL

I never had a Problem like that.
well we are the ones that Replace Alts in these things in 12mins belt and all. and also only takes 30 Mins to do all the plugs and wires too.

Thats why I dont have any Pics of this being done because we get done toquick. and my camara is a POS im looking for a new one.

anyone have a good digi cam forsale cheap??

Quote from: Jeorge

4 front and 4 rear we did 2 cars.

were those 2 cars w-bodies?  because i too have heard that it is impossible without the special tool kit.
joshua

Quote from: malibuolds

Quote from: Jeorge

4 front and 4 rear we did 2 cars.

were those 2 cars w-bodies?  because i too have heard that it is impossible without the special tool kit.
joshua

a 1992 Lumina 4 door and a 1988 Cutlass 2 Door

Like I said back woods type,

that and Air Tools help for the little things,

An Never forget that back bolt that comes with the Strut MAKE SURE YOU USE THAT to compress that Bushing other wise that sucks I learned that on my old 1991 Cutlass 4dr

got some napa struts yesterday. they were $30 each. going to put them on myself.

man thats insane!  the $$$$$!  the tgp shocks are the easiest i have ever put on any car.  You don't even need a spring compressor.   There are only 2 upper screws and 2 large bolts lower (for the rear) and them blown shocks come right out!   The front also does not require a spring compressor.  PLEASE DO NOT PAY SOMEONE $$$$$ TO REPLACE THESE.  If you guys can do basic maintenance you can replace  your shocks.  The repair manual gives your precise to a T instructions (which is really rare).  I rear shocks are stockers cost $11ea and the fronts were $29ea at autozone.  Did it all my self with basic tools.  If you need help I will write detailed instructions.  USE THAT MONEY FOR OTHER MODS!

I didn't have the tool but also didn't need one.  You can also use a big mouth vice-grip to do the same thing.  I saw the tool listed for $24.99 that you will only probably use once :(