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YACT: Struts

Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
I went to get a tire replaced today and the guy told me I need new struts. This is weird because I took it to another place four weeks ago about the same tire and they said nothing about the struts.

Anyway, they want $850 for the struts, installation, etc. It's a 1995 5-speed I4 Mazda 626LX. Does this seem reasonable? How hard are they to replace? If they're shot, is that fatal to the car?

Thanks!
 
Decent FAQ on it

How many miles do you hae on the car?

Being "shot" is not fatal to the car, you'll just have huge body roll.

Honestly, I probally wouldn't put that money into that car unless you were planning on driving it some sort of high performance enviroment where you need to minimize body roll.
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
they should be replaced in pairs
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Yeah, he wants to do all four.

The only reason I took it to the second place was that I had a coupon for free oil/filter/rotation/balance. The car's only worth aroun $2500, but I do drive around 700 miles per week. It's at 122K now.
 
Anyway, they want $850 for the struts, installation, etc. It's a 1995 5-speed I4 Mazda 626LX. Does this seem reasonable? How hard are they to replace? If they're shot, is that fatal to the car?
Click to expand...

If they're shot, you would notice it. Lots of bouncing and generally the handling will feel almost scary, especially freeway on/off ramps.
 
Originally posted by: vegetation
If they're shot, you would notice it. Lots of bouncing and generally the handling will feel almost scary, especially freeway on/off ramps.
Click to expand...

It vibrates, but it's not scary or anything. The problem is that one of the tires was messed up and the car would just hop over a few inches while squealing. This happened around 80mph. I haven't tested the new tire out on the interstate yet.
 
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Leave the struts alone unless your car bounces.
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Or shakes at speed.

Depending on the car, they can be very easy or VERY hard to replace.

Bad McPherson struts can cause your tires to wear out quickly...

Also, if they are bad 99% of the time they will be leaking fluid.
 
push down on it. if it comes back and stops, its good.
If it rides the wave like a fat chick, struts are shot.

probably $200 in parts or so. (just guessing. not sure the prices on japanese cars)

and uh. maybe 2hrs labour. so what.. $60/h?
should be around 320,- then
 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: vegetation
If they're shot, you would notice it. Lots of bouncing and generally the handling will feel almost scary, especially freeway on/off ramps.
Click to expand...

It vibrates, but it's not scary or anything. The problem is that one of the tires was messed up and the car would just hop over a few inches while squealing. This happened around 80mph. I haven't tested the new tire out on the interstate yet.
Click to expand...

Should be OK. I had experienced blown shocks and basically could only take freeway ramps at like 35 before feeling like I was going to flip over, when an 18 wheeler could easily do the same ramp at 40.
 
Figure 2-3hrs of labor and a nice qualit OEM type strut should be about $50.

For $850, you can get Koni/Tokico adjustables, Eibach Springs, and Install!

Place is quoting you "dealer list" prices for your struts and prolly 3-4hhrs labor.



 
i need new struts myself. rear tires are cupping, and handling is getting too squishy for my driving style. also the car is starting to get squirrely (sp?) under hard braking, as the rear tires fight for traction over the bumps.
 
Originally posted by:Vic

- McPherson struts are not expensive, especially because they eliminate the need for an upper control arm, and have less camber change per range of motion, providing for better handling (and thus are safer).

- And finally, U-joints are Model T era crap compared to CV joints. I feel there's no need for me to even elaborate on that.
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$58.49 STRUT/SHOCK - FRONT for a 1995 MAZDA 626

$13.99 STRUT/SHOCK - FRONT for a 1995 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS


There you go, Chris. Those struts eliminate the need for an upper control arm, and have less camber change per range of motion, providing for better handling (and thus are safer). So, you're money will be WELL spent!


Long-Term Test: 2004 Nissan Titan
  • As far as the clunky trans, we were told that the problem was a faulty universal joint, which had to be ordered.

    January 2005
    While the dealership claimed the clunking problem was due to a faulty universal joint, its quick fix didn't solve the problem. It turned out the entire driveshaft had to be replaced.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
That's like $116.00 just for the parts, which require a fair amount of time to wrangle in place.
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yeah i've heard replacing struts is a PITA. but the price this garage is asking for is ridiculous... doesn't a 95' 626 4-cyl cost around $2-3k?
 
That's not the point. The point is, "economy cars" aren't so damn economical when it comes time to fix 'em. But, that's what consumers want, I hear:

Originally posted by: SampSon
The "engineering" in econoboxes, is there to suit maufacturer's bottom line, and CAFE standards, not the consumer. As a consumer, you're stuck with a 70K timing belt replacement, pain in the ass access to the engine, thanks to the tranny being crammed in with it, expensive electric radiator cooling fans, instead of a cheap belt driven fan, expensive McPherson struts instead of coil over shocks, expensive CV joints instead of cheap U-joints, and mounting the damn thing on a huge hydrolic jig to realign it after a minor accident... etc. etc. Uh, those are facts!
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You make the same blind assertions in every car thread. In every thread you get shot down. Then another thread pops up, and you spew the same worthless garbage.

What the consumers want, drive what the manufacturers produce. If the consumers still wanted the crap you say they should want, then the market would be flooded with that product, everyone would be using it, GM and the big4 would still reign supreme and you would not be bitching about it. Guess what, it's not working that way is it? You keep mixing up your "facts" with your opinion.

There are plenty of full size vehicles around today, and they are in the form of SUVs. Funny, most of them still use the same technology you mention in your posts. Then they take it a step further with this magical thing called NEW TECHNOLOGY. Ya know, the new stuff that comes out when we figure out something better?

If we all lived in ornery world, we wouldn't have the internet, digital anything, planes would all be using propellers, children would study the bible in school, car would all be inefficient hunks of moving metal, all golf clubs would be wooden, and america would run the world.

I don't want even an economy vehicle built around that lame ass "engineering! I want the wheels driven from the rear, and a full frame no matter how small it is.
Click to expand...
This is the summation of your existance in -all- car threads. You want what you want, no matter how stupid it is. So nothing you say is fact, its all opinion.
Click to expand...
Yep, consumers actually WANT to pay out the ass to repair their "high tech" wonder buggies! :roll:
 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
I went to get a tire replaced today and the guy told me I need new struts. This is weird because I took it to another place four weeks ago about the same tire and they said nothing about the struts.

Anyway, they want $850 for the struts, installation, etc. It's a 1995 5-speed I4 Mazda 626LX. Does this seem reasonable? How hard are they to replace? If they're shot, is that fatal to the car?
Click to expand...

Put the $850 in a jar and save it towards the down payment of your next car. If you are comfortable with the car's ride and handling right now, don't worry about it. The 2nd shop is probably trying to make some $ off that free coupon you used.

(not that it would be BAD to replace them, and you probably WOULD notice a difference, but it is not as if the wheel will fall off if you don't)


 
Just replace them and then drive the car. it will be a selling point when you finally do decide to sell the car.
 
I have a similar car that needs struts as well, and guess what, I think I have been quoted around $1000 more than once to change all 4. On some particular cars, it can be quite a pain in thea arse and quite expensive. The only time it really bothers me is when I hit a pothole or something, and it will practically jolt your fillings out of your teeth. Oh well, I am getting a new car anyway....🙂
 
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