Strut Recommendation

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: dkryan
Thanks, Critic.

The Highlander has 136k miles on it.

After further research on what is available for that AWD SUV, I find the brands available are: KYB, Bilstein, and OEM (obviously).

I will likely go with OEM.

Are you saying I should be replacing only the strut insert and not the whole "unit?"

Clearly, today is "Strut Basics 101" for me.


If Bilsteins are available that's the one I would use. At that mileage I make my own quick struts with new OE springs (in most cases), mounts, boots and bearings on the Bilsteins. For the Euro cars I like Lesjofors springs.
Springs age and sag, rubber ages and cracks and bearing wear, I don't like doing a job twice. If it only had 50-60K on it then just the struts and boots are fine IMO.
I have seen too many broken springs over the years to play the replace piecemeal game, the last one was a 2009 Honda with 125K on it.

 

[DuckRyder]

Ever wonder how they can sell you a Quick strut with all that extra hardware and a spring for so little? Because it is lowest bidder junk is why.

Plan on replacing the absorber and boot and probably the bump stop (which sometimes comes with the boot) and inspecting the other parts, replace only the additional parts that are needed.

A quick search or a model specific forum might yield clues to any weak points in the system

How are these struts serviced? As housings or inserts or either way, and if serviced as inserts are they threaded or welded (where you have to cut the top off the OE strut)?

 

[Trav]

These struts are units, the last one I cut and replaced the cartridge was a Golf II and a couple of early 90's BMW. I haven't seen a cut line on a strut tube in years. Any idea if any cars still use them?

 

[MaximaGuy]

Originally Posted By: dkryan
I will likely go with OEM.


Could you explain why you are going OEM - they are pretty expensive and remember other suspension components are already tired by now, putting in expensive shocks kind of diminishing return. Now if you intend to keep the vehicle for another 100K that would make sense, even then slowly other suspension components over time make folks dump the older vehicles, like mounts, LCA, bearings, sagging sprints etc etc.

 

[DuckRyder]

Koni supplies inserts for a 2005 Civic (and probably others) that you cut the housings on..

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Ever wonder how they can sell you a Quick strut with all that extra hardware and a spring for so little? Because it is lowest bidder junk is why.

Plan on replacing the absorber and boot and probably the bump stop (which sometimes comes with the boot) and inspecting the other parts, replace only the additional parts that are needed.

A quick search or a model specific forum might yield clues to any weak points in the system

How are these struts serviced? As housings or inserts or either way, and if serviced as inserts are they threaded or welded (where you have to cut the top off the OE strut)?


You don't service them, you just get another set. Most quick struts have a lifetime warranty and the ones that just come with 1 year or less are really junk.

I tried to chase a front end clunk for a while, thought it was the sway bar links and then maybe the bushings, but didn't think it was the strut mounts because they only had 10k on them. After a few years when I got another set under warranty, the noise went away. Bad strut mounts in only 10k. To be fair though, the replacement struts were fine and lasted over 50k.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Koni supplies inserts for a 2005 Civic (and probably others) that you cut the housings on..





Interesting, I didn't know that.

 

[dkryan]

Originally Posted By: MaximaGuy
Originally Posted By: dkryan
I will likely go with OEM.


Could you explain why you are going OEM - they are pretty expensive and remember other suspension components are already tired by now, putting in expensive shocks kind of diminishing return. Now if you intend to keep the vehicle for another 100K that would make sense, even then slowly other suspension components over time make folks dump the older vehicles, like mounts, LCA, bearings, sagging sprints etc etc.


Thanks for the input, guys.

This ride is in solid shape mechanically and body-wise, so we will plan on driving it until it drops. Hopefully, another 100k miles.

As Trav alluded to, I would prefer to do this only once as opposed to "piecemeal " over the next eight years.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

unfortunately, Monroe only seems to make front quick struts for your Highlander. For the rears you'll have to get cheap Chinese.

 

[MaximaGuy]

Originally Posted By: dkryan
I would prefer to do this only once as opposed to "piecemeal " over the next eight years.


Looks like you really want to spend money to be sure you are doing all the right things. I like that approach.
IMO, then OEM is the best for the shocks, OEM strut mounts ($50/piece), OEM bearing ($30/piece) and OEM/KYB boots.
I would do the sway bar links also, they are $200 all around and non-OEM should be just fine.

All said and done, the sway bar in the front is a PITA and breeze in the rears.
The strut replacement in the rear is a real PITA and links a breeze.

On the rears be very careful when you put a jack to align the holes, I dropped my vehicle on one side since the jack point slipped from the x-bar jack. I strongly recommend doing the rears with 2 sets of jacks and not non jack stands since there is a bunch of bolts needing removal and aligning.

 

[Drew99GT]

I've read too many negatives regarding Monroe Quick Struts to recommend them. Their OE Spectrum struts are decent; just put a set on my Corolla. Time will tell how long they last, but previous Monroes were toast after only 50K miles.

I've read KYBs are good quality but the Excel Gs ride a bit harsher than factory or other aftermarket struts.

Bilsteins are top tier. Probably the best aftermarket suspension company.

OEM struts would still be the best. Olathe has them for $132 a pop. KYBs and Monroes are roughly $100 at Amazon currently; Monroe strut mounts are $60, OEMs are $74. If you rebuild the factory struts with all new parts, your gonna be out well over $200 a corner in just parts alone.

http://parts.olathetoyota.com/auto-parts...suspension-scat

I wouldn't be too quick to replace the mounts, especially if they have greasable bearings for the front like many Toyotas. Toyota OEM rubber is simply unbeatable and they may be fine. If you put Monroes on, they'll be highly inferior to OEM. The front boots Toyota uses last forever as well. My 94s are still in great shape at 200K.

 

[dkryan]

MaximaGuy and Drew:

Thanks for the input.

For the record, I don't want to spend any money!

But I have two choices: OEM struts or OEM struts with new mounts, bearings, and boots.

I don't think I need new springs.

That SUV is not used for towing and though it is AWD and has a third row (seven passenger), that third row has never seen the light of day,