Respectfully disagree with everything here.
if all goes to plan, it is a short term deal ... if it don't, you may wish you had not cheap'd out when you had the chance.
i just replaced the original struts on our 2002 outback (125k miles) and all the original hardware was just fine. the car started life in Iowa where salt is a way of life, and is becoming that way here. everything was reused, except the struts (of course). To be fair, i hired the labor out because i didn't have the time to do it myself (see earlier post about doing it now while you have time.)
Quality struts don't have to cost a lot of money, if you shop around. I bought KYB's GR2's (OE equivalent)and paid about $70 each for the front and about $55 each for the back with shipping included. now these weren't the loaded struts, but if the springs and bearing plates are fine, then there is no need to replace, aside from expediency.
with an impact wrench, changing springs to the new strut takes less than 5 minutes. Longer if you have to do it by hand, and it's almost impossible to get the top nut off without an impact (hence the cheapie electric).
IME, broken springs are vehicle specific. escorts break springs, thunderbirds break springs, but our 97 cavalier is riding on the original struts and springs with almost 220k on the clock (owned since new). if they aren't broken, or sagging, there is no real need to replace.
save the money on the loaded struts, upgrade to a quality strut, and do the labor yourself. If you can't do it in front of your appt (understandable), borrow a friend's garage for a day, or do like i did and drive 300miles home for the weekend and get your dad to help (or uncle or whatever).
I had to pay over $400 for labor on the subaru ... get in there and get 'er done right. i do think you get a much better unit if you don't get them loaded.
JMHO, no offence to anyone who differs in opinion.
Originally Posted By: Trav
If this is really a 2 or 3 year car then no don't spend big money on it. The econo matics will use the same spring and mount as the quick strut but will an entry level shock.
Realistically its a 30-40K unit. If you wanted to spend a little more go with the KYB, Gabriel or Monroe "quick Strut" which are about a 60-75K units (depending on road conditions).
Only the OE Delco and higher end aftermarket units like Sachs, Bilstein, KYB AGX, Tokico, etc will provide the same mileage life as the originals or better. No point in going there, they are big money.
IMHO you are correct in going with complete units, new struts and 12 year old mounts, seats and springs is a fools errand.