Struts for the car

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DrDusty86

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What is an honest price to have the struts replaced on my 99' Zx2 Escort? What is the best brand for the car? It also needs the mount bushings. Thanks, Dusty
 
Id start by taking a look at rockauto for the parts. Multiply the cost there by 1.5-2x and youll have a fair cost for the parts, and then figure two hours each at $100/hr.
 
Cheapest way to go would be buy good parts and do it yourself. Its not hard . Shouldn't take but 1hr 30 mins for all 4 maybe 2 hrs . I did both fronts on my car in 35 mins with no air tools
 
KYB GR2 will run you $254 from tire rack. Mounts around $170 from tire rack. Assuming you need all replaced front and rear. 2 hours of labor @ $100/hr. Alignnment $50-70. So probably $650-700.
 
What kind of ride are you looking for? I put KYB's in the rear of the Neon and they definitely have more dampening than stock. They make the front end feel comparatively floaty now. Problem is that KYB's and upper mounts cost almost as much a quick struts. I bet your mounts are fine but the bearings are shot. Those can be bought seperately. If you don't care about handling, I hear monroe is good for a smooth ride, but so are blown struts...
 
Originally Posted By: thr_wedge
KYB GR2 will run you $254 from tire rack. Mounts around $170 from tire rack. Assuming you need all replaced front and rear. 2 hours of labor @ $100/hr. Alignnment $50-70. So probably $650-700.
Thats too much $$$ for a '99 'scort. You gotta be knuds to put700 bucks of KYB in that scort. Loaded struts with new springs and bearings are under $70 bucks each. Struts aint High tech - though some would have you think they are. A Ubiquitous commodity.
 
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Easy job, cheap parts cost. do it yourself then pay for a FEL. Less than 200 bucks I would guess. Why do you need front struts? Leaking? Bouncy bouncy? This is a 1.5hr job MAX at any pro place but they sell struts installed by job.
I don't know about easy. It looked easy to me on the youtube video, but getting the nuts loose was a lot harder in practice than in theory. Had to buy a breaker bar, socket and use my torch to heat the nuts get the suckers off. Had to go buy the links because they were shot too. Strut was difficult to get on and off even after nuts would removed. Took me a full 24 day plus I had to take it to get aligned. I enjoyed the challenge and 'next time' it will be easier, but it was all I could handle.
 
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Originally Posted By: thr_wedge
KYB GR2 will run you $254 from tire rack. Mounts around $170 from tire rack. Assuming you need all replaced front and rear. 2 hours of labor @ $100/hr. Alignnment $50-70. So probably $650-700.
Thats too much $$$ for a '99 'scort. You gotta be knuds to put700 bucks of KYB in that scort. Loaded struts with new springs and bearings are under $70 bucks each. Struts aint High tech - though some would have you think they are. A Ubiquitous commodity.
Yes - this is more like it. But specific prices and installation change in any specific location.
 
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Cheapest way to go would be buy good parts and do it yourself. Its not hard . Shouldn't take but 1hr 30 mins for all 4 maybe 2 hrs . I did both fronts on my car in 35 mins with no air tools
Compressing springs, right? OP, be VERY careful if attempting for first time.
 
I'm getting a creak going over speed bumps in my '92 Civic, but my suspension feels fine generally speaking. I've heard of the strut/spring mounting area and some place needing grease from time to time? Could that apply to my vehicle? I didn't want to go the route of the OP and replace still functioning suspension parts(within spec).
 
Buy 4 quick struts or the equivalent for your Escort. As for the Honda, typically that noise comes from ball joints, however, I can't diagnose that remotely.
 
Go with a complete strut. All the associated strut parts are junk by now. Using a complete strut makes it easy to do yourself and eliminates headaches. Gabriel Readymounts if you can get them.
 
If springs are good I'd just compress springs and slide then on new struts. Its not hard. Unless bolts are froze up but try them if you can't get them off then take it somewhere. If they're aren't froze up it's easy.
 
I want a firm strut, a good strut. No, my top mounts for the front are bad, I can feel a thud when going over bumps under my feet. The rubber is badly cracked as well. So I get from this board 24+hrs.. I'll never do that again to eehh it is easy and should be just a couple hours. Can the top mounts be replaced easy, or is it a major job? Dusty
 
Get a Quickstrut or other similar strut/spring combo. Then it comes down to removing the old strut/spring as one unit and throwing the new one on. No dinking around with spring compressors or deciding what components to re-use. Tools for removal include a breaker bar or impact tools of some kind, penetrating oil, a few choice words used during the stickier parts of the operation, and beverage of choice.
 
Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
I want a firm strut, a good strut. No, my top mounts for the front are bad, I can feel a thud when going over bumps under my feet. The rubber is badly cracked as well. So I get from this board 24+hrs.. I'll never do that again to eehh it is easy and should be just a couple hours. Can the top mounts be replaced easy, or is it a major job? Dusty
I don't think there is a firm quick strut, I suspect they are all made for a regular Escort and they fit on the ZX2, but I could be wrong, do some parts number research. Top mounts need a spring compressor and the strut out. I have an electric impact that made short work of the pinch bolts on my Neon, they are the killers if you don't have an impact gun. If you think you are going to work on struts again then I'd buy a decent safe compressor and buy some KYB's and enjoy the handling. If not, then just get the quick struts and hope you are ok with them.
 
Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
I want a firm strut, a good strut. No, my top mounts for the front are bad, I can feel a thud when going over bumps under my feet. The rubber is badly cracked as well. So I get from this board 24+hrs.. I'll never do that again to eehh it is easy and should be just a couple hours. Can the top mounts be replaced easy, or is it a major job? Dusty
Why you go with the complete strut. Has all that, gets replaced all at once. Just bolt it in at the new mounts and the wheel. poof done.
 
KYB and the other higher end brands need to get a clue and offer a complete unit. cool
 
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