Wife's CR-V needs struts.

[Starving Electrician]

So during the latest oil change on my wife's 2013 CR-V I noticed the drivers side front strut was leaking oil. No big deal as the car has a bit over 200K on the original struts.

I am going to swap them very soon, but wanted to see if there are are any brands that I should lean toward.

I fully acknowledge that OEM from Honda is the absolute best route, but I dont care to put that sort of money into a car that is 12 years old and only sees light use these days. Any suggestions are welcome thanks.

 

[AKhan87]

So during the latest oil change on my wife's 2013 CR-V I noticed the drivers side front strut was leaking oil. No big deal as the car has a bit over 200K on the original struts.

I am going to swap them very soon, but wanted to see if there are are any brands that I should lean toward.

I fully acknowledge that OEM from Honda is the absolute best route, but I dont care to put that sort of money into a car that is 12 years old and only sees light use these days. Any suggestions are welcome thanks.

I know you don't want to hear this but only after market alternative that is decent are Bilstein shocks and struts, and they cost more then OEM.

I have tried most of the after market alternatives, and they definitely fail prematurely, if you are going to do all that labor, do it once.

 

[Starving Electrician]

I know you don't want to hear this but only after market alternative that is decent are Bilstein shocks and struts, and they cost more then OEM.

I have tried most of the after market alternatives, and they definitely fail prematurely, if you are going to do all that labor, do it once.

I definitely see the logic there but even if the struts last half as long as the OEM that is still 100K out of them which at this rate is 10 years of use.

 

[AKhan87]

I definitely see the logic there but even if the struts last half as long as the OEM that is still 100K out of them which at this rate is 10 years of use.

they won't even last 20-30k miles lol

 

[JGmazda]

I understand wanting the "best"... but at some point... it's not worth throwing a silk purse on a pig (Or some saying like that!)
Get some KYB quick struts and I'll think you'll be just fine. Do NOT get Monroe "anything". They really have fallen from grace lately.

For my 24 year old Buick, I went with the Autozone brand and have been very pleased. 20% off and delivered to my home. Nice quality also.

 

[Starving Electrician]

I understand wanting the "best"... but at some point... it's not worth throwing a silk purse on a pig (Or some saying like that!)
Get some KYB quick struts and I'll think you'll be just fine. Do NOT get Monroe "anything". They really have fallen from grace lately.

For my 24 year old Buick, I went with the Autozone brand and have been very pleased. 20% off and delivered to my home. Nice quality also.

Okay that is the sort of advice I am after. The CRV is in semi retirement as it's only used when the whole family goes somewhere as my wife drives her Acura to work. I have my Civic Si, and the CR-V just fits 4 people and luggage better. I will look into KYB thank you sir.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Kyb

 

[AKhan87]

Last I checked, KYBs were about the same price as OEM Toyota on sale.

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

they won't even last 20-30k miles lol

I have used 5 pairs of 1a auto trq struts and been happy with all of them. First set has 50k on them at 4 years old going strong. While i have been disappointed with the surrounding mevotech parts, the monroes on my accord are fine 2 years on.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

KYB quick struts seem like the best choice for you

 

[TomYoung]

I know you don't want to hear this but only after market alternative that is decent are Bilstein shocks and struts, and they cost more then OEM.

I have tried most of the after market alternatives, and they definitely fail prematurely, if you are going to do all that labor, do it once.

That is an overblown claim. Your claim is that OEM or Bilstein are the only good choices. While choosing aftermarket parts is tricky, I think that I would have high expectations of KYB, Duralast, NAPA, and assuredly a good number of other name brands. I definitely will allow that Honda OEM parts are always excellent choices whether cars are old or new.

 

[edyvw]

Are Bilstein available for CR-V? If so, forget everything else including OE.

 

[2010Civic]

I have 50k+ miles on a set of KYB quick struts on my Civic. No issues so far.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

My 2013 CRV....Front struts. Used Autoshack off of E-Bay...... Been on their for 40k and 4 yrs. No problems. Ride fine, no problems with strut bearings either in the snow belt.

 

[AKhan87]

That is an overblown claim.

It is not, I have installed 4 sets of Monroe complete strut assemblies in different cars during the pandemic, all of them started making noises within 10-15k miles, previously used KYBs for my Toyota and they were making noises within 30-40k miles, replacing them with OEM Toyota solved the issue on the KYB and 1 Monroe set, rest of the vehicles were sold before I could get around wasting my time with warranties.

Quality of after market parts are not what they used to be, quality control went down SIGNIFICANTLY during the pandemic.

Unlike your average joe, I do a complete overhaul of all worn out suspension components whenever I buy a vehicle because I use premium tires, and they are very expensive, all of this is for safety and to prevent premature wear on tires.

Even Duralast struts failed on a friends Honda within 6k miles, and yes that issue was resolved by using "used" OEM Honda struts...I don't have experience with Napa because of cost so I won't say anything about them.

Your claim is that OEM or Bilstein are the only good choices.

Yes experience, and even recent experience, I can only speak of Toyotas and Hondas, other car manufacturers, I don't have any experience in.

While choosing aftermarket parts is tricky, I think that I would have high expectations of KYB, Duralast, NAPA, and assuredly a good number of other name brands.

Yea not anymore, pandemic ruined a lot of things, and KYB were never as good as OEM Toyota from my experience.

I definitely will allow that Honda OEM parts are always excellent choices whether cars are old or new.

I completely agree, from my experience, their suspension components significantly outlast OEM Toyota ones.

 

[edyvw]

Rock Auto has Bilstein B4 struts for $84. If you want the best, go get it.
They don't carry rear shocks, but I have checked, and Bisltein makes them and Tire Rack carries them for $79 a piece.

 

[4WD]

Rock Auto has Bilstein B4 struts for $84. If you want the best, go get it.
They don't carry rear shocks, but I have checked, and Bisltein makes them and Tire Rack carries them for $79 a piece.

I have never shopped RA - but are they generally cheaper with Bilstein than the shock outlets? … Probably gonna be my replacement Jeep shocks …

 

[edyvw]

I have never shopped RA - but are they generally cheaper with Bilstein than the shock outlets? … Probably gonna be my replacement Jeep shocks …

Yes. I got B6 for BMW for like $600 for all four corners. And B6 ain't cheap.

 

[AKhan87]

Yes. I got B6 for BMW for like $600 for all four corners. And B6 ain't cheap.

I wish, for my corolla they are $227+ tax & shipping for each front strut and $99+tax & shipping for each rear strut.

 

[edyvw]

I wish, for my corolla they are $227+ tax & shipping for each front strut and $99+tax & shipping for each rear strut.

What struts are those? I don't think Bilstein makes B6 for Corolla.