Re: Struts?

T <[email protected]> wrote:

> I was told now by two mechanics that they were "leaking". My old tires
> show no sign of cupping.  Both had the the car in the air and checked
> with a flashlight. I did not have any reason to believe that they
> both were being dishonest. 
> 
> And the old tires had about 50K miles on them.

Hydraulic fluid on the piston is okay, but "leaking" usually means there
is a trail of fluid (which has gotten dirty from road grime) along the
tube, and that means the struts are defective.  Less fluid means less
control of the bumps, even the tiny ones you sense as road noise.  All
it takes is a flashlight to see there are leak trails along the tubes of
the struts.

Start saving up money to replace a pair of struts at the same end (they
get replaced in pairs) along with an alignment.  I suspect they leaky
ones are the fronts since those take the most abuse.  While I found
cheaper struts at online auto parts stores, they're brands I've not
heard of or suspect aren't as durable.  I've heard of Monroe, but don't
remember which brand went into a Mustang I had before (the only car I've
owned that needed struts, and boy did it bounce).  Subaru struts have a
reputation of lasting longer.  You could ask the shop which brand they
suggest, but they might have their own skew based on who is their
supplier, while you should be skewed to the Subaru brand (i.e., it's
Subaur or BETTER).  Subaru's brand might just be re-branded KYBs.  If
you demand the shop use Subaru parts, you might have to wait longer for
the parts order through Subaru.  My shops don't ask me to prepay for
ordered parts while waiting for them, but I don't know about your shops.
Some Subaru genuine prices are at:

https://parts.subaru.com/productSearch.aspx?searchTerm=strut&ukey_make=5806&ukey_model=89955&modelYear=2006&ukey_driveline=53364&ukey_trimlevel=106443
(didn't know exactly what you have)

A pair would cost around $400 just for the left and right front struts.
Add in the mounts and other miscellaneous parts, and add in the labor,
and you're looking at around $800 per pair.  If this was happening to
me, I'd be saving up to replace all 4 (both pairs), and get them all
done at the same time.  Then I don't end up paying twice for an
alignment.  If the leak trail isn't too dirty yet, and you've
experienced none of the other symptoms that I mentioned before, you have
some time before they get bad enough to cause tire or suspension damage.

Did the shops quote a price on replacing a pair or for all 4 struts, and
without and with having to replace the mounts?  For the alignment, they
should have a schedule of standard costs to quote for you vehicle
(probably about $140).  Now might also be a good time to decide if you
want the stock handling and ride, or if you might want softer or firmer
struts, and perhaps a combo that use a varying piston diameter, if
available for you vehicle.