Tips For Replacing Your Blown Struts

Have you noticed a thumping or knocking noise when you hit bumps? Does your car seem to be hitting the bumps harder than they used to? With so many potholes littering the roads, your car's suspension takes quite a beating and one of the first things to go will be the struts. Here, you'll find a bit of information that can help you through the strut replacement process.

Shopping for a Replacement

When you're shopping for strut replacements, you'll likely have to decide between to basic types of replacement struts – just the strut or a complete quick strut. If you opt for the basic replacement strut, you will face higher labor costs when it comes time to install it. This is because the new strut will have to be mated with the spring which requires a press and a more work. The quick strut will cost a bit more when you buy it, but it will cost less to have it installed because everything is already pressed and ready to go.

Check the Warranty

In some cases, the warranty for the struts that have gone bad may cover the cost of the new part. If the strut is leaking fluid or is faulty in some way, the manufacturer may cover the cost of the replacement part.

To find out if a warranty will cover the cost of the part, you'll have to know when it was installed, where it was purchased from and you may even need to come up with a receipt or some other proof of purchase.

If the strut is covered by the warranty, you will have to follow the return instructions carefully. In many cases, you'll need to order the new struts, have them installed, box the old ones and ship them back to either the manufacturer or the auto parts store where you bought them. Then, you'll wait a few days for them to receive the package, inspect the parts and issue a refund for what you've paid for the new parts.

Don't Forget the Alignment

Once the struts are replaced, you will need to have the front end of your car aligned. If you try to skip this step, you will destroy your tires and put a great deal of strain and wear on the wheel bearings, tie rod ends and other components that you don't really want to replace right now.

Don't put off replacing the struts – doing so could result in more wear and tear damage that you don't need.

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